Gridlock King: Chicago Tops US Traffic Congestion List, Dethroning NYC

Chicago has officially been named the most congested city in the U.S., topping the 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard released by transportation analytics company INRIX.

The new data reveals that the typical driver in the Windy City lost a staggering 112 hours to traffic congestion this year, a 10% jump from the previous year. This immense time loss cost Chicago drivers an average of $2,063 each, with the city suffering a total economic loss of $7.5 billion.

Chicago dethroned last year’s leader, New York City, where delays remained unchanged. Globally, Chicago ranks as the third most congested city in the world, just behind Istanbul and Mexico City.

The National Traffic Picture

INRIX, which analyzed traffic data across 36 countries, reported that congestion is climbing almost everywhere.

Average Loss: The typical U.S. driver lost 49 hours to traffic congestion in 2025, which is a six-hour increase from 2024.
National Cost: Congestion cost the U.S. economy a total of $85 billion, an 11.3% increase from the prior year.
Worsening Trend: Congestion increased in 88% of the U.S. urban areas analyzed.

Why the Jump?

Experts point to a mix of factors driving Chicago’s surge in delays, including economic growth, increasing travel demand overwhelming infrastructure, and the slow recovery of public transit ridership compared to pre-pandemic car commuting levels.

While Chicago saw delays jump by 10%, other major cities also experienced severe increases: Baltimore and Philadelphia both saw their traffic delays shoot up by a massive 31% over the last year. New York City, in contrast, saw delays remain flat, potentially benefiting from its new congestion pricing policy.

Chicago leads the list of the 25 most congested U.S. cities, followed by New York City and Philadelphia. The data, spanning from 2023 through September 2025, serves as a clear warning about the growing strain on city infrastructure and the massive financial toll taken on commuters.