Driving in America: Which Cities Pass the Test?

Is your city one of the best or worst places to drive in America? Driving conditions vary across the country, affecting not just daily commutes but also holiday travel and overall safety. With some cities notorious for traffic buildup, high accident rates, or severe winter conditions, knowing where driving is easiest — and where it's most challenging — can be valuable for anyone hitting the road.

We've ranked the best and worst US cities for drivers based on critical factors like traffic congestion, accident rates, travel times, and seasonal weather conditions. Drawing from multiple data sources, we provide insights into cities that offer smooth drives and those that require extra caution, especially during winter.

Key Takeaways

• Miami, Florida, ranks as the worst city for driving in the US, followed by Portland, Oregon, and Atlanta, Georgia.
• Detroit, Michigan, is the best city for driving in the US, followed by Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Raleigh, North Carolina.
• Boston, Massachusetts, is the worst city for driving in the US in the winter, followed by Washington, DC, and Portland, Oregon.
• Bakersfield, California, is the best city for driving in the US in the winter, followed by El Paso, Texas, and San Antonio, Texas.

How Driving Conditions Compare Across America

Driving conditions vary widely across the US, with some locations presenting far greater challenges than others. Here's the full ranking of over 40 of America's most populous cities.

Overall, Miami ranked as the most difficult city for drivers, followed by Portland and Atlanta. In contrast, Detroit stood out as the best city for driving, with Oklahoma City and Raleigh closely following. Let's now hone in on the best and worst cities in each of our study's four categories.

Portland recorded the highest accident rate at 7.46 per 1,000 drivers, while New York City showed the lowest, with only 0.29 accidents per 1,000 drivers. Motor vehicle fatalities were highest in Memphis, with 36.67 deaths per 100,000 residents, compared to New York City's notably low rate of 1.7 per 100,000.

Commute times also varied widely. New York City drivers experienced the longest travel time per mile at 4 minutes, while Oklahoma City offered the shortest at just 1.4 minutes per mile. Meanwhile, Los Angeles had the highest congestion level at 53%, with Omaha seeing the lowest at only 10%.

Winter Driving Challenges and City Rankings

Winter conditions bring unique challenges, with certain cities presenting far greater driving risks and obstacles. This analysis ranks US cities based on winter-specific driving factors, from accident rates and weather impacts to holiday congestion.

Boston ranked as the most difficult city for winter driving, with Washington, DC and Portland close behind. Bakersfield, California, topped the list as the best city for winter driving, followed by El Paso and San Antonio, Texas.

Memphis had the highest rate of weather-related motor vehicle deaths at 2.57 per 100,000 residents. Portland and Milwaukee recorded the most daily winter rainfall, averaging 0.37 and 0.35 inches, respectively. Additionally, Washington, DC, led in holiday-related congestion, with about 33 seasonal events per 100,000 residents, further complicating winter driving.

Driving Insights Fuel Safer and Smarter Roads

Understanding the driving conditions in different cities doesn't just help individual drivers — it also highlights opportunities for improvement. Cities facing high accident rates or congestion can use these insights when considering infrastructure projects or safety campaigns. These insights can also help businesses and travelers make informed decisions about logistics and routes, especially during winter.

Methodology

We created a meta-ranking of the 50 most populous US cities to identify the best and worst cities for driving. For this ranking, we used the following variables and weights:

• Car accidents per 1,000 drivers via LendingTree (25%)
• Motor vehicle deaths per 100,000 residents via FARS 2022 (25%)
• Average travel time per mile (in minutes) in 2023 via TomTom (25%) 
• Congestion level (the average additional time, as a percentage, lost to traffic in 2023) via TomTom (25%)

We also generated a meta-ranking for the best and worst cities for driving in the winter. For this ranking, we used the following variables and weights:

• Motor vehicle deaths per 100,000 residents where the weather conditions were snowy, rainy, windy, etc. via FARS 2022 (20%)
• Average daily rain in inches between November and February 2020-2024 via Open-Meteo (20%)
• Average daily snow in inches between November and February 2020-2024 via Open-Meteo (20%)
• Number of holiday-related locations (including shopping centers, ski resorts, and festivals) per 100,000 residents via Yelp (20%)
• Average travel time per mile (in minutes) in 2023 via TomTom (10%)
• Congestion level (the average additional time, as a percentage, lost to traffic in 2023) via TomTom (10%)

Data points were only available for 46 of the 50 most populated cities.

About Lance Surety Bonds

At Lance Surety Bonds, we specialize in providing reliable surety bond solutions to customers nationwide. Our auto dealer bonds are designed to help dealerships meet state licensing requirements and demonstrate compliance with industry regulations. With a commitment to competitive rates and personalized service, we work closely with top bonding companies to deliver fast, secure, and hassle-free bonding options for businesses of all sizes.

Fair Use Statement

This content is for informational purposes only and may be shared with proper attribution. Please provide a link to our driving study so readers can access the full findings.