California city has the worst traffic in the state and the second worst in the entire US

If you live in Los Angeles, you won’t be surprised to learn that the city has the worst traffic in the state, and the second worst traffic in the US.

A new study confirms what every Angeleno has been yelling into their steering wheel for decades: nobody moves in LA.

Whether it’s 8am on a Monday or 11pm on a random Tuesday, the city’s freeways are a never-ending parking lot.

But if you’re feeling sorry for yourself, it could be worse, because there’s another city where drivers suffer even more.

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Why LA suffers with the worst traffic in the state

According to a July 2025 report from ConsumerAffairs, Los Angeles drivers spend around eight hours a day dealing with congestion on weekdays.

That adds up to a jaw-dropping 85 days a year just sitting in traffic.

The study used commute and crash data from agencies like the Federal Highway Administration, and while it’s no surprise that LA has the worst traffic in the state, the numbers are still staggering.

So what’s to blame? In short: everything.

The city’s sprawling layout, sky-high population density, and reliance on cars make alternatives like walking or public transit feel almost laughable.

And given that there was once a single traffic light in California that took $2.4 million and 10 months to turn on, perhaps it’s not that surprising that California traffic is so terrible.

The irony is that even though Angelenos are always in a rush, almost no one is actually moving.

On the bright side, LA’s roads might be slow, but they’re a bit safer than they used to be.

The study also found the city averages just over seven fatal crashes per 100,000 residents, down nearly 18 percent from 2024.

So while your patience may not survive the gridlock, at least your odds of getting home in one piece are improving, unlike those who live in Boston.

A different city holds the title for the worst traffic in the US

Drivers in Los Angeles aren’t suffering alone.

San Francisco also earned a spot in the nation’s top five worst-traffic cities, landing fourth overall.

But the worst-traffic city belongs to a different state altogether.

That accolade belongs to Washington D.C.

The nation’s capital somehow has the worst traffic in the US, with an average commute to work taking 33.4 minutes.

Trailing Washington and LA is Miami, San Francisco and Atlanta, Georgia.

Of course, this study only takes into account the traffic faced by drivers.

Another study used commute times, road conditions and insurance rates to reveal the best and worst American states to be a driver in.

Spoiler alert: California doesn’t feature in either list, though there are some interesting entries on both sides of the spectrum.

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