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Los Angeles is infamous for its traffic jams. Many accept waiting out rush hour as part of life there. But in 2024, TomTom’s latest traffic report found 13 U.S. cities with even worse gridlock. If you thought LA’s freeways were bad, these places might change your mind.

The worst U.S. cities for traffic in 2024

Based on TomTom’s ranking, these are the 13 U.S. cities where congestion is worse than in LA:

  1. New York, NY – 30 min per 6 miles (30% congestion)
  2. San Francisco, CA – 25 min 37 s (32%)
  3. Honolulu, HI – 19 min 56 s (34%)
  4. Chicago, IL – 19 min 10 s (31%)
  5. Philadelphia, PA – 18 min 54 s (22%)
  6. New Haven, CT – 18 min 38 s (24%)
  7. Columbia, SC – 18 min 25 s (23%)
  8. Washington, DC – 17 min 56 s (25%)
  9. New Orleans, LA – 17 min 37 s (26%)
  10. Miami, FL – 17 min 3 s (33%)
  11. Anchorage, AK – 16 min 32 s (21%)
  12. Seattle, WA – 16 min 19 s (31%)
  13. Boston, MA – 16 min 16 s (30%)

What about infamous Los Angeles? The city of Angeles ranked 14th in the U.S. with a travel time of 15 minutes 53 seconds per 6 miles.

Not all gridlock is created equal

Traffic waiting between skyscrapers in Manhattan
Manhattan traffic | batuhanozdel via iStock

Traffic frustration comes in different flavors. Some cities have slow speeds, others have extreme congestion, and some make drivers waste the most time overall.

Cities where it takes over 18 minutes to travel 6 miles: New York, San Francisco, Honolulu, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Haven, and Columbia.

Places with congestion levels above 30%: New York (30%), San Francisco (32%), Honolulu (34%), Chicago (31%), Miami (33%), Seattle (31%), and Boston (30%).

Cities where drivers lost over 60 hours per year in traffic: New York (94 hours), San Francisco (81), Honolulu (71), Chicago (63), Miami (60), Seattle (51), New Orleans (49), Boston (59), and Philadelphia (44).

New York is the ultimate time thief. TomTom found its drivers lost 94 hours per year in rush hour traffic. Miami’s gridlock isn’t far behind, costing commuters 60 hours annually–even though traffic often moves a bit quicker in Miami.

Row of cars waiting in gridlocked city traffic
City traffic | ANGHI via iStockPhoto

According to TomTom, 76% of the 500 cities studied globally saw their traffic slow down in 2024. “The combination of population and economic growth is putting significant strain on our transportation networks,” said Ralf-Peter Schäfer, Vice President of Traffic at TomTom .

TomTom’s index considers both static factors (road design, speed limits, and city layout) and dynamic factors (accidents, weather, and rush-hour congestion). The report analyzed data from over 450 billion miles driven in 2024 .

Schäfer warned that without better planning, gridlock could worsen: “Outdated infrastructure and inefficient road planning fail to keep pace with demand.”

Should you rethink your next move?

Traffic might not be the top factor when choosing a city—but it can shape daily life. If you’re considering a move, think twice before settling in one of these gridlock nightmares. After all, nobody wants to spend their golden years stuck at a red light.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.