I-290 East Traffic in Boston

As of 9:45 pm EDT, I-290 East in the Boston area is averaging 66 mph across 7 sensors, about normal for this time.

Is I-290 East moving right now?

Yes. No stretch of I-290 East in Boston is under 40 mph right now (as of 9:45 pm EDT).

Best time to drive I-290 East

Traffic is usually worst on Wednesday around 8 am (about 49 mph). On weekdays the morning slowdown peaks around 8 am (49 mph on Wednesdays) and the evening slowdown around 3 pm (55 mph on Fridays). Midday (10 am to 2 pm) averages 62 mph. On weekends it is slowest on Saturdays around 11 am (60 mph).

Typical average speed (mph) on I-290 East in Boston, by day and hour (local time)
Day	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	67	63	56	54	62	62	63	63	63	62	63	63	63	64	65	66	64
Tue	67	65	54	50	59	63	64	65	66	64	64	65	65	65	66	66	66
Wed	67	65	55	49	58	61	65	65	65	63	62	63	66	67	67	66	65
Thu	67	64	56	55	60	61	62	62	61	61	61	59	62	66	66	66	65
Fri	67	66	61	61	62	59	59	60	60	59	55	57	58	61	65	66	66
Sat	68	69	70	69	66	62	60	60	62	62	61	63	64	66	67	66	67
Sun	67	69	71	71	70	67	63	60	60	61	62	62	60	64	65	65	66

Averages of every 5-minute reading we have recorded at this time of the week. Colors match the live map.

Questions

When is traffic worst on I-290 East in Boston?

Traffic on I-290 East is usually worst on Wednesday around 8 am (about 49 mph).

What is the best time to drive I-290 East in Boston?

On weekdays, avoid around 8 am (49 mph on Wednesdays) and around 3 pm (55 mph on Fridays). Midday (10 am to 2 pm) averages 62 mph, and early mornings and late evenings are fastest.

Is I-290 East busy right now?

As of 9:45 pm EDT, I-290 East in the Boston area is averaging 66 mph across 7 sensors, about normal for this time.

Drives that use I-290 East

Best times to leave for these trips, from typical traffic on I-290 East and the roads around it:

Holden to Boston · Worcester to Lowell · Worcester to Burlington MA · Worcester to Peabody · Worcester to Andover · Worcester to Marlborough · Worcester to Billerica · Worcester to Chelmsford · Worcester to Tewksbury · Worcester to Lawrence

Plan ahead: Boston traffic tomorrow · Traffic estimator

Other freeways in Boston

US-1 South · MA-3 North · MA-3 South · US-3 South · MA-24 North · I-90 East · I-90 West · I-93 North · I-93 South · I-95 North · I-95 South · I-290 West · I-495 North · I-495 South

Day	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	67	63	56	54	62	62	63	63	63	62	63	63	63	64	65	66	64
Tue	67	65	54	50	59	63	64	65	66	64	64	65	65	65	66	66	66
Wed	67	65	55	49	58	61	65	65	65	63	62	63	66	67	67	66	65
Thu	67	64	56	55	60	61	62	62	61	61	61	59	62	66	66	66	65
Fri	67	66	61	61	62	59	59	60	60	59	55	57	58	61	65	66	66
Sat	68	69	70	69	66	62	60	60	62	62	61	63	64	66	67	66	67
Sun	67	69	71	71	70	67	63	60	60	61	62	62	60	64	65	65	66

Day	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	67	63	56	54	62	62	63	63	63	62	63	63	63	64	65	66	64
Tue	67	65	54	50	59	63	64	65	66	64	64	65	65	65	66	66	66
Wed	67	65	55	49	58	61	65	65	65	63	62	63	66	67	67	66	65
Thu	67	64	56	55	60	61	62	62	61	61	61	59	62	66	66	66	65
Fri	67	66	61	61	62	59	59	60	60	59	55	57	58	61	65	66	66
Sat	68	69	70	69	66	62	60	60	62	62	61	63	64	66	67	66	67
Sun	67	69	71	71	70	67	63	60	60	61	62	62	60	64	65	65	66

Day	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	67	63	56	54	62	62	63	63	63	62	63	63	63	64	65	66	64
Tue	67	65	54	50	59	63	64	65	66	64	64	65	65	65	66	66	66
Wed	67	65	55	49	58	61	65	65	65	63	62	63	66	67	67	66	65
Thu	67	64	56	55	60	61	62	62	61	61	61	59	62	66	66	66	65
Fri	67	66	61	61	62	59	59	60	60	59	55	57	58	61	65	66	66
Sat	68	69	70	69	66	62	60	60	62	62	61	63	64	66	67	66	67
Sun	67	69	71	71	70	67	63	60	60	61	62	62	60	64	65	65	66