- The national average one-way commute time is 27.6 minutes, corresponding to roughly 16 miles each way for car commuters.
- Commute times range from 18.0 minutes in South Dakota to 37.7 minutes in New York—more than double.
- The average car commuter drives approximately 8,000 commute miles per year (250 workdays × 32 miles round trip).
- Annual commute fuel costs range from $650 to $1,200 depending on state, vehicle type, and local gas prices.
01 National Commute Overview
The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) provides the most comprehensive data on American commuting patterns. According to the most recent ACS data, the average one-way commute time for U.S. workers is 27.6 minutes. For those who drive alone (76% of all commuters), the average commute distance is approximately 16 miles each way.
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801: Commuting Characteristics by Sex, 2023The Federal Highway Administration’s National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) provides additional detail on commute distances. The median one-way commute distance for automobile commuters is 12.1 miles, while the mean is approximately 16 miles—the higher mean reflecting a distribution skewed by long-distance commuters.
FHWA, National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), 2022 update: work trip distance statistics02 States with the Longest Commutes
States with the longest average commute times tend to be those with major metropolitan areas that draw workers from distant suburbs and exurbs. The table below shows the 10 states with the longest mean commute times.
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801, 2023| Rank | State | Avg Commute (min) | Est. Distance (mi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 37.7 | ~15 |
| 2 | New Jersey | 33.4 | ~17 |
| 3 | Maryland | 33.2 | ~19 |
| 4 | Illinois | 30.9 | ~17 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 30.8 | ~16 |
| 6 | Georgia | 30.5 | ~19 |
| 7 | Virginia | 30.2 | ~18 |
| 8 | California | 29.8 | ~17 |
| 9 | Florida | 29.3 | ~17 |
| 10 | Texas | 28.4 | ~18 |
New York’s unusually high commute time relative to distance reflects its heavy reliance on public transit, which moves at lower average speeds than automobile commuting. States like Maryland and Georgia have longer distances because their commuters are predominantly car-based with extensive suburban sprawl.
Census ACS, mode of transportation to work data; FHWA, NHTS trip distance by mode03 States with the Shortest Commutes
States with shorter commutes tend to be those with smaller, less congested metropolitan areas or significant rural populations where workplaces are closer to residences.
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801, 2023| Rank | State | Avg Commute (min) | Est. Distance (mi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | South Dakota | 18.0 | ~12 |
| 49 | North Dakota | 18.5 | ~13 |
| 48 | Montana | 19.1 | ~14 |
| 47 | Wyoming | 19.3 | ~14 |
| 46 | Nebraska | 19.8 | ~13 |
| 45 | Kansas | 20.3 | ~14 |
| 44 | Alaska | 20.5 | ~12 |
| 43 | Iowa | 20.6 | ~14 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | 21.6 | ~15 |
| 41 | Vermont | 22.1 | ~15 |
Estimate your vehicle's driving cost using official EPA fuel economy data.
Use the Calculator04 Commute Fuel Cost by State
Commute fuel cost varies by state due to differences in commute distance, local gas prices, and typical vehicle types. The table below estimates annual commute fuel cost for selected states using Census commute distance estimates, EIA state gas prices, and the national average fuel economy of 26 MPG.
Calculated: annual commute miles = estimated one-way distance × 2 × 250 days; cost = miles / 26 MPG × state gas price| State | Est. Round Trip (mi) | Annual Miles | Gas Price ($/gal) | Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 34 | 8,500 | $4.50 | $1,471 |
| Maryland | 38 | 9,500 | $3.30 | $1,206 |
| Georgia | 38 | 9,500 | $3.00 | $1,096 |
| Texas | 36 | 9,000 | $2.85 | $987 |
| U.S. Average | 32 | 8,000 | $3.38 | $1,040 |
| Iowa | 28 | 7,000 | $3.10 | $835 |
| South Dakota | 24 | 6,000 | $3.15 | $727 |
05 Commute Trends Over Time
American commute times have been gradually increasing over the past two decades. Census ACS data shows the national average commute time has risen from 25.5 minutes in 2006 to 27.6 minutes in 2023—an increase of about 2 minutes, or 8%.
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS, Table S0801, 2006–2023 annual estimates| Year | Avg Commute (min) | Drive-Alone Share | Work from Home Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 25.5 | 77% | 3.6% |
| 2010 | 25.3 | 76% | 4.3% |
| 2015 | 26.6 | 76% | 4.6% |
| 2019 | 27.6 | 76% | 5.7% |
| 2021 | 25.6 | 68% | 17.9% |
| 2023 | 27.6 | 76% | 14.0% |
The 2021 data shows the significant but temporary impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on commuting patterns—average commute time dropped and work-from-home surged to nearly 18%. By 2023, commute times returned to pre-pandemic levels, though the work-from-home share remains elevated at 14%, roughly triple the pre-pandemic rate.
Census ACS, 2019–2023 comparisons; commuting pattern recovery analysis06 Data Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey, Table S0801, 2023. data.census.gov
- FHWA: National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). nhts.ornl.gov
- EIA: Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices by state. eia.gov
- FHWA: Highway Statistics, Table VM-1: Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled. fhwa.dot.gov