America is known for freedom, opportunity, and… gridlock?
If you’ve ever aged 3 years while waiting to move 3 blocks, this list is for you.
These cities didn’t just earn a traffic ticket.
They earned a lifetime subscription to red lights, honking, and podcasts you didn’t ask for.
Let’s dive into the 10 U.S. cities where sitting in traffic is basically a full-time job.
1. New York City, NY
Drivers in New York City lost 102 hours to traffic in 2024.
That is the highest in the country.
Each driver paid the price with $1,826 in lost time.
The total cost to the city was $9.5 billion.
It is also one of the most congested cities in the world.
The constant delays affect both daily drivers and freight.
The Big Apple’s streets move slower than a Sunday stroll.
Every hour stuck in traffic is an hour you’ll never get back.
2. Chicago, IL
Chicago drivers also lost 102 hours in 2024.
That ties with New York City.
It cost each driver $1,826, and the city lost $6.6 billion.
The city saw a 6% jump in traffic delays compared to 2023.
As a major freight hub, these delays also hurt the economy.
This makes Chicago one of the worst cities for traffic.
The Windy City isn’t just blowing hot air about traffic problems.
Rush hour here feels like it lasts all day long.
3. Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles drivers lost 88 hours to traffic in 2024.
Each person lost about $1,575.
The city lost $8.5 billion total.
The traffic congestion rate was 43%, the highest in the country.
Gridlock is a daily problem in LA.
This hurts both commuters and port operations.
The freeway system feels more like a parking lot.
Nearly half of all driving time is spent crawling forward.
4. Boston, MA
Drivers in Boston lost 79 hours in 2024.
Each driver paid $1,414 in time lost.
The city lost $2.7 billion.
This was a 10% improvement from last year.
But it is still one of the top cities for traffic problems.
In 2019, Boston had the highest time lost in the U.S.
The narrow colonial streets weren’t built for modern traffic.
Getting anywhere in the city takes twice as long as it should.
5. Philadelphia, PA
Drivers in Philly lost 77 hours in 2024.
That’s 12% more than the year before.
It cost each person $1,378.
The city lost $3.3 billion due to traffic.
This growing congestion hurts daily drivers and shippers.
It’s a big issue for business and travel alike.
The City of Brotherly Love shows no mercy on the roads.
Traffic is getting worse at an alarming rate.
6. Miami, FL
Miami drivers lost 74 hours in 2024.
That’s up 6% from 2023.
It cost each driver $1,325.
The city-wide loss hit $3.4 billion.
Miami’s traffic issues affect both locals and international trade.
Its role as a global gateway adds pressure on the roads.
The Magic City’s traffic makes any trip feel endless.
Tourism and trade keep the roads packed year-round.
7. Houston, TX
In 2024, Houston drivers lost 66 hours to traffic.
That’s a 6% increase from the year before.
Each driver lost $1,181.
The city as a whole lost $3.5 billion.
Downtown trips shot up by 25%, the highest jump in the U.S.
That sharp rise has made congestion worse.
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the traffic jams.
More people are flooding downtown than ever before.
8. Atlanta, GA
Drivers in Atlanta lost 65 hours in 2024.
That was a 7% increase over the prior year.
Each driver paid $1,164 in time lost.
The total cost to the city was $2.9 billion.
Downtown trips rose by 10%, making traffic worse.
More people are heading into the city core each day.
The sprawling metro area forces long commutes on everyone.
Growth has outpaced the infrastructure for years.
9. Washington, DC
Washington drivers lost 62 hours to traffic in 2024.
This was 2% less than in 2023.
Still, each driver paid $1,110.
The city lost $2.8 billion due to traffic.
As the nation’s capital, delays hurt both local and federal work.
Deliveries and commutes face constant setbacks.
Political gridlock isn’t the only problem in DC.
The streets are just as stuck as Congress.
10. Seattle, WA
Seattle drivers lost 63 hours in 2024.
That was a 9% rise from the year before.
Each person lost $1,128.
The city’s total loss was $1.8 billion.
Downtown trips grew in 2024 as more workers returned to offices.
That spike added even more pressure to city roads.
The Emerald City’s commute is losing its shine.
Bridges and highways are packed from dawn to dusk.
11. Nashville, TN
Nashville drivers lost 63 hours in 2024.
That’s a 13% jump from the year before.
Each driver paid $1,128 in time lost.
The city lost $1.0 billion total.
This marks one of the steepest increases in the nation.
Music City’s roads are hitting all the wrong notes.
Tourism and rapid population growth are clogging the streets.
Downtown traffic now rivals much larger cities.
12. San Juan, PR
San Juan drivers lost 58 hours in 2024.
That’s a 2% increase from 2023.
Each driver paid $1,038 in time lost.
The city lost $109 million total.
As a major port city, delays ripple through the entire island.
Limited road infrastructure makes the problem worse.
Getting across the metro area can take hours.
Every route feels like a bottleneck waiting to happen.
13. Baltimore, MD
Baltimore drivers lost 48 hours in 2024.
That’s a 9% increase from the prior year.
Each driver paid $859 in time lost.
The city lost $1.0 billion due to traffic.
Major highways like I-95 run right through the city.
That makes Baltimore a chokepoint for the entire East Coast.
Commuters and freight trucks compete for the same crowded lanes.
Rush hour stretches longer every year.
14. San Francisco, CA
San Francisco drivers lost 46 hours in 2024.
That’s a 2% increase from 2023.
Each driver paid $823 in time lost.
The city lost $1.3 billion total.
Bridges and tunnels create natural bottlenecks all day long.
Limited routes in and out of the city make traffic inevitable.
Tech workers returning to offices added to the congestion.
What used to take 20 minutes now takes an hour.
15. Denver, CO
Denver drivers lost 44 hours in 2024.
That’s a shocking 19% jump from the year before.
Each driver paid $788 in time lost.
The city lost $1.0 billion total.
Denver saw the biggest increase in congestion of any major U.S. city.
Rapid growth and new development have overwhelmed the roads.
The Mile High City is now stuck in mile-long traffic.
What once was a smooth commute has turned into a crawl.
16. Dallas, TX
Dallas drivers lost 41 hours in 2024.
That’s an 8% increase from 2023.
Each driver paid $734 in time lost.
The city lost $2.4 billion total.
The sprawling metro area means long drives are the norm.
Highways are packed from early morning to late evening.
Business growth brings more people onto already crowded roads.
Traffic here never really lets up.
17. Stamford, CT
Stamford drivers lost 47 hours in 2024.
That’s an 18% jump from the year before.
Each driver paid $841 in time lost.
The city lost $300 million total.
Commuters heading to New York City add to local congestion.
The roads serve as a major corridor for the entire region.
Small streets were never meant to handle this volume.
Traffic spills over from neighboring metros daily.
18. Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh drivers lost 43 hours in 2024.
That stayed flat compared to 2023.
Each driver paid $770 in time lost.
The city lost $700 million total.
Rivers and bridges force traffic into narrow routes.
There are only so many ways to cross the city.
Every bridge becomes a bottleneck during rush hour.
The terrain makes expanding roads nearly impossible.
19. Honolulu, HI
Honolulu drivers lost 45 hours in 2024.
That’s a 7% increase from the prior year.
Each driver paid $806 in time lost.
The city lost $300 million total.
Island living comes with island traffic problems.
There’s literally nowhere else for cars to go.
Tourism and local traffic compete for limited road space.
Paradise has a price, and it’s paid in hours.
20. Charlotte, NC
Charlotte drivers lost 41 hours in 2024.
That stayed the same as in 2023.
Each driver paid $734 in time lost.
The city lost $800 million total.
Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in the South.
New residents mean more cars on the same old roads.
Banking and business bring thousands to the city center daily.
Growth shows no signs of slowing down.