Traffic Predict

Labor Day weekend Traffic in Bay Area: Best and Worst Times to Drive (2027)

Based on 9 past Labor Day weekends (2016–2025, leaving out 2020), freeways across the San Francisco Bay Area are no slower than usual over Labor Day weekend; the busiest time is Friday (September 3 this year) around 3 pm, at 55 mph (usually 55 mph). The holiday jams are on the roads out of town: SR-152 East (Monday around 4 pm: 32 mph instead of 61 mph).

Freeways hit hardest

The hour each freeway direction slows the most against a normal day, averaged over the same years:

Day by day

Hour by hour

Average freeway speed (mph) in Bay Area by day and hour, 2016–2025
Day5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Fri Sep 36862605860616060595755555660646567
Sat Sep 46767676665636161616162626364656567
Sun Sep 56767676766646262616262636364646367
Mon Sep 66867666666666564646464646465656568

Averages of every hour of freeway data we have for these days in past years (hover a cell for a normal day). Dates are this year's; each past year is lined up on its own holiday.

Plan your holiday drive →

Bay Area traffic tomorrow · Bay Area traffic right now

Questions

When is the worst time to drive for Labor Day weekend in Bay Area?

Based on 9 past Labor Day weekends (2016–2025, leaving out 2020), freeways across the San Francisco Bay Area are no slower than usual over Labor Day weekend; the busiest time is Friday (September 3 this year) around 3 pm, at 55 mph (usually 55 mph). The holiday jams are on the roads out of town: SR-152 East (Monday around 4 pm: 32 mph instead of 61 mph).

What is Labor Day weekend traffic like in Bay Area?

Friday, September 3: about like a normal Friday; slowest around 3 pm (55 mph, usually 55 mph). Saturday, September 4: about like a normal Saturday; slowest around 12 pm (61 mph, usually 61 mph). Sunday, September 5: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 1 pm (61 mph, usually 62 mph). Monday, September 6: lighter than a normal Monday; slowest around 3 pm (64 mph, usually 57 mph).