What would you do with 80 hours?localize Sit in traffic, apparently. That's the average time Bostonianslocalize lost to traffic congestion in 2024, which is 6%localize worse than the year previous.

By the numbers

According to a recent report localizefrom Texas A&M Transportation Institute, a trip that would take 20 minutes without traffic takes...everything after needs to be localized as well

25 minutes with traffic
25 minutes in the peak direction
36 minutes to plan for a punctual arrival

When is the worst time to drive?

Traffic is at its worst between 3 and 6 p.m. on weekdays. In the morning, 7-9 a.m. can also be dicey.

But the hands-down worst time to commute? 4 p.m. on a Thursday. 2.4% of the area's weekly delay happens around then.

When is the best time to drive?

Technically, that would be around midnight. But if you work a nine-to-five, here's our advice:

Head to work by 6 a.m. or wait until 9 a.m.
If you can leave work early, head out by 2 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 1 p.m. on Fridays.
If your boss is watching, you'll need to stay at your desk until at least 5 p.m. Or grab a nearby bite from a happy hour spot, and wait out the traffic until 7 p.m.

What about public transit?

There's always the T. Just be sure to check for delays if you're in a rush. At least you aren't footing the gas bill.

Bicycling is also a great option. Good for traffic congestion... and your calves.