10 U.S Cities With the Worst Traffic (+ The 10 Best)

Atlanta takes the top spot for worst traffic in the U.S., with drivers spending an extra 33 hours in the car per year due to congestion. The city also has one of the longest commute times, averaging 33.4 minutes each way. Additionally, Georgia has a relatively high rate of fatal car crashes of 16.5 per 100,000 people. And traffic is only getting worse in Atlanta: rush hour driving time increased by 228 over the last year.

• Congestion: 33 extra hours per year
• Average commute time: 33.4 minutes
• Fatal crashes per year (by state): 16.5 per 100k population
• One-year increase in rush hour driving time: 228 minutes

Miami is another area where traffic is a challenge, with drivers losing an additional 40 hours per year to congestion. The average commute time is 29.5 minutes and Florida experiences a high rate of fatal crashes at 15.9 per 100,000 residents. Driving time during rush hour has also jumped 180 minutes.

• Congestion: 40 extra hours per year
• Average commute time: 29.5 minutes
• Fatal crashes per year (by state): 15.9 per 100k population
• One-year increase in rush hour driving time: 180 minutes

Next up is Los Angeles, which adds an extra 49 hours to drivers' commutes each year — that's the longest out of all the cities we researched. The average commute is fairly long at just over 30 minutes, and fatal crashes in California reach 11.3 per 100,000 people. Los Angeles also ranks third for the annual rush hour driving time increase, which clocked in at 304 minutes.

• Congestion: 49 extra hours per year
• Average commute time: 30.3 minutes
• Fatal crashes per year (by state): 11.3 per 100k population
• One-year increase in rush hour driving time: 304 minutes

Still in California, San Francisco comes in just behind Los Angeles in terms of congestion, which causes an additional 42 hours of driving per year. Average commutes are slightly longer at 31.7 minutes and rush hour driving time increased 222 minutes in 2023.

• Congestion: 42 extra hours per year
• Average commute time: 31.7 minutes
• Fatal crashes per year (by state): 11.3 per 100k population
• One-year increase in rush hour driving time: 222 minutes

Nashville's congestion isn't as high as other areas, with just an extra 28 hours spent in the car over the course of a year. But Tennessee's fatal crash rate is quite high at 18.6 deaths per 100,000 people in the state. And traffic in and out of Nashville is just getting worse, with time spent in rush hour jumping 202 minutes last year.

• Congestion: 28 extra hours per year
• Average commute time: 28.3 minutes
• Fatal crashes per year (by state): 18.6 per 100k population
• One-year increase in rush hour driving time: 202 minutes

San Jose has had the greatest increase in rush hour driving time out of all the cities we looked at, clocking in at an extra 442 minutes in 2023. Traffic congestion adds an extra 38 hours to individual commutes over the course of the year. The average commute time is 27.6 minutes.

• Congestion: 38 extra hours per year
• Average commute time: 27.6 minutes
• Fatal crashes per year (by state): 11.3 per 100k population
• One-year increase in rush hour driving time: 442 minutes

Tampa's traffic issues can cause significant delays, including an extra 30 hours spent in traffic over a year. The average commute time is nearly 30 minutes, but the increase in rush hour traffic was fairly moderate at just 117 minutes. Florida's fatal crash rate is on the higher end at 15.9 deaths per 100,000 people.

• Congestion: 30 extra hours per year
• Average commute time: 29.4 minutes
• Fatal crashes per year (by state): 15.9 per 100k population
• One-year increase in rush hour driving time: 117 minutes

Houston has one of the longest commute times in the nation, averaging more than 30 minutes each way. Congestion results in an extra 29 hours of traffic each year, which is fairly moderate compared to other cities on our list. Similarly, rush hour driving increased by 109 minutes year-over-year. Texas does, however, have a fatal crash rate of 14.7 deaths per 100,000 residents.

• Congestion: 29 extra hours per year
• Average commute time: 30.5 minutes
• Fatal crashes per year (by state): 14.7 per 100k population
• One-year increase in rush hour driving time: 109 minutes

Austin ranks high for its increase in rush hour driving time, which rose an additional 222 minutes over the course of a year. Congestion adds 28 hours on the road each year, and the average commute takes just over 27 minutes.

• Congestion: 28 extra hours per year
• Average commute time: 27.2 minutes
• Fatal crashes per year (by state): 14.7 per 100k population
• One-year increase in rush hour driving time: 222 minutes

Seattle is one of the worst cities for traffic due to the increasing rush hour: drivers spent an extra 315 minutes on the road last year. Congestion, in general, adds 26 hours each year to commutes. The good news is that Washington has one of the lowest rates of fatal car crashes.

• Congestion: 26 extra hours per year
• Average commute time: 29.2 minutes
• Fatal crashes per year (by state): 9.4 per 100k population
• One-year increase in rush hour driving time: 315 minutes