When it comes to driving in America’s cities, some are far more tolerable than others. According to a 2025 WalletHub study ranking the 100 largest U.S. cities on 30 key metrics including congestion, safety, costs and road conditions, certain metro areas stand out for all the wrong reasons. Here are the cities that drivers might want to avoid—or at least prepare for a rough ride.
Worst Cities to Drive In
Each of these cities struggles across multiple dimensions such as heavy congestion, high maintenance costs, elevated accident risk and limited access to vehicle services relative to population.
WalletHub's methodology is based on four categories. Cost of ownership and maintenance accounts for 30 percent of the total score and includes average gas price, insurance, auto repair costs, parking rates and what researchers call “extra vehicle operating costs,” such as damage from poor roads and lost time and fuel due to congestion. Traffic and infrastructure also carry a 30 percent weight, factoring in commute times, quality of roads and bridges, precipitation days and road density per capita. Safety makes up another 30 percent, with metrics like accident likelihood, fatality rates, seatbelt use, hard-braking incidents, uninsured drivers and car theft. The remaining 10 percent goes to access to vehicles and maintenance, which measures the density of repair shops, gas stations, parking and car dealerships per resident. Cities that perform poorly in several of these categories tumble toward the bottom.
In most of the lowest-ranked cities, drivers spend an excessive number of hours stuck in traffic. Philadelphia, ranked dead last overall, leads the nation in hours lost to congestion per commuter. Poorly maintained roads raise repair costs, and aging bridges or cracked pavement magnify vehicle wear and tear. High accident and theft rates, expensive insurance premiums, steep parking costs and limited access to repair shops make matters worse.
Philadelphia’s overall ranking reflects its sky-high congestion, poor safety record and expensive operating costs. Oakland faces many of the same issues, including high accident and theft rates and decaying road infrastructure. Washington, D.C. combines steep ownership costs with dense traffic and safety challenges. New York’s complexity and sheer density make driving a daily battle, and its parking costs are among the highest in the nation. Chicago also fares poorly across cost, congestion and safety categories, keeping it among the lowest performers.
Not all urban driving experiences are miserable, however. WalletHub’s study also identified the best cities to drive in, where factors such as affordable ownership, shorter commute times and better infrastructure improve life behind the wheel.
Best Cities to Drive In
These top-ranked cities offer a combination of manageable traffic, strong safety scores and reasonable costs. Raleigh, Boise and Corpus Christi all benefit from lower congestion levels, shorter commute times and affordable insurance rates. Plano and Scottsdale also stand out for good infrastructure and ample access to vehicle services.
For those who live or drive in one of the low-ranked cities, there are still ways to make the experience less painful. Drivers can time their commutes to avoid rush hours, stay proactive on maintenance—especially tires, suspension and alignment—and use real-time navigation tools to steer clear of bottlenecks. Parking in well-lit, less-expensive areas outside the urban core can also help reduce costs and risks.
While every city presents its own challenges, WalletHub’s annual analysis serves as a reminder that where you drive can make just as much difference as what you drive. The full report, “Best & Worst Cities to Drive In,” including detailed rankings and methodology, is available here.