Best and worst US states to drive in: See where yours ranks on the list

A new study revealed which states in America are the best and worst places to drive in, and the top spot may (or may not) surprise you.

WalletHub released its 2025 report after conducting research across all 50 states. States were ranked in key dimensions: cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure rank, safety rank, plus access to vehicles and maintenance rank.

Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said that owning a car can be expensive if you're not in the right location.

"On top of having pricey gas, maintenance and insurance expenses, some states can hurt you even more financially with excessive traffic congestion, which wastes both your fuel and your productivity," Lupo said in a press release.

See where your home state ranked on the list.

5. Colorado      

3. Montana       

2. Washington

1. Hawaii

The Aloha State ranked the highest for the cost of car ownership and maintenance. For traffic and infrastructure, the state came in 41st place.

5. Oklahoma

4. Iowa

3. Indiana   

2. Idaho

1. Kansas   

The release said, "Kansas has the third-best road quality in the U.S., and well-maintained motorways are essential for minimizing crashes."

The midwest state was noted for its low prevalence of speeding and lowest average commute time by car, at just over 20 minutes, Wallethub reported.