The 7 Cities in America with the Worst Traffic

American cities are full of congestion. From narrow roads to an intense rush hour in the mornings and evenings, American cities see substantial levels of traffic. If you’re anything like me, when you think of terrible traffic, L.A. comes to mind. But interestingly enough — Los Angeles isn’t even in the top five! Let’s look at the seven cities in America with the absolute worst traffic according to INRIX’s 2022 Global Traffic Scorecard. #1 is not what you’d expect!

6. Los Angeles

Of course, Los Angeles is one of the cities with the worst traffic in the United States of America. However, you may have guessed that Los Angeles was in first place. In fact, it actually has the seventh worst traffic of any U.S. city. With giant populations and terrible rush hours, L.A. packs a punch when it comes to traffic, with the average driver losing 95 hours of their life to traffic. If you plan a trip to L.A., you’ll want to be sure to factor in time spent on the roads. And make sure to avoid rush hour!

6. San Francisco

The American city with the sixth worst traffic in the country is the gorgeous city of San Francisco. San Francisco boasts stunning beaches and artsy streets, but it’s also got some of the worst traffic of any city in America. According to INRIX, the average driver loses around 97 hours a year to San Francisco traffic. However, if you’re a visitor, you won’t need to worry about such substantial time loss — you will want to factor travel time into your trip, though!

5. Miami

The sunny and fun city of Miami has one major drawback: traffic! Miami has the fifth-worst traffic of any city in America. According to INRIX, drivers in Miami lose 105 hours a year stuck in traffic. Interestingly enough, Miami also ranks in global traffic. The city has the 9th worst traffic of any city in the entire world! With a large population and minimal public transport, Miami residents are stuck dealing with high traffic.

4. Philadelphia

The states on the East Coast contain some of the most severe traffic of any region in the US. Philadelphia, PA, is one of the cities with considerable traffic, with the fourth-worst traffic in America. Philadelphia drivers, on average, lose 114 hours in traffic each year. A lot of Philadelphia’s terrible traffic is attributed to rush hour commuting times, which cause major road back-ups.

3. New York City

It’s no surprise that New York City is on the list of cities with the worst traffic in the United States. NYC is home to tight blocks and large numbers of residents, and its driving style is iconically intense. According to INRIX, NYC drivers lose 117 hours in traffic each year. If you’re visiting New York City, you’re best off on foot or by subway. Thankfully, the city has a robust public transport system!

2. Boston

Another East Coast city has some of the worst traffic in America. That city is Boston! Boston has the second-worst traffic in the country, with drivers in the city losing 134 hours in traffic annually, on average. In recent years, traffic has been worsening. If you’re a Boston resident, you’ve likely noticed this, and for visitors — you may want to stick to the T for public transportation!

1. Chicago

Finally, the American city with the absolute worst traffic is Chicago, IL. Chicago is the only Midwestern city on this list, but it’s the largest city in the region. Drivers of Chicago lose, on average, 155 hours each year stuck in traffic. Thankfully, Chicago features a substantial train system, so it’s possible for many residents and visitors to avoid car travel altogether.