Americans spend plenty of time in their vehicles. In fact, studies show they’re back pre-pandemic levels. However, a new study shows not all cities are the same when it comes to commuting, running errands and costs.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 87% of daily trips take place in personal vehicles.
In fact, Americans almost rely exclusively on their vehicles to handle everything daily needs. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 87% of daily trips take place in personal vehicles. This means the average driver spends nearly 370 hours on the road yearly — a total of 15 days, financial website WalletHub reminds.
Not only is it a significant time commitment, but it’s also a financial one. When you add in the costs of lost time and fuel due to traffic delays, it’s an additional $733 drivers are shelling out.
“Car prices have gone up significantly over the past few years, and gas remains expensive going into the summer travel season,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “Living in one of the best cities to drive in can make owning and maintaining a car much cheaper.
The best cities to drive in for 2024, according to WalletHub, include: Raleigh, North Carolina; Boise, Idaho; Corpus Christi, Texas; Greensboro, North Carolina; and Jacksonville, Florida.
Where to drive
Raleigh is the best city to drive in, largely because it’s an inexpensive city, the study’s authors noted. It ranks as the seventh-cheapest city when it comes to the average cost for a new car and the average parking rate.
It’s also the seventh-cheapest when it comes to extra vehicle operating costs such as damage from improperly maintained roadways or lost time and wasted gas due to congestion. Raleigh also is the 12th-least expensive city for auto maintenance and 19th-least expensive for car insurance out of the 100 cities in the study.
“However, costs aren’t the only factors that matter; the best cities for drivers also minimize commute times and traffic congestion, have accident rates well below the national average and keep their roads in good condition.”
However, if you feel the need to move to find a better city to live in to drive, don’t rush anywhere. This year’s third place finisher, Corpus Christi, was the top dog in 2023. Raleigh was second, while Boise was third.
More Driving Stories
- Feds Report Traffic Fatalities Fell 3.2 Percent in First Half of Year
- Automated Driving Systems Aren’t Improving Safety, Finds New Study
- UN Global Safety Campaign Addresses “Pandemic” of Highway Fatalities
Where not to drive
Well, if there’s a best place, there’s a worst place. For 2024, that bottom dweller is Oakland, California. It finished at No. 100 (last) in cost of ownership and maintenance and No. 95 for safety. It came in 79th for traffic and infrastructure and 51st for access to vehicles and maintenance.
The rest of the bottom 10 are very predictable choices. In order from 99 to 90 include Philadelphia; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Detroit; Chicago; New York; Washington, D.C.; Seattle; San Jose, California; and Denver.
They are the same as last year with Stockton, California replacing San Jose, but with different rankings. San Francisco, Detroit and Washington, D.C. all moved up in 2024.
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