Top 10 US Cities With the Worst Traffic Congestion

Commuters in some of the biggest cities in the U.S. are increasingly spending a lot of time stuck in their vehicles caught in traffic snarls. Not only is traffic congestion a reason for frustration among drivers, it also affects commuters’ time and productivity.

New data from TomTom Traffic Index and INRIX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard shows that drivers in major cities are losing several hours each year sitting in congestion, particularly during peak travel times.

Based on the two reports, here are the 10 cities in the U.S. most impacted by traffic.

Top 10 cities in the U.S. with the worst traffic congestion.

1. Los Angeles

Representative picture of Los Angeles. Image Source: chonesstock/Canva

Los Angeles features among the most congested city in the U.S. in both TomTom and INRIX reports.

The average congestion level (average additional time lost to traffic compared to free-flowing conditions) in the city is 59.8%, while the average distance driven in 15 minutes is 9.7 kilometers, according to TomTom.

With an average speed of 38.7 km/h, drivers lose 83 hours per year during the rush hour, according to TomTom.

2. New York City

Representative picture of New York City. Image Source: Schroptschop/Canva

New York City is placed high on both the national congestion rankings, with INRIX placing it as the second city in the U.S. with the highest traffic delay.

According to TomTom, the average congestion level is 48.8% and the average distance driven in 15 minutes is 4.8 kilometers. Drivers lose 125 hours during rush hour per year and the average speed was around 19 km/h.

3. Chicago

Representative picture of Chicago. Image Source: Leonid Andronov/Canva

Chicago claimed the first spot in INRIX’s analysis of the American city with the highest traffic delay.

With an average congestion level of 46.1%, the average speed of drivers in Chicago hovers around 31.6 km/h, according to TomTom. Every year, commuters lose 79 hours during rush hour, while the average distance driven in 15 minutes is 7.9 kilometers.

4. Washington, D.C.

Representative picture of Washington, D.C. Image Source: YayaErnst/Canva

The Washington, D.C. area also features in the top tier of congestion rankings.

The city has an average congestion level of 37.3%, with the average speed of drivers ranging around 30.8 km/h, according to TomTom. Drivers lose about 72 hours during rush hour every hour, while the average distance driven in 15 minutes is 7.7 kilometers.

5. San Francisco

Representative picture of San Francisco. Image Source: RudyBalasko/Canva

San Francisco ranks high for traffic congestion due to its geographical limitations and dense layout.

Featuring on the third spot in TomTom’s Traffic Index, the city has an average congestion level of 49.7%, with drivers’ speed averaging 20.2 km/h. The average distance commuters can drive in 15 minutes is just 5.1 kilometers, with drivers losing 116 hours per year during rush hour every year.

6. Honolulu

Representative picture of Honolulu. Image Source: Art Wager/Canva

Despite its smaller location, Honolulu finds a place as one of the most congested cities in the U.S., primarily due to the island geography’s limited roadway options.

With a 50.5% average congestion level, the city’s drivers’ average speed ranges close to 28.6 km/h, according to TomTom. Drivers manage to reach 7.2 kilometers in 15 minutes and lose 88 hours during rush hour every year.

7. Boston

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With ageing roads and poor road conditions, Boston features among INRIX’s top 10 cities with the highest traffic delay.

The city has an average congestion level of 42.1% and commuters could reach only 7.2 kilometers in 15 minutes, according to TomTom. Drivers’ average speed was 28.6 km/h, while commuters lost 86 hours during rush hour every year.

8. Seattle

Representative picture of Seattle. Image Source: Comstock/Canva

Seattle continues to struggle with traffic snarls as population growth outpaces road expansions.

According to TomTom, the city has an average congestion level of nearly 45%, with drivers managing to drive an average speed of 35.1 km/h. Commuters lost 69 during rush hour every year and the average distance driven in 15 minutes was 8.8 kilometers.

9. Philadelphia

Representative picture of Philadelphia. Image Source: S. Greg Panosian/Canva

High commuter volumes and dense urban development causes Philadelphia to rank among one of the most congested cities in the U.S. and ranks fourth in INRIX’s 2025 list.

The city has an average congestion level of 37.5% and an average speed of 27.8 km/h, according to TomTom. Drivers lost 72 hours during rush hour every year and the average distance traveled in 15 minutes was 7 kilometers.

10. Dallas

Representative picture of Dallas. Image Source: Georgescu Adrian’s Images/Canva

Dallas rounds the list, with traffic being complicated due to suburban sprawl and dependence on personal vehicles.

According to TomTom, the average congestion level in the city is 40.6% and the average speed ranges around 44.6 km/h. Drivers could reach an average of 11.2 kilometers in 15 minutes and lost 56 hours during rush hour per year.

How the Rankings are Measured

The TomTom Traffic Index assesses cities globally by their average travel time and congestion level.

The INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard offers three years of transportation data in over 900 cities around the world, providing a more holistic study of mobility within some of the most congested cities in the world. The analysis provides travel delay comparisons, costs of congestion to drivers and regions, and commuting trends based on the travel patterns within each metro area.