Traffic Predict
Thanksgiving Traffic in Orange County: Best and Worst Times to Drive (2026)
Based on 8 past Thanksgivings (2016–2024, leaving out 2020), holiday traffic in Orange County is worst on Wednesday (November 25 this year) around 1 pm, when freeways average 57 mph instead of the usual 60 mph. The holiday jams are on a few freeways: I-105 East (Wednesday around 11 am: 41 mph instead of 55 mph).
Freeways hit hardest
The hour each freeway direction slows the most against a normal day, averaged over the same years:
- I-105 East: Wednesday around 11 am: 41 mph instead of 55 mph.
- I-15 North: Tuesday around 11 am: 48 mph instead of 57 mph.
- I-15 South: Wednesday around 1 pm: 51 mph instead of 59 mph.
- SR-71 South: Wednesday around 1 pm: 50 mph instead of 58 mph.
- SR-91 East: Wednesday around 1 pm: 50 mph instead of 57 mph.
- I-405 North: Wednesday around 1 pm: 53 mph instead of 60 mph.
Thanksgiving drive times for trips from Orange County →
Day by day
- Tuesday, November 24: about like a normal Tuesday; slowest around 5 pm (51 mph, usually 51 mph).
- Wednesday, November 25: about like a normal Wednesday; slowest around 3 pm (55 mph, usually 56 mph).
- Thursday, November 26: lighter than a normal Thursday; slowest around 5 pm (61 mph, usually 48 mph).
- Friday, November 27: lighter than a normal Friday; slowest around 5 pm (62 mph, usually 50 mph).
- Saturday, November 28: about like a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 57 mph).
- Sunday, November 29: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 5 pm (62 mph, usually 61 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 | 61 | 58 | 58 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 57 | 56 | 54 | 51 | 55 | 62 | 65 | 67 |
| Wed Nov 25 | 69 | 62 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 57 | 56 | 55 | 56 | 55 | 60 | 64 | 67 | 69 |
| Thu Nov 26 | 70 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 63 | 63 | 61 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 68 |
| Fri Nov 27 | 70 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 64 | 66 | 67 | 69 |
| Sat Nov 28 | 68 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 60 | 62 | 65 | 66 | 69 |
| Sun Nov 29 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 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.
Orange County traffic tomorrow · Orange County traffic right now
Questions
When is the worst time to drive for Thanksgiving in Orange County?
Based on 8 past Thanksgivings (2016–2024, leaving out 2020), holiday traffic in Orange County is worst on Wednesday (November 25 this year) around 1 pm, when freeways average 57 mph instead of the usual 60 mph. The holiday jams are on a few freeways: I-105 East (Wednesday around 11 am: 41 mph instead of 55 mph).
What is Thanksgiving traffic like in Orange County?
Tuesday, November 24: about like a normal Tuesday; slowest around 5 pm (51 mph, usually 51 mph). Wednesday, November 25: about like a normal Wednesday; slowest around 3 pm (55 mph, usually 56 mph). Thursday, November 26: lighter than a normal Thursday; slowest around 5 pm (61 mph, usually 48 mph). Friday, November 27: lighter than a normal Friday; slowest around 5 pm (62 mph, usually 50 mph). Saturday, November 28: about like a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 57 mph). Sunday, November 29: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 5 pm (62 mph, usually 61 mph).