2022’s Best & Worst Cities to Drive in

Wallet Hub, Oct 11, 2022

Most Americans rely on cars to get around, as “87 percent of daily trips take place in personal vehicles,” according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. While driving offers a more private and comfortable commute, though, it is often a major hassle and expense. Drivers annually spend an average of more than 360 hours on the road. That’s 15 days. Add the costs of wasted time and fuel due to traffic congestions, and our collective tab comes to about $564 per driver each year.

Road quality is another big factor in how pleasant one’s driving experience is. America’s highways and bridges are underfunded overall, with a backlog of hundreds of billions of dollars in repairs needed, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. The World Economic forum ranks U.S. roads at 17th in quality out of 141 economically developed nations, too. It’s clear there’s room for improvement.

Some cities are better for those behind the wheel, though. To determine those places, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities across 30 key indicators of driver-friendliness. Their data set ranges from average gas prices to annual hours in traffic congestion per auto commuter to auto-repair shops per capita.

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