What is a good AADT for a car wash?

Question

Justin Kuo · Accepted Answer

15,000–25,000 vehicles per day is the commonly cited viable floor; express tunnels generally want 25,000–40,000, and most top-performing express sites sit above 40,000 AADT. But speed matters as much as volume — roughly 25–45 mph posted is ideal, and above ~50 mph the count is worth much less because drivers won't comfortably turn in. The bands AADT on adjacent road Read Below ~15,000 Generally unviable without exceptional offsetting factors 15,000–25,000 Viable floor; strong demographics can compensate at the low end 25,000–40,000 Workable express-tunnel range; capture and visibility decide 40,000+ Where most top-performing express sites operate What the raw count hides Two sites at the same AADT can perform very differently. Composition matters (commuter traffic converts better than through-traffic), direction matters (the going-home side wins), and speed matters most — a 45,000-count road at 55 mph is pass-by traffic. Counts also vary along a single corridor, so measure at the parcel: intersection geometry and count-station placement can move the real exposure meaningfully. Check a site WashIndex layers DOT traffic counts on the same map as demographics and every existing wash. Start with the free Site Opportunity calculator , and see all thresholds on the site selection benchmarks reference .

What is a good AADT for a car wash?

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The bands

What the raw count hides

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Related questions

AADT on adjacent road	Read
Below ~15,000	Generally unviable without exceptional offsetting factors
15,000–25,000	Viable floor; strong demographics can compensate at the low end
25,000–40,000	Workable express-tunnel range; capture and visibility decide
40,000+	Where most top-performing express sites operate