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The best and worst days to hit the road around Christmas in Massachusetts, according to AAA
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
The New England Patriots clinched their first playoff appearance in four years, with last night's fourth-quarter comeback win against the Baltimore Ravens. (In case you went to bed early, you can watch the highlights here).
Oh how fun it is to drive: After what was forecast to be a record-breaking Thanksgiving, Fourth of July and Memorial Day, AAA is expecting us to break another travel record over the end-of-year holiday season. "We're starting to sound like a broken record here," AAA Northeast spokesperson Mark Schieldrop told WBUR's Cici Yongshi Yu. (Same, Mark.) Over the final two weeks of 2025, more than 2 million road trips are expected to go through Massachusetts, according to AAA. If you're worried about traffic bogging down your holidays, here's when they suggests hitting the road:
- The best day to drive: Wednesday. "Christmas Eve is a fantastic day to travel," Schieldrop said. This Monday and Tuesday are also expected to be relatively light traffic days. " Most people are already situated on those days," Schieldrop said.
- Worst day to drive: Friday. "A lot of people get out of Dodge the day after Christmas," Schieldrop said. AAA expects roads will be most congested between 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day. Saturday and Sunday should be busy as well, but not as bad as Friday, Schieldrop added.
- If you can stick it out: The roads should open up a bit more beginning Monday, Dec. 29. Wait a little longer and Schieldrop says you'll see "really ideal travel conditions" on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Heads up: It's the last day of the two-week downtown Green Line closure. MBTA officials said last week that they're on track to wrap up work on schedule and resume regular service tomorrow morning.
- Inside look: Crews have been working to replace wooden beams dating back to the 1800s and installing safety equipment. MassLive went inside the Green Line tunnel for a unique look at the project.
- Up next: The MBTA announced Friday that it isn't planning any major closures this coming January. But there will be a few weekend diversions coming to the Red Line, Orange Line and Blue Line.
PSA: Fire officials in Boston are urging locals to keep a close eye on their holiday decorations. Nearly 47,000 fires occur during the winter holidays, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, causing death, injuries and $554 million in property damage every year. Preparedness can save lives, Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke told WBUR's Eve Zuckoff. Here are his tips to avoid a Clark Griswold-esque scene:
- Christmas trees: Water it daily and keep it at least 3 feet from heat sources like radiators, fireplaces and space heaters. (As this video from the students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute shows, a dry tree can go up in a blaze fast.)
- Holiday lights: Examine your extension cords and holiday lights for signs of damage. "Frayed electric cords should be disposed of," Burke said.
P.S.— MassDOT has announced the winners of its annual "Name a Snowplow" contest, with "KPop Snow Hunter," "Flake Maye" and "Sleet Caroline" among the winning monikers submitted by students across the state. View the full list here.
