California ranked as the third most congested state in the country in 2025, with drivers in major cities losing more than 100 hours a year to traffic, according to the TomTom Traffic Index. Los Angeles ranked 25th worst globally, with drivers losing 83 hours during rush hour annually, while San Francisco had the sixth worst congestion in North America. Sacramento drivers spend 68.7% of their time on highways, and nearly one-third of California’s roads are in poor condition, the American Society of Civil Engineers said. Transportation for America argues that widening highways can actually increase congestion by encouraging more driving.
