Auburn and Opelika sit side by side, but daily driving can feel different. Understand how university schedules, game days, and regional road networks shape traffic so you pick a home that fits your routine.
Opelika generally feels easier for everyday driving and offers multiple I-85 interchanges and U.S. highway access for regional travel.
Both cities have congested corridors—plan around schools, commercial areas, and game-day patterns rather than assuming one city is traffic-free.
Choose a home based on your actual daily destinations (work, school, shopping, campus) rather than the city name alone.
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.
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. School drop-off and pickup times can affect local streets, and continued residential and commercial growth creates additional traffic.
Auburn Traffic | REALTOR® Laura Sellers, Auburn, AL Opelika, Alabama vs. The day-to-day driving experience can feel different. Living close to Auburn University can be incredibly convenient.
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