North Carolina Isn’t The Best State To Drive In, But It Is Ranked Pretty High

Everyone hates being stuck in traffic. It can make you late and is just downright annoying. And traffic seems to be getting worse on a daily basis. That and the fact that no one in Charlotte seems to be able to drive or abide by traffic laws. The sheer ignorance of not stopping for red lights or four-way stops, not going remotely close to the speed limit, and swerving in and out of traffic constantly is the norm it seems. If you're offended by that statement, well you're the problem. In my opinion, it's a sign of pure entitlement. You and where you are headed are the only ones that are important. So as bad as it has gotten in North Carolina I was shocked to see this list of the best states to drive in.

It was compiled by our friends at WalletHub. They say that not only is traffic bad for your time and stress, but it can also be costly as well.  In fact, according to WalletHub, congestion cost the average U.S. driver $869 in wasted time during 2022. And the average person spent 51 hours spent sitting in traffic. But the conditions in which you are stuck in traffic can vary greatly by state. So, to identify the states with the most positive driving experiences, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 31 key indicators of a positive commute. The data set ranges from average gas prices to rush-hour traffic congestion to road quality.

According to their metrics, North Carolina was in the top 5 of the best states to drive in. I'd hate to drive in the worst ones! Keep reading to see the top 10 states and where North Carolina ranks. You can read the full WalletHub study here.

Total Score: 59.04

Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 12

Traffic & Infrastructure: 20

Safety: 33

Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 17

Total Score: 59.60

Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 13

Traffic & Infrastructure: 5

Safety: 40

Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 33

Total Score: 59.68

Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 1

Traffic & Infrastructure: 27

Safety: 42

Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 21

Total Score: 59.94

Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 20

Traffic & Infrastructure: 40

Safety: 14

Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 4

Total Score: 60.51

Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 24

Traffic & Infrastructure: 2

Safety: 13

Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 42

Total Score: 60.65

Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 8

Traffic & Infrastructure: 30

Safety: 27

Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 10

Total Score: 60.81

Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 15

Traffic & Infrastructure: 8

Safety: 30

Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 28

Total Score: 61.38

Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 3

Traffic & Infrastructure: 28

Safety: 36

Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 7

Total Score: 61.41

Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 2

Traffic & Infrastructure: 32

Safety: 29

Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 9

Total Score: 62.61

Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 7

Traffic & Infrastructure: 9

Safety: 35

Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 19