Which 25 US cities experience the most congestion? Check out this data company's ranking.

Are you stuck in traffic often? You are far from alone. According to recent findings from transportation analytics company INRIX, congestion is intensifying across many U.S. cities. The firm released its 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard on December 2, highlighting the 25 cities with the heaviest traffic delays.

INRIX noted that traffic congestion is increasing globally, with their study covering nearly 1,000 cities in 36 countries. Overall, 62% of urban areas experienced worsening traffic in 2025, while only 26% saw improvements.

The report revealed that drivers in highly congested regions spend hundreds of dollars annually in lost time compared to those commuting during off-peak hours or working remotely. INRIX calculates commute times by measuring the duration needed to travel between major employment centers and surrounding residential areas.

The data for the 2025 scorecard spans from 2023 through the third quarter of 2025, covering the period from July 1 to September 30.

For U.S. drivers, the typical commuter lost an average of 49 hours to traffic congestion in 2025, up six hours from the previous year. This delay translated to an average cost of $894 per driver, totaling $85 billion nationwide, an 11.3% increase from 2024. INRIX calculates these costs using an economic model based on the U.S. Federal Highway Administrations valuation of travel time, adjusted for inflation at $18.42 per hour.

Nationally, drivers lost an estimated 4.7 billion hours due to congestion, equivalent to roughly 2.2 million full-time jobs based on a standard 2,080-hour work year.

Chicago ranked as the most congested city, with commuters losing 112 hours on average, amounting to $2,063 per driver and a total $7.5 billion loss. New York City and Philadelphia followed as the second and third most congested cities, respectively. While New Yorks delays remained steady, Chicago experienced a 10% increase, and Baltimore and Philadelphia saw the largest surge in congestion, increasing by 31% over the past year.

According to INRIX, the 25 U.S. cities suffering the most from traffic delays in 2025 are:

1. Chicago, Illinois
2. New York City, New York
3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4. Los Angeles, California
5. Boston, Massachusetts
6. Miami, Florida
7. Atlanta, Georgia
8. Houston, Texas
9. Washington, D.C.
10. Seattle, Washington
11. San Juan, Puerto Rico
12. Nashville, Tennessee
13. Baltimore, Maryland
14. Denver, Colorado
15. San Francisco, California
16. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
17. Stamford, Connecticut
18. Charlotte, North Carolina
19. Dallas, Texas
20. Honolulu, Hawaii
21. Austin, Texas
22. Phoenix, Arizona
23. San Antonio, Texas
24. Tampa, Florida
25. Portland, Oregon

Author: Harper Simmons