title: Best Time to Leave to Avoid Traffic in Phoenix
url: https://boardspy.site/blog/best-time-to-leave-phoenix-avoid-traffic/
type: Article
dateModified: 2026-08-03
publisher: BoardSpy
quick_answer: Quick answer: Phoenix rush hour runs roughly 6:00–9:00 a.m. and 3:00–6:00 p.m. — earlier than most metros — and delays just hit a record 76 hours per driver (TTI 2025), with Thursday overtaking Friday as the worst day. The best time depends on your corridor and day — BoardSpy checks your Phoenix route and tells you when to leave today.
primary_keyword: best time to leave phoenix to avoid traffic
keywords[6]{term}:
  best time to leave phoenix to avoid traffic
  best time to leave phoenix
  phoenix rush hour times
  when to leave phoenix traffic
  why is phoenix traffic so bad
  broadway curve traffic
faqs[6]{q,a}:
  What is the best time to leave to avoid traffic in Phoenix?,Generally before 6:00 a.m. or after 9:00 a.m. in the morning, and outside 3:00–6:00 p.m. in the evening — Phoenix peaks run earlier than most metros. The exact best time depends on your corridor and day.
  When is Phoenix rush hour?,Roughly 6:00–9:00 a.m. and 3:00–6:00 p.m. — with midday congestion rising as hybrid schedules spread trips through the day.
  What is the worst day for traffic in Phoenix?,Thursday. TTI's 2025 data shows Thursday has overtaken Friday for the highest share of weekly delays in Phoenix, reflecting Tuesday–Thursday hybrid commute patterns.
  What is the worst road in Phoenix?,The I-10 Broadway Curve between Phoenix and Tempe — more than 300,000 drivers a day, the focus of ADOT's largest urban freeway reconstruction, with I-17 and the US-60 funnel close behind.
  Why is Phoenix traffic getting worse?,Record growth pushed delays to 76 hours per driver — the highest ever measured here — while hybrid schedules spread congestion into midday and reshaped which days are worst.
  How do I find the best time to leave for my Phoenix commute?,Use a commute app that reads your actual route. BoardSpy recommends the best departure time for your Phoenix route and tracks its on-time performance and best and worst traffic days.
citations[2]{name,url}:
  Axios Phoenix: Phoenix metro drivers lost an average of 76 hours to traffic,https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/10/31/phoenix-drivers-traffic-congestion
  Arizona Republic: I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project,https://www.yahoo.com/news/10-broadway-curve-improvement-know-120259871.html
internal_links[4]{label,url}:
  which day is worst nationally,https://boardspy.site/blog/worst-day-of-week-for-traffic/
  It checks your saved Phoenix route before you leave,https://boardspy.site/blog/best-time-to-leave-for-work-avoid-traffic/
  weather along the way,https://boardspy.site/blog/route-planner-with-weather/
  how to find alternate routes,https://boardspy.site/blog/find-alternate-routes-google-maps/