With Americans losing an average of $771 per year due to time spent in traffic, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its report on 2025’s Best & Worst Cities to Drive in, as well as expert commentary.
To determine the most driver-friendly places in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities across 30 key metrics. The data set ranges from average gas prices to annual hours in traffic congestion per auto commuter to auto-repair shops per capita.
| Best Cities for Driving | Worst Cities for Driving | |
| 1. Corpus Christi, TX | 91. Baltimore, MD | |
| 2. Greensboro, NC | 92. San Jose, CA | |
| 3. Boise, ID | 93. Los Angeles, CA | |
| 4. Scottsdale, AZ | 94. Detroit, MI | |
| 5. Laredo, TX | 95. San Francisco, CA | |
| 6. Lubbock, TX | 96. Chicago, IL | |
| 7. Birmingham, AL | 97. New York, NY | |
| 8. Plano, TX | 98. Washington, DC | |
| 9. Austin, TX | 99. Oakland, CA | |
| 10. Winston-Salem, NC | 100. Philadelphia, PA |
Best vs. Worst
- Henderson, Nevada, has the lowest traffic fatality rate (per 100,000 residents), 31.5 times lower than Memphis, Tennessee, the city with the highest.
- Laredo, Texas, has the lowest average gas price, 1.8 times lower than San Francisco, California, the city with the highest.
- Corpus Christi, Texas, has the lowest average parking rate, 33.4 times lower than San Diego, California, the city with the highest.
- Lubbock, Texas, has the lowest annual hours spent in congestion per auto commuter, 20.4 times lower than New York and Chicago, the cities with the highest.
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/
