When is Rush Hour in Boston? Our Traffic Guide
by Ellie Smith / April 1, 2025
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Boston is a city that moves, just not always as fast as you’d like. Ask a local, and they’ll tell you it’s not the distance that slows you down, it’s the traffic. At Blacklane, we’ve been serving Boston’s travelers for years, helping visitors, business professionals, and locals move through the city with ease. We know which roads to take, when traffic peaks, and where the worst bottlenecks are hiding.
In this guide, we’ll break down Boston’s traffic landscape, the best and worst times to drive, and the city’s biggest congestion hotspots.
Table of contents
How bad is Boston traffic?
• Global Ranking: Boston is the 12th most congested city worldwide according to traffic data organisation Inrix, with drivers losing an average of 79 hours in traffic in 2024. That’s over three full days spent watching brake lights instead of enjoying a Fenway Frank.
• National Ranking: In the U.S., Boston takes the 4th spot for worst traffic, right behind New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
• Economic Impact: Sitting in traffic isn’t just frustrating, it’s expensive. According to the Inrix report, the average Boston driver loses $1,414 per year in wasted time and fuel.
When is rush hour in Boston?
We analyzed CTPS traffic data alongside local insights to determine the best times to be on the road:
Morning Rush Hour: Weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with the heaviest delays often occurring between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Evening Rush Hour: Weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the most significant congestion usually between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Busiest Days of the Week: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays typically experience the highest traffic volumes.
Best times to drive:
Midday Hours: Traffic tends to be lighter between the morning and evening rush hours, typically from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Mondays: Typically, Mondays experience lighter traffic compared to other weekdays.
Fridays: Friday mornings are generally light, but traffic can increase in the afternoons as people start their weekends.
What are the busiest roads in Boston?
Some streets in Boston are so notoriously jammed that they feel like built-in breaks for drivers. Here’s a look at the worst offenders:
Interstate 93 (I-93) Southbound (Including the Central Artery): This stretch, especially between the Zakim Bridge and the Pilgrims Highway Interchange, is infamous for its traffic snarls. The Central Artery, a key downtown section of I-93, has long been dubbed "The Distressway" due to severe congestion. Despite the Big Dig project, bottlenecks persist, making this one of the busiest highways in the country. In 2024, it ranked as the second most congested road in the U.S.
Route 1 Northbound near Gillette Stadium: On game days, particularly after New England Patriots games, this segment experiences significant slowdowns. Traffic can crawl at speeds as low as 12 mph.
Sullivan Square (Charlestown): This rotary, connecting I-93, Route 99, and Route 38, is a known chokepoint. Its complex design often leads to backups, especially during rush hours.
Traffic safety and accidents in Boston
Boston has made strides in improving traffic safety, but challenges remain. Here's an overview of recent data:
The city has averaged about 1,900 serious or fatal crashes annually since 2015, when it committed to eliminating traffic-related deaths and injuries.
Boston's Vision Zero program aims to eliminate fatal and serious traffic crashes by 2030. Despite a relatively good record compared to other cities, Boston continues to address traffic-related fatalities and injuries.
Navigating Boston smoothly with Blacklane
With everything we’ve shared, you can fairly say delays are as much a part of Boston as Dunkin’. Between the legendary bottlenecks, the ever-chaotic roads (watch those trucks!), and rotaries that feel more like a free-for-all, getting around can be an adventure just not the fun kind.
But with Blacklane’s premium chauffeured rides, you can skip the stress and enjoy a smoother way to travel. No circling for parking in the North End, no white-knuckling through rush hour on the Pike, just a comfortable, seamless ride across the city or to Logan Airport.
