The Morning Crunch
If you’re heading out the door between 8 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., expect company. That window has emerged as the busiest stretch for morning traffic across the city, as school drop-offs and office commutes overlap on the same roads at the same time.
The Evening Squeeze
The trip home isn’t much quieter. Traffic peaks again from 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., so if you can shift your departure even slightly outside that hour, you may find a smoother ride.
Why It’s Worth Knowing
With students back in classrooms and more commuters returning to in-person routines, these two windows are the ones to plan around. Whether you’re doing a school run, heading downtown for work, or just trying to beat the crowd to your favourite lunch spot, timing your trip outside these peaks can save you a real headache.
Getting Around It
A few small adjustments go a long way this time of year. Leaving fifteen or twenty minutes earlier or later than usual, carpooling when you can, or hopping on transit for the morning stretch are all easy ways to dodge the worst of it.
Ottawa’s roads settle back into their usual pace outside these hours, so a little planning now means an easier commute for the rest of the season.