U.S. drivers are no strangers to traffic jams. In fact, ten U.S. cities rank among the most congested in the world, according to INRIX, Inc.’s annual Global Traffic Scorecard. Running through and connecting these cities are some truly gridlocked roads and corridors, where traffic is a given during peak travel times.
RECOMMENDED: The most congested cities in America
Drivers in the U.S. spent an average of 43 hours stuck in traffic jams in 2024. This translates into a whopping $771 per person in lost time and productivity. New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles topped the list of the most congested cities in the U.S., with an average 102 hours each lost to traffic in NYC and Chicago, 88 hours in LA. Those three cities even ranked among the 25 most congested cities in the world—at number two, three, and eight, respectively.
In addition to identifying the most congested cities in the U.S., the Scorecard spotlights the most congested roads in the U.S. These corridors see consistent traffic from both commuters and freight truck drivers. The stretch of I-95 southbound between Westport and Indian Field Road in Stamford, CT, is officially the most congested corridor in the U.S. Drivers on this stretch lost an average of 151 hours to traffic jams, with peak traffic showing up at 8am.
A section of I-93 southbound in Boston between the Charles River and Pilgrim’s Highway (peaking at 3pm) ranks number two, followed by US-80 eastbound between I-635 and Forney, TX through Dallas (peaking at 5pm) at number three.
Not surprisingly, roads in New York and California claim 12 of the 25 spots on the most congested roads ranking. Chicago, unfortunately, boasts a whopping five traffic-packed roads in the top ten.
The 10 most congested roads in the U.S.
- Stamford, CT I-95 SB between Westport and Indian Field Road
- Boston, MA I-93 SB between Charles River and Pilgrim’s Highway
- Dallas, TX US-80 EB between I-635 and Forney, TX
- New York City, NY I-278 BQE WB between I-495 I’Chnge and Tillary Street
- Chicago, ILI-55 SB between I-90 and S Cicero Ave
- Chicago, IL I-90 EB between Cicero Ave and W Fullerton Ave
- Chicago, IL I-90 EB between Cicero Ave and Ohio Street
- New York City, NY Cross Bronx Expy SB between Bruckner Expy and Walter Gladwin Park
- Chicago, IL I-290 EB between S Wolf Road and Harlem Ave
- Chicago, IL I-90 WB between W Ontario Street and W Irving Park Rd