Halloween is the busiest day of the year for Uber and Lyft drivers

Halloween, not New Year's Eve or St. Patrick's Day, is the busiest day of the year for Uber and Lyft drivers in the US. That is the picture from ride volume data and comments from company executives. This year Halloween falls on a Saturday, which gives people more time to party and could create even more demand for rides.

What the numbers show

Last year, the most ride-hailing trips happened on October 31, according to Gridwise, a data analytics company. Volume was 23% above the yearly median. Gridwise adjusted that figure for the day of the week and for seasonal changes by quarter. Two other days came close:

• October 31: 23% above the median
• November 1: about 20% above the median
• July 3, the day before Independence Day: about 20% above the median

The day after Halloween may rank high because rides run late into the night.

What the companies say

Lyft CEO David Risher said Halloween 2025 was "our biggest day" and "our biggest week, and not by a little bit." He spoke on an earnings call last November. A Lyft spokesperson would not say how many trips drivers completed, only that it was "millions of rides."

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company "hit a new record over Halloween weekend" in 2025. That meant about 130 million ride and delivery trips worth $2 billion.

Halloween also kicks off the busiest season of the year for both apps. People book rides home from parties, then airport trips for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Earlier this month, Uber offered some drivers hundreds of dollars in bonuses for driving more. That may be a sign the company wants more drivers on the road as demand grows.

The driver side

The night pays, but it comes with risks. Raymundo Rodriguez drives for Uber on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. He started around Halloween two years ago and said there were plenty of riders. Some trips meant dealing with rowdy or drunk passengers. One rider in a costume left glitter on his black leather seats, and he had to clean it up himself.

This year, Rodriguez plans to skip driving and take his kids trick-or-treating. "I don't want nobody throwing up in my car," he said.

What to expect

Anyone planning a ride on Halloween night should expect heavy demand. Drivers may be handling rowdy passengers and messes along the way. The article does not say what prices or wait times will look like this year.