Ever taken a deep breath and regretted it?
These places make you wish you packed a snorkel instead of a suitcase.
We’re diving nose-first into the smoggiest spots in America.
If clean air is your love language, you might want to swipe left on these towns.
Let’s clear the air—by naming where it’s not so clear.
1. Bakersfield-Delano, California
Bakersfield-Delano has some of the worst air in the nation.
It struggles with pollution from farming, oil drilling, and nearby wildfires.
The dry climate and long hot summers make it worse.
Why it’s on this list: It ranks worst for year-round and short-term particle pollution and also suffers from serious ozone problems.
2. Visalia, California
Visalia sits in California’s Central Valley.
This region gets hit with farm dust, wildfire smoke, and heat waves.
It regularly ranks near the bottom for clean air in the US.
Why it’s on this list: It ranks among the worst for all three: ozone, short-term, and year-round particle pollution.
3. Fresno-Hanford-Corcoran, California
This area faces many of the same problems as nearby towns.
Wildfires, agriculture, and oil all affect its air.
The geography also traps dirty air in the valley.
Why it’s on this list: It scores poorly across the board for particle and ozone pollution.
4. Los Angeles-Long Beach, California
LA is known for its smog.
Car emissions and factory smoke get trapped by surrounding mountains.
Wildfires have made things worse in recent years.
Why it’s on this list: LA has the worst ozone pollution in the US and bad particle pollution too.
5. Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona
Phoenix is sunny and hot, but not always healthy to breathe in.
Its ozone levels are very high, made worse by car traffic and heat.
Dust and wildfires also make air quality worse.
Why it’s on this list: It’s one of the worst cities for ozone pollution and year-round particle pollution.
6. Eugene-Springfield, Oregon
This Oregon area is beautiful but has dirty air at times.
In the summer, wildfires send smoke into the sky.
The particles stay around and affect breathing.
Why it’s on this list: It’s ranked among the worst in the country for both short-term and year-round particle pollution.
7. Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, Michigan
Detroit’s air quality has dropped due to a mix of causes.
In 2023, Canadian wildfire smoke filled the area.
Factories and traffic also play a part in pollution.
Why it’s on this list: It is among the worst in the country for both year-round and short-term particle pollution.
8. San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California
The Bay Area often deals with thick wildfire smoke.
It also has a lot of ozone and fine particle problems.
These issues are made worse by nearby industries and cars.
Why it’s on this list: It ranks poorly for all pollution types: ozone, year-round, and short-term particle pollution.
9. Houston-Pasadena, Texas
Houston is known for its oil and gas activity.
That adds lots of pollutants into the air.
The city’s traffic and weather patterns don’t help either.
Why it’s on this list: It’s one of the worst in the country for both ozone and year-round particle pollution.
10. Fairbanks-College, Alaska
Alaska might seem clean, but Fairbanks has its problems.
Cold weather and home heating cause a lot of particle pollution.
In winter, the smoke gets trapped under a layer of air.
Why it’s on this list: It has some of the worst particle pollution in the country, both short-term and year-round.
11. Cleveland-Akron-Canton, Ohio
This Ohio metro area struggles with pollution all year.
Factories, traffic, and older power plants all contribute.
Cold weather can also trap pollution near the ground.
Why it’s on this list: It ranks among the worst in the country for year-round particle pollution.
12. Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, Indiana
This Indiana metro has seen its air quality decline.
There’s a mix of traffic, industry, and seasonal pollution.
It also gets hit with high levels of ozone in the summer.
Why it’s on this list: It performs poorly for ozone, year-round, and short-term particle pollution.
13. Pittsburgh-Weirton-Steubenville, PA-OH-WV
This area has a long history of heavy industry.
Even today, the air carries a lot of pollution.
Hills around the area can trap smog and particles.
Why it’s on this list: It ranks among the worst nationally for both year-round and short-term particle pollution.
14. Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI
Chicago has high traffic and many factories.
Air pollution from Canadian wildfires added to the problem in 2023.
Ozone and particle levels remain a concern.
Why it’s on this list: It ranks among the worst for both ozone and year-round particle pollution.
15. Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, UT-ID
This area gets hit hard in both winter and summer.
Inversions trap pollution in valleys during colder months.
Ozone builds up during hot summer days.
Why it’s on this list: It’s one of the worst for short-term particle and ozone pollution.
16. Denver-Aurora-Greeley, Colorado
Denver sits near mountains that trap air pollution.
The city deals with high ozone levels, especially in summer.
Smog from nearby fires and traffic adds to the mix.
Why it’s on this list: It ranks among the worst metro areas for ozone pollution.
17. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California
San Diego might look clean, but its air tells another story.
Ozone pollution is a major issue due to heat and car traffic.
Wildfire smoke has also reached the area.
Why it’s on this list: It ranks among the worst in the US for ozone pollution.
18. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK
This large area sees a lot of car and truck traffic.
That adds to the already high ozone levels.
Warm weather and industrial zones make things worse.
Why it’s on this list: It’s one of the worst areas in the country for ozone pollution.
19. Sacramento-Roseville, California
Sacramento gets hit with smoke from nearby wildfires.
The heat and pollution from traffic add to the poor air.
Its location in a valley traps dirty air.
Why it’s on this list: It ranks poorly for ozone, short-term, and year-round particle pollution.
20. Reno-Carson City-Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA
Reno and nearby areas get a lot of wildfire smoke.
In the summer, this causes short-term spikes in pollution.
Ozone levels also rise when it’s hot and dry.
Why it’s on this list: It’s among the worst for both short-term particle and ozone pollution.