Traffic congestion remains a persistent challenge for urban commuters across the United States, with drivers collectively losing over 43 hours annually in 2025, equivalent to a full workweek per person, resulting in billions of dollars in lost productivity, elevated fuel expenses, and heightened stress levels.
INRIX’s 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard, a comprehensive study analysing nearly 1,000 cities worldwide, has ranked Chicago as the most congested US city, surpassing New York City.
Factors like rising housing costs fuelling “super commutes,” lagging infrastructure upgrades, and a 22% drop in public transit use from 2019 levels amplified the pain, costing top cities over $2,000 per driver in time and fuel, the report also found.
‘Chicago residents wasted three full workdays in traffic’
The analysis revealed congestion surging in 88% of US metros, with Chicago residents wasting 112 hours, or three full workdays, stuck in gridlock.
Chicago’s top spot underscores Midwest gridlock woes, dethroning coastal giants.
Here’s the full INRIX top 25 US cities for worst traffic in 2025, ranked by hours lost:
1. Chicago, IL
2. New York City, NY
3. Philadelphia, PA
4. Los Angeles, CA
5. Boston, MA
6. Miami, FL
7. Houston, TX
8. Atlanta, GA
9. Washington, DC
10. Seattle, WA
11. Phoenix, AZ
12. Dallas, TX
13. San Francisco, CA
14. Denver, CO
15. San Jose, CA
16. Nashville, TN
17. Stamford, CT
18. Austin, TX
19. Portland, OR
20. Sacramento, CA
21. San Diego, CA
22. Tampa, FL
23. Orlando, FL
24. Minneapolis, MN
25. Baltimore, MD
These rankings highlight a post-pandemic return to car dependency, with downtown delays spiking as remote work fades, USA Today reported.
The report recommended infrastructure investments and transit boosts to ease the strain, projecting further growth without action.