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The best time to leave for work to beat traffic

Leaving 15 minutes earlier or later can change your commute more than any shortcut. Here's how to find the sweet spot for your own route.

Updated November 10, 2026 · 5 min read

Short answer In most cities the morning peak runs roughly 7:00–9:00 AM, heaviest around 7:30–8:30. Leaving before about 7:00 or after about 9:00 usually saves the most time. Tuesdays to Thursdays tend to be the busiest days; Mondays and especially Fridays are often lighter.

When morning rush hour peaks

Traffic builds fast from about 6:30, peaks in the hour before 9:00 office starts, and fades by 9:30. The exact shape depends on your city and route: a bridge or motorway on-ramp can have its own peak 15 minutes either side of the general one.

Leave earlier or later?

Both work; the question is which costs you less:

Earlier is more reliable: roads are quiet before the peak builds, but you lose sleep every day.
Later keeps your sleep, but only works if your start time is flexible. Just after the peak, traffic is still clearing.
Inside the peak, small changes matter most: leaving 10 minutes earlier can save 15–20 minutes of driving on a congested route.

Day-of-week differences

Midweek is usually heaviest. With hybrid work, many offices are busiest Tuesday to Thursday, while Mondays and Fridays see fewer commuters. If your schedule is flexible, those are the days to sleep in a little.

Find the best leave time for your own route

Open Apple Maps or Google Maps the evening before and get directions to work.
Change the departure (or “arrive by”) time in 15-minute steps and note the predicted travel time.
Look for the point where the drive time jumps. That's your route's peak.
Set your alarm so you leave just before the jump.

Then plug your numbers into the wake-up time calculator to get the alarm time.

Or let the alarm check for you

Predicted traffic is a good start, but crashes and roadworks don't show up the night before. A traffic-aware alarm checks again before dawn and moves your wake-up: later on clear mornings, earlier when your route is jammed.

Frequently asked questions

What time is morning rush hour?

In most cities, roughly 7:00 to 9:00 AM, with the heaviest traffic between about 7:30 and 8:30. It varies by city and route.

Is it better to leave early or late for work?

Leaving before the peak is the most reliable way to save time. Leaving after it works if your start time is flexible. Inside the peak, even 10 minutes earlier can make a big difference.

What day of the week has the least traffic?

Fridays usually have the lightest morning traffic, followed by Mondays. Tuesday to Thursday are typically the busiest.