The Worst Days to Visit New York City

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

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Planning a trip to New York City? While you might expect crowds and heavy traffic during major holidays like New Year’s Eve, several other dates throughout the year can surprise visitors with fully booked hotels and endless traffic jams.

The influx of visitors during certain periods is so significant that the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) issues official Gridlock Alert Days to warn travelers. During these times, you’ll likely encounter higher hotel prices, limited vacancies, extensive street closures, and significant delays throughout Manhattan.

“We strongly encourage New Yorkers and those in the region to travel by transit every day of the year—but it’s especially important during Gridlock Alert days,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.

Some Gridlock Alert Days are predictable, like the pre-Christmas period when tourists flock to the city to see holiday lights and shop. Others, such as the ones that occur during the U.N. General Assembly meetings, might catch visitors off guard. According to NYC DOT traffic data, driving speeds in Midtown during U.N. General Assembly week are the slowest of the year, averaging less than four miles per hour, compared to the average speed of between four and six miles per hour.

If you do visit during these periods, skip driving and opt for public transportation, biking, or walking instead. Or consider it an opportunity to explore the outer boroughs, as gridlock alerts only affect Manhattan.

Busy intersection in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States — BullRun | Adobe Stock

2024 New York City Gridlock Alert Days

Monday, September 23, 2024
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Friday, September 27, 2024
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Friday, November 22, 2024
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Friday, December 6, 2024
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Friday, December 13, 2024
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Thursday, December 19, 2024

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