title: Best Time to Leave to Avoid Traffic in LA
url: https://boardspy.site/blog/best-time-to-leave-los-angeles-avoid-traffic/
type: Article
dateModified: 2026-09-03
publisher: BoardSpy
quick_answer: Quick answer: LA rush hour runs roughly 6:30–9:30 a.m. and 3:30–7:30 p.m. — among the longest in the country — and INRIX's 2025 scorecard ranks LA 4th worst in the US at 87 hours lost per driver, with Friday afternoons about 44% slower than free-flow. The best time depends on your freeway and day — BoardSpy checks your LA route and tells you when to leave today.
primary_keyword: best time to leave los angeles to avoid traffic
keywords[6]{term}:
  best time to leave los angeles to avoid traffic
  best time to leave la
  la rush hour times
  when to leave la traffic
  la traffic worst times
  worst freeway in la
faqs[6]{q,a}:
  What is the best time to leave to avoid traffic in LA?,It depends heavily on which freeway you use — the 405, the 10 and the 101 peak at different times, and the gap between the best and worst departure on the same route is around 30 minutes. Friday afternoons are the exception across all of them.
  When is LA rush hour?,Roughly 6:30–9:30 a.m. and 3:30–7:30 p.m. — among the longest rush hours in the country, with Friday afternoon the heaviest window of the week.
  How bad is LA traffic compared to other cities?,In the 2025 INRIX scorecard, LA ranked 4th most congested in the US, with the average driver losing 87 hours a year — though delays actually fell slightly year over year, one of the few major metros to improve.
  Is Friday traffic really worse in LA?,Yes. Inrix analysis measured LA's Friday afternoon commutes at roughly 44% longer than free-flow conditions — about 13 extra minutes on a 30-minute trip, the worst regular window of the week.
  What is the worst freeway in LA?,The 405 through the Sepulveda Pass is the most notorious, with the 10, the 101, the 5 and the 110 interchanges all among the heaviest at peak. Which is worst for you depends on your route and direction.
  How do I find the best time to leave for my LA commute?,Use a leave-time commute app that reads your actual route — not only a live map. BoardSpy recommends when to leave for your LA commute route, sends pre-departure traffic and weather alerts, and tracks on-time performance and best and worst traffic days. Download it at https://boardspy.site/apps/.
citations[1]{name,url}:
  INRIX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard (US press release),https://inrix.com/press-releases/2025-global-traffic-scorecard-us/
internal_links[8]{label,url}:
  how weather affects traffic,https://boardspy.site/blog/does-rain-make-traffic-worse/
  the worst day of the week varies by city too,https://boardspy.site/blog/how-much-time-traffic-adds-to-commute/
  it checks your saved LA route before you leave,https://boardspy.site/apps/
  weather along the way,https://boardspy.site/blog/route-planner-with-weather/
  best app to avoid traffic,https://boardspy.site/compare/best-app-to-avoid-traffic/
  Google Maps commute alternatives,https://boardspy.site/compare/google-maps-commute-alternative-app/
  where to eat driving through LA,https://boardspy.site/blog/where-to-eat-driving-through-los-angeles/
  how far Los Angeles to Long Beach is,https://boardspy.site/blog/how-far-los-angeles-to-long-beach/