What would you do with 64 hours? Sit in traffic, apparently. That’s the average time Charlotteans lost to traffic congestion in 2024, which is 12% worse than the year previous.
By the numbers
According to a recent report from Texas A&M Transportation Institute, a trip that would take 20 minutes without traffic takes...
- 25 minutes with traffic
- 26 minutes in the peak direction
- 33 minutes to plan for a punctual arrival
When is the worst time to drive in Charlotte?
Traffic is at its worst between 3 and 5 p.m. on weekdays. In the morning, 7-8 a.m. can also be dicey.
But the hands-down worst time to commute? 5 p.m. on a Wednesday. 3.3% of Charlotte’s weekly delay happens around then.
When is the best time to drive in Charlotte?
Technically, that would be between midnight and 4 a.m. 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 6 p.m. Or grab a post-work beverage at a local bar, and wait out the traffic until 7 p.m.
