CAJON PASS, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> Like it or not everyone hates being stuck in traffic like in the Cajon Pass on a 3 day weekend. California is one of the worst one.
That’s according to a recent analysis by WalletHub, which ranked the best and worst states to drive in the United States.
California ranked among the top five worst states to drive in – along with Hawaii, Washington, Delaware, and West Virginia. In fact, congestion cost the average driver $869 in 2022, thanks to an average of 51 hours spent sitting in traffic.
To get these results, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 31 key indicators of a “positive commute,” which involved a data set that measured everything from gas prices to rush-hour traffic congestion and road quality.
Iowa topped the list as the best state to drive in. This is due in part to the fact that it’s a rural state with one of the lowest rush-hour traffic congestion rates in the country, analysts found. Additionally, Iowa drivers tend to have shorter commutes (less than 20 minutes on average) and it also ranks among top 10 states when it comes to low gas prices and car insurance rates.
Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama rounded out the top five best states to drive in, the study found.
The list also ranked states against other variants, such as average gas prices and auto repair costs. Here’s how California ranked among those lists:
- % of rush-hour traffic congestion: California ranked worst state with traffic congestion
- Days with precipitation: California ranked No. 1 among best states with little precipitation
- Auto repair shops per capita: California ranked No. 1 among states with most auto repair shops
- Car washes per capita: California ranked No. 2 among states with most car washes
- Average gas prices: California ranks worst state in US for average gas prices, with highest prices in nation
“When people think about the costs associated with owning a vehicle, things like regular maintenance, insurance and gas typically come to mind. What many people don’t realize is that traffic congestion can also be extremely costly because of the amount of time it wastes, which is why the best states for driving tend to be sparsely populated. Factors like safety and the quality of roads are key, too,” said Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst.
There are more ways to follow the Pain In The Pass. Join the Traffic Group on Facebook with over 135,000 members. Join the group on MeWe. Like us on the NEW page on Facebook. Follow us on NewsBreak, and also follow us on Instagram, Threads, and X aka Twitter.
