Traffic & Transit
Best/Worst Times To Get Out Of Chicago For The Holidays
See when is the best (and worst) time to hit the road if you're traveling in or out of Chicago this holiday season.
CHICAGO, IL — If you can manage it, plan your holiday travel to avoid heading out around 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 28, when traffic is expected to be 29 percent more congested than usual, according to AAA’s Christmas and New Year’s travel forecast released Monday for 2023.
Of the projected 115.2 million people traveling for the holidays this year, some 104 million people are expected to drive — up 1.8 over 2022, and the second-highest end-of-the-year travel projection on record, AAA said.
Gas prices are similar to the 2022 holiday period, when the national average on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day was $3.10 and $3.20 a gallon, respectively. Right now, the average gas price in Illinois is $3.29 a gallon.
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AAA worked with transportation data insights company INRIX to determine the best and worst times to get out of town for the 10-day holiday period. Saturday, Dec. 23, and Thursday, Dec. 28, are expected to be the worst.
“Nationwide, drivers could see travel times up to 20% longer this holiday season. In major metros, especially in Denver, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC, drivers could experience nearly double the typical delays,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a news release. “Avoid peak commuting hours and use traffic apps, local DOT notifications, and 511 services to minimize holiday travel traffic frustrations.”
Find out what's happening in Across Illinoisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Overall, the best and worst times to travel are:
Saturday, Dec. 23
- Best times: Before 10 a.m.
- Worst times: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 24
- Minimal traffic disruption is expected
Monday, Dec. 25
- Minimal traffic disruption is expected
Tuesday, Dec. 26
- Best times: Before noon
- Worst times: 1-5 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec 27
- Best times: Before noon
- Worst times: 1-7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec 28
- Best times: Before noon
- Worst times: 2-8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 29
- Best times: Before noon
- Worst times: 2-8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 30
- Best times: Before 10 a.m.
- Worst times: 5-7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 31
- Minimal traffic disruption is expected
Monday, Jan. 1
- Minimal traffic disruption is expected
Related: Video: How To Pack Your Bag To Zip Through Airport TSA Checkpoint
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