Traffic Predict
New Year's Traffic in Bay Area: Best and Worst Times to Drive (2027)
Based on 9 past New Year's (2017–2026, leaving out 2020), freeways across the San Francisco Bay Area are no slower than usual over New Year's; the busiest time is Saturday (January 2 this year) around 5 pm, at 59 mph (usually 55 mph). The holiday jams are on the roads out of town: SR-1 South (Wednesday around 2 pm: 49 mph instead of 60 mph).
Freeways hit hardest
The hour each freeway direction slows the most against a normal day, averaged over the same years:
- SR-1 South: Wednesday around 2 pm: 49 mph instead of 60 mph.
- SR-152 East: Wednesday around 4 pm: 51 mph instead of 61 mph.
Day by day
- Wednesday, December 30: about like a normal Wednesday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 57 mph).
- Thursday, December 31: about like a normal Thursday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 57 mph).
- Friday, January 1: lighter than a normal Friday; slowest around 5 pm (63 mph, usually 55 mph).
- Saturday, January 2: about like a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (59 mph, usually 55 mph).
Hour by hour
| Day | 5am | 6am | 7am | 8am | 9am | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | 4pm | 5pm | 6pm | 7pm | 8pm | 9pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Dec 30 | 68 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 62 | 65 | 66 | 67 |
| Thu Dec 31 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 62 | 65 | 66 | 68 |
| Fri Jan 1 | 68 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 64 | 66 | 67 | 68 |
| Sat Jan 2 | 68 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 59 | 61 | 65 | 66 | 67 |
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.
Bay Area traffic tomorrow · Bay Area traffic right now
Questions
When is the worst time to drive for New Year's in Bay Area?
Based on 9 past New Year's (2017–2026, leaving out 2020), freeways across the San Francisco Bay Area are no slower than usual over New Year's; the busiest time is Saturday (January 2 this year) around 5 pm, at 59 mph (usually 55 mph). The holiday jams are on the roads out of town: SR-1 South (Wednesday around 2 pm: 49 mph instead of 60 mph).
What is New Year's traffic like in Bay Area?
Wednesday, December 30: about like a normal Wednesday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 57 mph). Thursday, December 31: about like a normal Thursday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 57 mph). Friday, January 1: lighter than a normal Friday; slowest around 5 pm (63 mph, usually 55 mph). Saturday, January 2: about like a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (59 mph, usually 55 mph).