Best & Worst Cities to Drive in (2026)

Most Americans rely on cars to get around, as “87% of daily trips take place in personal vehicles,” according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. While driving offers a more private and comfortable commute, it is often a major hassle and expense. Drivers spend an average of nearly 370 hours on the road each year. That’s more than 15 days. Add the costs of wasted time and fuel due to traffic congestions, and our collective tab comes to about $894 per driver each year.

Some cities offer a cheaper, smoother and safer driving experience than others. To determine those places, WalletHub compared 100 of the largest U.S. cities across 30 key indicators of driver-friendliness. Our data set ranges from average gas prices to annual hours in traffic congestion per auto commuter to the likelihood of accidents.

Main Findings

Best & Worst Cities to Drive in

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

In-Depth Look at the Best Cities to Drive in

Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale, AZ, is the best city to drive in, largely because it’s an inexpensive city. It ranks as the second-cheapest city when it comes to the average cost for a new car and the 13th-cheapest average parking rate. It also stands out for its road and driving conditions. In fact, it is among the cities with the best bridge quality and the fifth-lowest accident likelihood compared with the national average. In addition, Scottsdale has the 28th-lowest average monthly car insurance premium.

Scottsdale also has relatively favorable conditions for drivers. The city has the 18th-most auto repair shops per capita, giving residents plenty of options for vehicle maintenance. Its traffic fatality rate ranks 33rd among the 100 cities in our study.

Safety is also key while driving, and Scottsdale has the sixth-lowest share of uninsured drivers among the 100 cities in our study. The city also has the 12th-lowest motor vehicle theft offenses and 18th-highest for alternative-fuel stations.

Boise, ID

Boise, ID, is the second-best city to drive in, boasting the lowest likelihood of having an accident, at nearly 23% below the national average. It also has the seventh-lowest traffic fatality rate in the country, the lowest percentage of uninsured drivers and the third-lowest prevalence of hard-braking incidents. This makes the city an extremely safe place for drivers. Vehicles are also safe even when unoccupied, as Boise has the sixth-lowest theft rate.

Boise is a relatively cheap city for drivers, too. It has the lowest average car insurance premium, sixth-lowest average cost of a new car and fifth-lowest additional vehicle operating costs.

On top of all that, Boise residents can enjoy smooth transit due to the 25th-shortest commute times and 23rd-best roads in the country.

Fort Wayne, IN

Fort Wayne, IN, is the third-best city to drive in, largely because it’s an inexpensive city. It ranks as the ninth-cheapest city when it comes to the average parking rate. It’s also the cheapest city for gas, with the lowest average gas price among the 100 cities in our study. Fort Wayne also is the 24th-least expensive city for auto maintenance and second-least expensive for car insurance out of the 100 cities in our study.

Fort Wayne residents’ commutes aren’t too bad, as people only spend an average of 16 hours per year in congested traffic. That’s the sixth-fewest in the nation. In addition, Fort Wayne ranks as the 13th-best city for road maintenance.

Safety is also key while driving, and Fort Wayne has the 15th-lowest share of drivers that are uninsured. The city also boasts a relatively high number of auto repair shops per capita, offering residents convenient access to vehicle maintenance. Additionally, Fort Wayne has the 12th-highest number of roadway miles per capita, indicating strong road infrastructure and potentially lighter traffic congestion.

The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.