Traffic Predict
Thanksgiving Traffic in Bay Area: Best and Worst Times to Drive (2026)
Based on 9 years of Thanksgiving traffic (2016–2024), the worst time to drive in the San Francisco Bay Area is Wednesday (November 25 this year) around 3 pm, when freeways average 54 mph instead of the usual 57 mph.
Day by day
- Wednesday, November 25: about like a normal Wednesday; slowest around 3 pm (54 mph, usually 57 mph).
- Thursday, November 26: lighter than a normal Thursday; slowest around 5 pm (63 mph, usually 50 mph).
- Friday, November 27: lighter than a normal Friday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 51 mph).
- Saturday, November 28: about like a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 58 mph).
- Sunday, November 29: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 5 pm (61 mph, usually 60 mph).
Hour by hour
| Day | 5am | 6am | 7am | 8am | 9am | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | 4pm | 5pm | 6pm | 7pm | 8pm | 9pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Nov 25 | 68 | 62 | 60 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 60 | 59 | 57 | 56 | 54 | 55 | 55 | 59 | 65 | 67 | 68 |
| Thu Nov 26 | 69 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 64 | 63 | 64 | 66 | 66 | 67 |
| Fri Nov 27 | 69 | 66 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 62 | 66 | 67 | 68 |
| Sat Nov 28 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 60 | 61 | 64 | 66 | 67 |
| Sun Nov 29 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 63 | 62 | 61 | 62 | 64 | 66 | 68 |
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.
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Questions
When is the worst time to drive for Thanksgiving in Bay Area?
Based on 9 years of Thanksgiving traffic (2016–2024), the worst time to drive in the San Francisco Bay Area is Wednesday (November 25 this year) around 3 pm, when freeways average 54 mph instead of the usual 57 mph.
What is Thanksgiving traffic like in Bay Area?
Wednesday, November 25: about like a normal Wednesday; slowest around 3 pm (54 mph, usually 57 mph). Thursday, November 26: lighter than a normal Thursday; slowest around 5 pm (63 mph, usually 50 mph). Friday, November 27: lighter than a normal Friday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 51 mph). Saturday, November 28: about like a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 58 mph). Sunday, November 29: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 5 pm (61 mph, usually 60 mph).