These Traffic-Packed Cities Spend the Most on Gas

Time is money. And all of that time spent commuting to work and being stuck in traffic can cost a lot of money.

The average travel time to work among U.S. workers is about 27 minutes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Over the course of a year, that can add up to several days’ worth of time spent commuting. If you’re driving your own vehicle, you’re filling up your gas tank again and again. Plus, there’s the cost of maintenance for all of the wear and tear your vehicle experiences during all of that time on the road. And you’re giving up your time that could possibly be spent making more money.

To get a better idea about the cost of commuting across the U.S., GOBankingRates analyzed commute times and gas prices in the 150 largest cities. It then identified the 50 cities where commutes are longest and gas prices are the highest. The cities were ranked from best to worst, with the worst being the city with the longest amount of time lost in rush hour each year and the highest average gas price.

GOBankingRates also looked at the percentage of commuters in each city who use public transportation and the average travel time to work for public transportation commuters as supplemental data for the study. Discover how much time is spent commuting in these traffic-packed cities and the price that’s paid at the pump to make those commutes.

Last updated: March 3, 2020

• Total population: 311,273
• Average gas price: $2.15
• Average travel time to work: 25.3 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 2 days, 23 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 10.1%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 53.9 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.09

• Total population: 1,486,521
• Average gas price: $1.99
• Average travel time to work: 24.6 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 9 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 2.5%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 49.8 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.05

• Total population: 389,648
• Average gas price: $2.04
• Average travel time to work: 25.4 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 20 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 6.9%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 49.5 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.06

• Total population: 387,398
• Average gas price: $2.33
• Average travel time to work: 24.3 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 2 days, 7 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 10.3%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 49.2 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.28

• Total population: 1,318,806
• Average gas price: $2.00
• Average travel time to work: 27.2 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days
• Commuters who use public transportation: 3.8%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 47.6 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.05

• Total population: 855,786
• Average gas price: $2.01
• Average travel time to work: 27.7 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days
• Commuters who use public transportation: 0.8%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 39.4 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.05

• Total population: 857,637
• Average gas price: $2.30
• Average travel time to work: 23.9 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 2 days, 21 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 1.9%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 47.0 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.31

• Total population: 300,357
• Average gas price: $2.26
• Average travel time to work: 23.9 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 10 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 6.9%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 38.1 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.28

• Total population: 457,502
• Average gas price: $2.40
• Average travel time to work: 22.9 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 2 days, 21 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 0.9%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 47.6 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.44

• Total population: 539,216
• Average gas price: $2.41
• Average travel time to work: 23.1 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 2 days, 23 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 3.2%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 43.5 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.79

• Total population: 416,021
• Average gas price: $2.32
• Average travel time to work: 23.5 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 13 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 13.1%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 36.3 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.27

• Total population: 195,701
• Average gas price: $2.47
• Average travel time to work: 19.1 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 13 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 7.7%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 30.5 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.52

• Total population: 185,195
• Average gas price: $2.46
• Average travel time to work: 24.9 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 2 days, 11 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 2.7%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 52.6 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.49

• Total population: 457,159
• Average gas price: $2.25
• Average travel time to work: 24.6 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days
• Commuters who use public transportation: 2.2%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 50.9 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.23

• Total population: 224,300
• Average gas price: $2.49
• Average travel time to work: 19.0 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 15 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 0.7%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 23.9 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.52

• Total population: 207,778
• Average gas price: $2.57
• Average travel time to work: 21.1 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 2 days, 16 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 9.2%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 54.8 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.60

• Total population: 878,907
• Average gas price: $2.31
• Average travel time to work: 25.5 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 15 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 1.4%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 61.2 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.35

• Total population: 677,155
• Average gas price: $2.38
• Average travel time to work: 26.0 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 1 hour
• Commuters who use public transportation: 5.9%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 63.1 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.35

• Total population: 935,755
• Average gas price: $2.07
• Average travel time to work: 24.0 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 5 days, 13 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 3.2%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 38.4 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.05

• Total population: 2,295,982
• Average gas price: $2.04
• Average travel time to work: 27.8 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 23 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 3.8%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 45.0 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.05

• Total population: 841,611
• Average gas price: $2.23
• Average travel time to work: 26.0 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 5 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 3.2%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 41.2 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.23

• Total population: 179,435
• Average gas price: $2.45
• Average travel time to work: 22.2 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 15 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 4.5%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 46.3 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.47

• Total population: 275,690
• Average gas price: $2.30
• Average travel time to work: 26.3 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 2 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 2.8%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 88.6 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.35

• Total population: 178,593
• Average gas price: $2.35
• Average travel time to work: 28.8 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 8 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 0.1%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: N/A
• State average gas price: $2.35

• Total population: 376,345
• Average gas price: $2.31
• Average travel time to work: 25.5 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 14 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 2.5%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 47.4 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.35

• Total population: 660,062
• Average gas price: $2.24
• Average travel time to work: 24.6 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 5 days, 8 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 1.6%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 39.8 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.16

• Total population: 693,417
• Average gas price: $2.38
• Average travel time to work: 25.1 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 7 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 5.9%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 39.7 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.44

• Total population: 614,700
• Average gas price: $2.26
• Average travel time to work: 31.6 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days
• Commuters who use public transportation: 16.2%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 54.4 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.31

• Total population: 479,655
• Average gas price: $2.24
• Average travel time to work: 28.3 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 5 days, 4 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 10.0%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 50.6 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.23

• Total population: 303,587
• Average gas price: $2.68
• Average travel time to work: 23.7 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 15 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 18.6%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 32.0 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.61

• Total population: 451,214
• Average gas price: $2.43
• Average travel time to work: 30.3 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 5 days, 13 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 8.9%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 47.3 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.35

• Total population: 679,413
• Average gas price: $2.53
• Average travel time to work: 31.2 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 19 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 32.2%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 40.9 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.49

• Total population: 626,637
• Average gas price: $2.90
• Average travel time to work: 26.6 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 6 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 3.8%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 65.4 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.94

• Total population: 1,610,071
• Average gas price: $2.95
• Average travel time to work: 25.7 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 13 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 3.0%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 52.4 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.79

• Total population: 684,498
• Average gas price: $2.54
• Average travel time to work: 30.9 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 5 days, 6 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 34.4%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 38.2 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.55

• Total population: 1,575,522
• Average gas price: $2.59
• Average travel time to work: 34.4 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 9 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 26.4%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 46.1 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.61

• Total population: 522,277
• Average gas price: $3.33
• Average travel time to work: 22.8 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 8 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 1.6%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 54.2 minutes
• State average gas price: $3.52

• Total population: 2,718,555
• Average gas price: $2.73
• Average travel time to work: 35.4 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 19 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 28.3%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 43.9 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.56

• Total population: 639,387
• Average gas price: $3.07
• Average travel time to work: 25.8 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 16 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 12.0%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 39.2 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.97

• Total population: 375,699
• Average gas price: $3.44
• Average travel time to work: 22.9 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 3 days, 6 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 1.0%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 49.0 minutes
• State average gas price: $3.52

• Total population: 207,568
• Average gas price: $3.54
• Average travel time to work: 27.3 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 2 days, 23 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 1.2%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 52.4 minutes
• State average gas price: $3.52

• Total population: 8,443,713
• Average gas price: $2.68
• Average travel time to work: 42.0 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 5 days, 22 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 55.9%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 50.1 minutes
• State average gas price: $2.60

• Total population: 495,011
• Average gas price: $3.34
• Average travel time to work: 26.4 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 19 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 3.3%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 49.5 minutes
• State average gas price: $3.52

• Total population: 708,823
• Average gas price: $3.26
• Average travel time to work: 28.4 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 5 days, 18 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 23.1%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 38.4 minutes
• State average gas price: $3.09

• Total population: 350,003
• Average gas price: $3.43
• Average travel time to work: 23.9 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 5 days, 15 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 10.7%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 41.1 minutes
• State average gas price: $3.60

• Total population: 1,401,932
• Average gas price: $3.53
• Average travel time to work: 24.1 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 5 days, 4 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 3.7%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 46.5 minutes
• State average gas price: $3.52

• Total population: 323,935
• Average gas price: $3.46
• Average travel time to work: 29.9 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 4 days, 14 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 2.4%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 53.5 minutes
• State average gas price: $3.52

• Total population: 1,026,658
• Average gas price: $3.46
• Average travel time to work: 31.0 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 6 days, 14 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 3.9%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 57.9 minutes
• State average gas price: $3.52

• Total population: 870,044
• Average gas price: $3.61
• Average travel time to work: 33.0 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 6 days, 3 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 33.5%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 41.3 minutes
• State average gas price: $3.52

• Total population: 3,959,657
• Average gas price: $3.73
• Average travel time to work: 32.4 minutes
• Time lost in rush hour per year: 6 days, 23 hours
• Commuters who use public transportation: 8.7%
• Average travel time to work for public transportation commuters: 49.7 minutes
• State average gas price: $3.52

More From GOBankingRates

• Survey: Only 18% of Americans Believe Their Tax Dollars Are Being Spent the Right Way
• 3 Steps To Open a TD Bank Account
• 24 Ways To Maximize Your Paycheck This Year
• 50 Mindless Ways You’re Burning Through Your Paycheck

Methodology: To find the 50 cities in the U.S. that are the most traffic-packed and spend the most on gas, GOBankingRates compiled the following data for the 150 largest cities by population in the U.S.: (1) the average travel time to work for workers over 16 who do not work at home, according to the U.S. Census Bureau 2018 American Community Survey; (2) the average gas price in each city, according to GasBuddy; and (3) the average amount of time lost in rush hour per year for residents of each city, according to TomTom’s 2019 Traffic Index. The cities were then ranked with data available in all three categories against each other, with 2 1/2 as much weight given to factor No. 1 as to factors No. 2 and No. 3. The final ranking includes the 50 cities with the worst cumulative score, or the cities with the most traffic, as measured by the longest average commute time and most time lost to rush hour, and most gas spending, as measured by the highest average gas price. The percentage of commuters who use public transportation, the average travel time to work for commuters who take public transportation, and the average gas price in the state as a whole were provided as supplemental data for each city. All data was compiled on and up to date as of Feb. 11, 2020.