Los Angeles has long been infamous for having the worst traffic in the United States, but not anymore! According to a new national study for 2025 by ConsumerAffairs, L.A. has officially been bumped from the top spot of worst traffic in the country.
Washington, D.C. now ranks as the most congested city in the country, while L.A. comes in second. While the shift may feel like a small victory for Angelenos, it’s unlikely to make daily commutes in L.A. feel any less frustrating.
Why does L.A. have the 2nd worst traffic in the U.S.?
Los Angeles has now dropped to second place for the worst traffic in the U.S., swapping spots with Washington, D.C. since last year’s ranking. However, L.A. still holds the record for the longest weekday congestion, averaging nearly eight hours. It’s the equivalent of spending 85 full days stuck in traffic annually.
L.A.’s key traffic metrics:
- Average daily commute time: 30.5 minutes (sixth highest)
- Average length of weekday congestion: 7 hours, 51 minutes (highest)
- Annual rate of fatal car crashes: 7.33 per 100,000 people
The study noted that “L.A.’s urban form exacerbates its infamous congestion: The city is never quite dense enough to make walking and public transportation effective, but it’s never sufficiently low-density to make driving a pleasant experience, either.”
Five cities with the worst traffic in the U.S.
There’s a clear connection between a city’s economic activity and its traffic. The cities with the worst congestion are also some of the country’s biggest economic centers. Three of the worst cities for traffic are in the South, and the remaining two are located in California. (Surprise, surprise!) The cities with the worst traffic in America are the following:
1. Washington, D.C.
2. Los Angeles, California
3. Miami, Florida
4. San Francisco, California
5. Atlanta, Georgia
What was the methodology used for the study?
To identify the cities with the worst traffic, the ConsumerAffairs Research Team analyzed data from the 50 most populous U.S. metro areas, focusing on:
- Average commute times
- Daily hours spent in congestion
- Rate of fatal car crashes
You can read more about the national traffic study for 2025 by ConsumerAffairs here.