These US cities have the worst congestion

INRIX, a traffic data firm based in Washington, ranked the 25 US cities with the worst congestion based on the duration, length, and frequency of traffic jams in the city. As part of the ranking, INRIX determined the number of traffic "hot spots" in each city.

INRIX then identified the cost of congestion to each city by evaluating what the overall economic cost to drivers would be if nothing were to change by 2026. That cost was determined based on wasted time, fuel, and emissions.

Scroll down for a closer look at the 25 cities with the worst congestion:

25. Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara had 174 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at US-101 N at San Ysidro Road to La Conchita.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $1.1 billion.

24. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge had 1,090 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $3 billion.

23. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh had

22. Stamford, Connecticut

Stamford had 777 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at I

21. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis had 1,903 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at I-94 W at State Hwy 128 to 250th Street.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $6.2 billion.

20. Detroit, Michigan

Detroit had 4,284 traffic hot spots. The worst traffic hot spot was located at

19. Columbia, Maryland

Columbia had 2,856 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at I-695 at Baltimore National Pike to Providence Road.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $8.1 billion.

18. Austin, Texas

Austin had 1,727 traffic hot spots. The worst traffic hot spot was located at I-35 N at Stassney Lane to Exit 223.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $8.4 billion.

17. Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville had

16. Portland, Oregon

Portland had 2,365 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at US-26 E at I-405 to NW 185th Avenue.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $9 billion.

15. Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix had 3,441 traffic hot spots. The worst traffic hot spot was located at

14. Denver, Colorado

Denver had 2,258 traffic hot spots. The worst traffic hot spot was located at US-36 W / I-270 at Exit 1 to Smith Road.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $9.5 billion.

13. San Diego, California

San Diego had

12. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia had 6,232 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at Mid-County Expressway S at E Rose Valley Road to Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $14.7 billion.

11. Seattle, Washington

Seattle had 2,675 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at

10. Boston, Massachusetts

Boston had 4,158 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at

9. Miami, Florida

Miami had 6,596 traffic hot spots. The worst one was located at I-95 N at Exit 12A to US-1.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $19.1 billion.

8. Houston, Texas

Houston had 4,417 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at I-45 S Exit 46A to Exit 63.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $23.8 billion.

7. San Francisco, California

San Francisco had 2,587 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at

6. Chicago, Illinois

Chicago had 7,719 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at I-90 W at 81A to Exit 56B.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $28.2 billion.

5. Dallas, Texas

Dallas had 6,720 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at I-20 W at Exit 451 to Exit 466.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $28.3 billion.

4. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta had 8,554 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at I-285 S at I-20 to Route 23.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $28.9 billion.

3. Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. had 6,097 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at

2. New York, NY

New York had 13,608 traffic hot spots. The worst hot spot was located at

1. Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles actually had fewer traffic hot spots (10,385) than New York. The worst one was located at I-405 N at Exit 43 to Exit 21.

INRIX said the 2026 cost of congestion would be $90.9 billion.

These US cities have the worst congestion

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