Quieter times to travel (2024)

FAQs

Quieter times to travel? ›

As a general rule, flying in quiet months between holidays is your best bet to get a cheap, less crowded flight. You should definitely try the second half of January, the first days of February, early May, or the most part of September and October.

If you're an early bird, you'll be glad to know the quietest time of the day for road users is when the sun is coming up. So, if you're off on a road trip in your eye-catching used Audi or bold used BMW car, you may want to set off between 4am and 6am to avoid lengthy queues and tooting horns.

Early morning flights have less runway traffic, planes ready to take off from the night before, and fewer planes already in the air. Days of the week can impact the ticket price, along with delays. Weekdays as opposed to weekends may have more business travelers in relation to leisure travelers.

The quieter times on public transport vary between weekdays and weekends and between stations, lines and services. On weekdays, it's generally quieter at the following times: On buses, between 08:30 and 15:00 and after 17:30. On Tube and Rail, between 09:15 and 16:00 and after 18:45.

As a general rule, flying in quiet months between holidays is your best bet to get a cheap, less crowded flight. You should definitely try the second half of January, the first days of February, early May, or the most part of September and October.

Best time to travel by car

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, predicts the best times to travel by car are: Thursday & Friday before 11 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Sunday before 1 p.m. Monday after 7 p.m.

Tuesday and Friday flights can help you avoid the rush earlier in the week. Sundays and Mondays are the most expensive days to depart for domestic trips. If you can't fly on the cheapest days, flying on Tuesdays or Fridays might also be a good option.

The Safest Time of Day to Drive

Generally, roads are less congested between 4:00 AM – 6:00 AM, and drivers tend to be more alert during this time. The following factors contribute to the safety of early mornings: Less Congestion: Early mornings typically experience lower traffic volume compared to rush hours.

While savvy, experienced, and adventurous travelers might enjoy a trip during the off-season, for most people, there's a better option: shoulder season. Shoulder season is the time between the high season and the off-season when lodging and travel expenses are moderate and the weather is manageable.

What are super off peak times? ›

What are Super Off-Peak Tickets? Super Off-Peak Tickets are valid for travel after 10am Monday – Friday, and any time at weekends or Bank Holidays. Check the full terms and conditions for Super Off-Peak at National Rail Enquiries.

Safety is one of the primary reasons why trains honk their horns, especially at night when visibility is limited. The loud sound alerts pedestrians, vehicles, and wildlife to the approaching train, reducing the risk of accidents at railroad crossings or along the tracks.

Train stations and services are usually at their busiest on a Friday and Sunday evening, which is the busiest time for passengers to travel a bit further for the weekend.

If you'd prefer to avoid a turbulent flight, the time of day you're flying really matters. Afternoons often see the most turbulence, with “air pockets” lessening overnight and during the early morning hours. Overnight or “red eye” flights will typically have the smoothest experiences.

Most weeks of the year, Friday is the busiest day for air travel, and Tuesday is the least busy day. During the holidays, though, that doesn't necessarily hold true.

There isn't a definitive answer to which day of the week is the quietest. It is worth doing some research into the airport from which you are flying. However, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often less busy. This is because you have to take more days off work to fly mid-week, which people are usually reluctant to do.

The Safest Time of Day to Drive

Generally, roads are less congested between 4:00 AM – 6:00 AM, and drivers tend to be more alert during this time. The following factors contribute to the safety of early mornings: Less Congestion: Early mornings typically experience lower traffic volume compared to rush hours.

Early morning flights are the least crowded and best on-time stats. Not surprisingly, punishing crack-of-dawn itineraries tend to be less crowded times to fly.

If you'd prefer to avoid a turbulent flight, the time of day you're flying really matters. Afternoons often see the most turbulence, with “air pockets” lessening overnight and during the early morning hours. Overnight or “red eye” flights will typically have the smoothest experiences.

In general, morning flights are preferable to afternoon or evening options because there are usually fewer issues earlier in the day.