Opelika, Alabama vs. Auburn Traffic: What Home Buyers Should Know Before Choosing Where to Live
If you are moving to Auburn, Alabama or Opelika, Alabama, traffic and everyday driving may be more important to your home-buying decision than you realize.
Auburn and Opelika sit side by side in Lee County, and many people who relocate here consider homes in both cities. You can live in Opelika and work in Auburn, live in Auburn and shop or dine in Opelika, or move between the two cities several times during a normal week.
But the day-to-day driving experience can feel different.
Auburn tends to experience more noticeable traffic around Auburn University, downtown, major shopping corridors, school traffic, and especially Auburn University home football weekends. Opelika often offers a somewhat easier day-to-day driving experience depending on where you live, work, shop, and commute.
For home buyers comparing Auburn vs. Opelika, Alabama, that difference can become an important lifestyle consideration.
AUBURN TRAFFIC: LOCATION MATTERS
One of Auburn’s biggest attractions is also one of the reasons traffic patterns can change dramatically: Auburn University.
Living close to Auburn University can be incredibly convenient. Depending on the neighborhood, you may be close to campus, downtown Auburn, restaurants, shopping, schools, parks, and entertainment.
But proximity to the university also means living in a community where the rhythm of the academic calendar can affect traffic.
During a normal weekday, certain Auburn roads become noticeably busier during morning and afternoon commuting periods. University class schedules, school traffic, construction, special events, basketball games, football weekends, move-in periods, graduation, and other major events can all affect how quickly you get around town.
That doesn’t mean Auburn is difficult to navigate every day. Far from it. But buyers relocating from another area should understand that traffic can vary considerably depending on the location of the home and the time of year.
AUBURN FOOTBALL WEEKENDS ARE DIFFERENT
If you are considering buying a home in Auburn, Alabama, you need to understand Auburn University football weekends.
A normal Saturday in Auburn and a home football Saturday can feel like two completely different experiences.
Thousands of visitors come into the Auburn area for home games. Parking restrictions begin before some games, and traffic patterns around campus can change to accommodate the influx of fans.
Auburn University specifically advises visitors to be prepared to walk on game days because traffic patterns on campus and in surrounding areas are altered. Auburn University also operates special Tiger Transit game-day routes, and those buses do not operate on fixed arrival and departure schedules because pregame and postgame traffic affects travel times.
If you love Auburn football, that energy may be part of the reason you want to live here.
If you would rather avoid game-day congestion, your home’s location and your normal driving routes deserve careful consideration before you buy.
OPELIKA TRAFFIC CAN FEEL DIFFERENT
Drive a few miles into Opelika and the experience can feel different.
Opelika has its own busy roads, school traffic, construction, shopping areas, special events, and rush periods. No growing city is completely free of congestion.
However, many buyers find that Opelika generally feels easier to navigate during everyday routines, particularly when comparing it with areas of Auburn affected by university and event traffic.
Opelika also has several major transportation corridors.
The City of Opelika notes that the city is served by Interstate 85 as well as U.S. Highways 29, 280 and 431. Opelika also has multiple Interstate 85 interchanges, providing several options for reaching different parts of the community and the surrounding region.
That road network can be especially appealing to buyers who frequently travel toward Columbus, Montgomery, Atlanta or other communities outside the immediate Auburn-Opelika area.
OPELIKA ISN’T TRAFFIC-FREE
It is important not to oversimplify the comparison.
Buying in Opelika does not mean you will never encounter traffic.
Areas around Tiger Town, Pepperell Parkway, Gateway Drive, Interstate 85 and other commercial corridors can become busy. School drop-off and pickup times can affect local streets, and continued residential and commercial growth creates additional traffic.
The City of Opelika has also been working on transportation improvements, including traffic signal upgrades designed to respond better to real-time traffic demands and road projects intended to create alternative routes and ease congestion at major intersections.
So the better question isn’t:
“Which city has traffic?”
Both do.
The more useful question is:
“Which location fits the way I actually plan to live?”
YOUR DAILY ROUTINE MATTERS MORE THAN THE CITY NAME
This is something I encourage relocating buyers to think about carefully.
Two homes can both have an Auburn address and offer completely different daily driving experiences.
The same is true in Opelika.
Instead of looking only at whether a property is technically located in Auburn or Opelika, think about where you will actually need to go.
Where will you work?
Where will your children attend school?
How often will you need to get to Auburn University?
Do you want to be able to walk downtown?
Will you commute to another city?
Do you frequently use Interstate 85?
Would you rather be close to restaurants and shopping even if that means dealing with a busier road?
Would you prefer a quieter residential location even if it adds several minutes to your commute?
Those questions can tell you much more about whether a particular home fits your lifestyle.
LIVING CLOSE TO AUBURN UNIVERSITY
For some buyers, living close to Auburn University is worth dealing with occasional congestion.
Faculty and staff relocating to Auburn may specifically want a short commute to campus. Parents purchasing property for an Auburn University student may prioritize proximity. Game-day buyers may want to be close enough to walk to Jordan-Hare Stadium or downtown.
Those priorities can outweigh concerns about traffic.
There are also buyers who simply love being close to the center of Auburn.
They want easy access to downtown Auburn, Toomer’s Corner, campus activities, restaurants, coffee shops and university events.
For those buyers, Auburn’s activity isn’t necessarily a drawback. It is part of the lifestyle they are choosing.
WHEN OPELIKA MAY APPEAL TO YOU
Other buyers want something different.
They may like having Auburn University nearby without necessarily wanting to live in the middle of university-related activity.
They may prefer historic Opelika, newer residential developments, convenient Interstate 85 access, or a daily routine that feels a little removed from campus activity.
For those buyers, Opelika deserves serious consideration.
One of the advantages of living in the Auburn-Opelika area is that the two cities are contiguous. You don’t have to give up Auburn simply because you buy a home in Opelika.
You can live in Opelika and still enjoy Auburn restaurants, Auburn University events and downtown Auburn.
Likewise, Auburn residents routinely travel to Opelika for restaurants, shopping, medical services and entertainment.
These are neighboring communities, not two completely separate worlds.
DON’T JUDGE A COMMUTE BY MILES ALONE
This is especially important when you’re moving here from out of town.
A house may look farther away on a map but actually provide a convenient drive because of the roads available nearby.
Another home may appear extremely close to your destination but require traveling through a consistently busy intersection or corridor.
That’s why I don’t recommend evaluating Auburn or Opelika homes based solely on mileage.
Look at the actual route.
Better yet, drive it.
If you’re seriously considering a particular neighborhood, try driving from the home to your workplace during the time you would normally commute.
If Auburn University is your destination, see how the route feels on a weekday when classes are in session.
If you’re concerned about football traffic, understand how home-game weekends could affect that particular part of town.
Those real-world observations can be much more useful than simply looking at a map.
THINK ABOUT WEEKENDS TOO
Your weekday commute isn’t the only consideration.
What do you normally do on Saturday morning?
Where do you buy groceries?
Where do you go to church?
Where do you exercise?
Where are your favorite restaurants likely to be?
Do you expect to attend Auburn University events frequently?
If you travel often, how quickly can you reach Interstate 85?
A house is more than a floor plan and a price.
Its location affects dozens of small routines that you will repeat week after week.
Traffic is part of that equation.
AUBURN VS. OPELIKA IS A LIFESTYLE DECISION
I have lived in the Auburn area since 1988, and one thing I try to help relocating buyers understand is that choosing between Auburn and Opelika isn’t simply a question of which city is “better.”
It is about which location works better for you.
Some buyers immediately fall in love with Auburn and want to be as close to Auburn University and downtown as possible.
Others discover that Opelika gives them the combination of location, housing options and everyday routine they prefer.
And plenty of buyers start their search convinced they want one city and eventually buy in the other.
That’s perfectly normal.
The cities are close enough that it makes sense to consider both.
QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE BUYING
Before you choose a home in Auburn or Opelika, consider these questions:
• How much everyday traffic are you comfortable with?
• Will you commute to Auburn University?
• Is walking or biking to campus important?
• Do you want to be close to downtown Auburn?
• Would you rather have easier access to Interstate 85?
• How important is avoiding football game-day congestion?
• Where will you shop most often?
• What roads will you use during morning and afternoon rush periods?
• Do you prefer being close to activity or a little farther away from it?
• Are you willing to trade a slightly longer drive for a home or neighborhood you prefer?
There is no universal right answer.
The right answer depends on your lifestyle.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT AUBURN AND OPELIKA TRAFFIC
Is traffic worse in Auburn or Opelika?
Traffic conditions depend heavily on location, time of day and events. Auburn can experience significant increases in traffic related to Auburn University, particularly during home football weekends and other major university events. Opelika has busy corridors of its own but is generally less directly affected by campus-centered traffic.
Does Auburn have a lot of traffic every day?
Not necessarily. Many parts of Auburn are easy to navigate during normal periods. Traffic tends to be more noticeable along certain major roads, around schools, commercial areas, downtown and Auburn University, and during large events.
How bad is Auburn traffic on football weekends?
Home football weekends can substantially change traffic and parking patterns around Auburn University and surrounding parts of Auburn. Auburn University operates special game-day transportation services, and visitors should expect altered traffic patterns and heavier congestion before and after games.
Can I live in Opelika and work in Auburn?
Yes. Auburn and Opelika are adjoining cities, and many residents travel between them regularly. The convenience of a particular commute depends on the neighborhood, destination and route.
Is Opelika convenient to Interstate 85?
Yes. Opelika has multiple Interstate 85 interchanges and is also served by U.S. Highways 29, 280 and 431.
Should traffic affect which neighborhood I choose?
It can. Your normal commute, school routes, shopping habits, university access and tolerance for special-event traffic are all worth considering when comparing neighborhoods.
MOVING TO AUBURN OR OPELIKA, ALABAMA?
If you’re relocating to Auburn, Alabama or Opelika, Alabama, I can help you look beyond the listing photos and compare what everyday life may actually feel like in different parts of our community.
I’ve lived in the Auburn area since 1988 and have worked in real estate for more than 20 years. That local perspective can be particularly useful when you’re trying to decide not only which house you like, but which location makes sense for your daily routine.
Whether you’re relocating for Auburn University, moving for work, retiring to the area, buying a game-day property or simply looking for your next home, we can compare Auburn and Opelika neighborhoods based on the things that matter to you — including commute, location, traffic patterns, access to shopping and proximity to Auburn University.
Laura Sellers, REALTOR®
Associate Broker
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate
Official Real Estate Partner of the Auburn Tigers
Homes, y’all!
