Traffic Predict
Christmas Traffic in San Diego: Best and Worst Times to Drive (2026)
Based on 10 years of Christmas traffic (2016–2025), the worst time to drive in San Diego is Tuesday (December 22 this year) around 5 pm, when freeways average 59 mph instead of the usual 57 mph.
Day by day
- Tuesday, December 22: about like a normal Tuesday; slowest around 5 pm (59 mph, usually 57 mph).
- Wednesday, December 23: about like a normal Wednesday; slowest around 5 pm (61 mph, usually 57 mph).
- Thursday, December 24: lighter than a normal Thursday; slowest around 5 pm (65 mph, usually 58 mph).
- Friday, December 25: lighter than a normal Friday; slowest around 5 pm (65 mph, usually 56 mph).
- Saturday, December 26: lighter than a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (63 mph, usually 54 mph).
- Sunday, December 27: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 5 pm (61 mph, usually 56 mph).
Hour by hour
| Day | 5am | 6am | 7am | 8am | 9am | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | 4pm | 5pm | 6pm | 7pm | 8pm | 9pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue Dec 22 | 68 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 60 | 59 | 59 | 62 | 66 | 67 | 68 |
| Wed Dec 23 | 69 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 61 | 62 | 61 | 64 | 66 | 66 | 67 |
| Thu Dec 24 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 66 | 68 | 68 | 69 |
| Fri Dec 25 | 69 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 65 | 67 | 67 | 69 |
| Sat Dec 26 | 69 | 66 | 66 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 64 | 66 | 67 | 69 |
| Sun Dec 27 | 69 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 64 | 66 | 67 | 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 Christmas in San Diego?
Based on 10 years of Christmas traffic (2016–2025), the worst time to drive in San Diego is Tuesday (December 22 this year) around 5 pm, when freeways average 59 mph instead of the usual 57 mph.
What is Christmas traffic like in San Diego?
Tuesday, December 22: about like a normal Tuesday; slowest around 5 pm (59 mph, usually 57 mph). Wednesday, December 23: about like a normal Wednesday; slowest around 5 pm (61 mph, usually 57 mph). Thursday, December 24: lighter than a normal Thursday; slowest around 5 pm (65 mph, usually 58 mph). Friday, December 25: lighter than a normal Friday; slowest around 5 pm (65 mph, usually 56 mph). Saturday, December 26: lighter than a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (63 mph, usually 54 mph). Sunday, December 27: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 5 pm (61 mph, usually 56 mph).