Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Cars

The “Worst Cities for Driving” Include a Lot of America’s Best Cities

Don't you just hate going to a really lively city with a pulsing street life? Where there's a lot going on and people can walk from one place to the next? You might if you're trying to drive there. And once again, NerdWallet has delivered the windshield perspective on America's cities.

Isn't Seattle such a horrible place? I mean, where would you park here? Photo: ##http://www.city-data.com/forum/city-vs-city/1409519-city-most-downtown-foot-traffic-20.html##City-Data##
Isn't Seattle such a horrible place? I mean, where would you park here? Photo: City-Data
Isn't Seattle such a horrible place? I mean, where would you park here? Photo: ##http://www.city-data.com/forum/city-vs-city/1409519-city-most-downtown-foot-traffic-20.html##City-Data##

The pop-finance website's new ranking of the worst cities to drive in includes, predictably, some of the country's best cities to walk, bike, take transit, or otherwise be in.

So, your worst cities? The real hellholes for drivers? They are:

    1. New York
    2. Detroit
    3. San Francisco
    4. Chicago
    5. Washington, DC
    6. Seattle
    7. Boston
    8. Miami
    9. Honolulu
    10. Oakland

Population density counted heavily against a city in the ranking, because it makes car ownership expensive and the streets more congested -- not to mention more chaotic to drive in because you're "weaving though trolleys, cab drivers, pedestrians and cyclists," as NerdWallet puts it.

Also factored in to a city's rank are the cost of gas and insurance (high insurance costs landed Detroit near the top) and hours of motorist delay, measured exactly the same way the Texas Transportation Institute measures it. Oh, and NerdWallet also holds it against a city if it has seasons, with precipitation.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Year in Review: What Gave Us Hope in a Dark 2025

Yes, this year was tough. Yes: we're still ending it with hope for the future.

December 27, 2025

Streetsblog Joins Campaign for Public Financing of Non-Profit Media

New York provides tax credits to for-profit newsrooms. Now, non-profit digital outlets, public broadcasters and public access channels are seeking equal treatment. Doing so would strengthen our democracy.

December 26, 2025

Opinion: Why Urbanists Should Support Plant-Forward Policies 

Your plate is political, just like your choice to pedal instead of drive. And often, transportation and food politics have powerful intersections.

December 26, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Merry Christmas Edition

We're off today, and we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2025

Don’t Believe the Hype: NJ Turnpike Widening Still Happening

Gov. Murphy's late revision will just move the problem around, advocates say.

December 24, 2025

Opinion: Can AI Help Stop Car Crashes Before They Happen?

Proactive safety planning can save more lives than waiting until after crashes kill. But what's the proper role of technology in identifying future hot spots?

December 24, 2025
See all posts