Orlando now ranks as the 12th worst metro area in the nation for traffic congestion, climbing two spots from last year, according to a new report by ConsumerAffairs.
The annual ranking evaluated the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas based on average commute times, weekday congestion hours, and fatal car crash rates. Orlando’s average commute rose 1.7% to 30.2 minutes, while weekday congestion climbed 7.7% to three hours and 45 minutes. The area also reported 13.3 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents—ninth-highest nationally—though that figure dropped 12.4% from 2023.
Washington, D.C., topped the list for worst overall traffic, with a 33.4-minute average commute and more than six and a half hours of weekday congestion. Los Angeles followed, logging nearly eight hours of weekday congestion—the longest of any city. Miami ranked third and recorded the highest fatal crash rate among the top 10 at 11.4 per 100,000 people.
San Francisco and Atlanta rounded out the top five. San Francisco had the second-longest commute time at 32.1 minutes, while Atlanta, despite a 31.3-minute commute, reported relatively lower congestion at just under five hours.
The data points to worsening traffic conditions across the South. Of the 18 Southern metros included in the analysis, only Virginia Beach improved year-over-year, falling six spots to No. 29. Florida cities, in particular, showed notable increases: Miami surged nine spots to No. 3, Tampa jumped 11 spots to No. 13, and Jacksonville rose seven places to No. 23, also ranking third nationally for traffic fatalities with 14.89 per 100,000 residents.
Columbus, Ohio, showed the greatest improvement, reducing its congestion by nearly 40% from last year.
Across the nation, the average commute time rose 4.6% to 26.9 minutes, and weekday congestion increased by 1.3% to three hours and 43 minutes. Fatal crash rates declined slightly, dropping 3.8% to 11.33 per 100,000 people.
