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5d ago

Washington, D.C. Tops U.S. Commute Times; Los Angeles Retains Longest Gridlock

Consumer Affairs data links soaring commute lengths to urban growth pressures, underscoring health risks from prolonged exposure to vehicle emissions

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A map showing the U.S. cities with the best and worst traffic.

Overview

  • Washington, D.C. now has the nation's longest average work commute at 33.4 minutes, overtaking Los Angeles in the Consumer Affairs 2025 rankings.
  • Los Angeles drivers endure nearly eight hours of weekday congestion, the highest in the country.
  • Miami, San Francisco and Atlanta round out the top five worst U.S. cities for traffic in an annual analysis of 50 metropolitan areas.
  • New York City fell one spot to sixth place despite Governor Kathy Hochul crediting congestion pricing with reducing regional delays.
  • Chronic traffic exposure has been linked to increased respiratory and cardiovascular disease risks, prompting calls for congestion pricing and road-access regulations.