Traffic Predict
Thanksgiving Traffic in Los Angeles: Best and Worst Times to Drive (2026)
Based on 8 past Thanksgivings (2016–2024, leaving out 2020), holiday traffic in Los Angeles is worst on Wednesday (November 25 this year) around 1 pm, when freeways average 52 mph instead of the usual 56 mph. The holiday jams are on a few freeways: SR-60 East (Wednesday around 1 pm: 43 mph instead of 53 mph).
Freeways hit hardest
The hour each freeway direction slows the most against a normal day, averaged over the same years:
- SR-60 East: Wednesday around 1 pm: 43 mph instead of 53 mph.
- SR-91 East: Wednesday around 1 pm: 42 mph instead of 52 mph.
- I-210 East: Wednesday around 1 pm: 47 mph instead of 55 mph.
- I-210 West: Tuesday around 12 pm: 51 mph instead of 59 mph.
- US-101 South: Thursday around 9 pm: 59 mph instead of 67 mph.
- I-10 East: Wednesday around 1 pm: 44 mph instead of 52 mph.
Thanksgiving drive times for trips from Los Angeles →
Day by day
- Tuesday, November 24: about like a normal Tuesday; slowest around 5 pm (45 mph, usually 47 mph).
- Wednesday, November 25: about like a normal Wednesday; slowest around 5 pm (49 mph, usually 46 mph).
- Thursday, November 26: lighter than a normal Thursday; slowest around 5 pm (57 mph, usually 44 mph).
- Friday, November 27: lighter than a normal Friday; slowest around 5 pm (57 mph, usually 45 mph).
- Saturday, November 28: about like a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (56 mph, usually 52 mph).
- Sunday, November 29: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 5 pm (59 mph, usually 57 mph).
Hour by hour
| Day | 5am | 6am | 7am | 8am | 9am | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | 4pm | 5pm | 6pm | 7pm | 8pm | 9pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue Nov 24 | 68 | 58 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 51 | 50 | 48 | 45 | 48 | 55 | 61 | 66 |
| Wed Nov 25 | 69 | 60 | 56 | 55 | 56 | 56 | 55 | 53 | 52 | 51 | 50 | 50 | 49 | 53 | 60 | 65 | 68 |
| Thu Nov 26 | 70 | 65 | 62 | 61 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 57 | 59 | 62 | 63 | 68 |
| Fri Nov 27 | 70 | 65 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 57 | 59 | 63 | 66 | 69 |
| Sat Nov 28 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 59 | 57 | 57 | 57 | 56 | 59 | 63 | 65 | 68 |
| Sun Nov 29 | 67 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 64 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 59 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 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.
Los Angeles traffic tomorrow · Los Angeles traffic right now
Questions
When is the worst time to drive for Thanksgiving in Los Angeles?
Based on 8 past Thanksgivings (2016–2024, leaving out 2020), holiday traffic in Los Angeles is worst on Wednesday (November 25 this year) around 1 pm, when freeways average 52 mph instead of the usual 56 mph. The holiday jams are on a few freeways: SR-60 East (Wednesday around 1 pm: 43 mph instead of 53 mph).
What is Thanksgiving traffic like in Los Angeles?
Tuesday, November 24: about like a normal Tuesday; slowest around 5 pm (45 mph, usually 47 mph). Wednesday, November 25: about like a normal Wednesday; slowest around 5 pm (49 mph, usually 46 mph). Thursday, November 26: lighter than a normal Thursday; slowest around 5 pm (57 mph, usually 44 mph). Friday, November 27: lighter than a normal Friday; slowest around 5 pm (57 mph, usually 45 mph). Saturday, November 28: about like a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (56 mph, usually 52 mph). Sunday, November 29: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 5 pm (59 mph, usually 57 mph).