If a symbol of the American lifestyle exists, it might very well be the car. So perhaps it’s not surprising that, according to the Federal Highway Administration, the average American drives an average of 14,000 miles per year or just under 1,200 miles a month. That’s enough for a round-trip drive from Miami to Seattle twice—with a few hundred miles left over.
Another way to measure driving is with vehicle miles traveled per capita, the sum of annual miles traveled by vehicles divided by the state’s total population. Collectively, Americans drive roughly 3.2 trillion miles every year — which measures out to 9,780 miles per capita.
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But people in different states drive different amounts. Population density and the cost of gas are among the factors influencing driving habits. CheapInsurance.com used data from the Federal Highway Administration and the Census Bureau to find out which state’s residents do the most driving. The data are ranked by the average number of vehicle miles driven in each state, by capita. Driving data are from September 20211 through August 2023, and population data are from 2022.
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Southern and Western states lead the rankings of where drivers spend more time behind the wheel. The top five states are more rural and have lower population densities than others, meaning they may have longer distances to travel for work or regular errands. It’s also likely they have less access to public transportation.
At the other end of the list, the five states with the lowest miles driven per capita are in the Northeast and along the Pacific coast. Some of them are home to cities with the best public transportation systems in the country.
![#51. Washington DC Traffic moving slowly on the highway with the background of the Capitol Hill in D.C.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/WashingtonDCtrafficF52A.png)
Drew Angerer // Getty Images
#51. Washington DC
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 3.25 billion
---Per capita: 4,843.7
![#50. New York Busy traffic in New York City.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/NYtrafficEI1D.png)
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#50. New York
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 112.65 billion
---Per capita: 5,724.9
![#49. Hawaii Downtown Honolulu traffic.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Hawaiitraffic9NDH.png)
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#49. Hawaii
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 10.48 billion
---Per capita: 7,278.2
![#48. Rhode Island City skyline.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/ProvidenceRIVAYD.png)
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#48. Rhode Island
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 8.10 billion
---Per capita: 7,407.7
![#47. Washington An aerial view of a highway intersection in Seattle.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/SeattlehighwayAGJN.png)
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#47. Washington
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 59.18 billion
---Per capita: 7,600.6
![#46. Alaska Main street in a small town in Alaska.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Alaskatown8L56.png)
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#46. Alaska
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 5.80 billion
---Per capita: 7,902.3
![#45. Pennsylvania A busy highway going over a yellow bridge over a river in Pittsburgh.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Pittsburgh891A.png)
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#45. Pennsylvania
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 103.89 billion
---Per capita: 8,008.7
![#44. Illinois Chicago traffic at sunset with the skyline in the background.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/ChicagotrafficVHR2.png)
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#44. Illinois
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 101.66 billion
---Per capita: 8,079.8
![#43. California Busy highway traffic and skyline of Los Angeles.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/TrafficinLA5CJP.png)
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#43. California
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 319.63 billion
---Per capita: 8,189.5
![#42. Connecticut Modern downtown buildings along the road.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/StamfordYRDU.png)
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#42. Connecticut
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 30.40 billion
---Per capita: 8,383.7
![#41. New Jersey A view of New York City from the busy highway-loop in New Jersey.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/NewJerseyhighwayE1PY.png)
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#41. New Jersey
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 78.62 billion
---Per capita: 8,488.2
![#40. Oregon Traffic in the city downtown.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Portland2D5J.png)
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#40. Oregon
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 36.49 billion
---Per capita: 8,606.8
![#39. Nevada Colorful lights of Las Vegas city buildings and night traffic in the city.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/LasVegasstripC0VF.png)
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#39. Nevada
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 27.54 billion
---Per capita: 8,666.1
![#38. Massachusetts A city skyline over highways.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/BostonLNUZ.png)
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#38. Massachusetts
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 62.12 billion
---Per capita: 8,897.6
![#37. West Virginia A city skyline with a bridge over a river at sunset.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/CharlestonWV4SIZ.png)
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#37. West Virginia
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 16.35 billion
---Per capita: 9,211.6
![#36. Maryland A city traffic with tall buildings along the road.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Baltimore40RW.png)
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#36. Maryland
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 57.68 billion
---Per capita: 9,355.9
![#35. Colorado An aerial view of a city and highways at dusk.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Denver5S2I.png)
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#35. Colorado
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 54.67 billion
---Per capita: 9,361.6
![#34. Virginia Busy traffic on the highway at dusk.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/TrafficinFairfaxIKVZ.png)
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#34. Virginia
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 83.20 billion
---Per capita: 9,580.9
![#33. Ohio Main roads in the city with the skyline in the background.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/MainroadCleveland5JJK.png)
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#33. Ohio
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 113.94 billion
---Per capita: 9,692.2
![#32. New Hampshire Highway surrounded by green fields and tall trees.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/HighwayNHY6FU.png)
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#32. New Hampshire
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 13.61 billion
---Per capita: 9,753.9
![#31. Delaware A tall suspended bridge over the river with city views.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/BenFranklinbridgeinDelawareDIMF.png)
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#31. Delaware
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 10.02 billion
---Per capita: 9,839.0
![#30. Michigan City downtown traffic and historic buildings.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Detroit18QB.png)
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#30. Michigan
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 99.17 billion
---Per capita: 9,883.6
![#29. Texas City skyline and a road in the city.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/HoustonVE46.png)
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#29. Texas
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 299.85 billion
---Per capita: 9,985.0
![#28. Idaho A few cars on a highway surrounded by yellow fields.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/IdahoJU2W.png)
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#28. Idaho
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 19.47 billion
---Per capita: 10,043.2
![#27. Minnesota Skyline of the city at dusk with a bridge over the river in the foreground.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/SkylineMinneapolis866H.png)
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#27. Minnesota
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 57.78 billion
---Per capita: 10,106.9
![#26. Utah Traffic on a highway with the snowy mountain peaks in the background.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/UtahtrafficAV1F.png)
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#26. Utah
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 34.35 billion
---Per capita: 10,161.5
![#25. Iowa Skyline view of the city with city traffic.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/DesMoinesskylineCX0D.png)
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#25. Iowa
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 33.15 billion
---Per capita: 10,356.1
![#24. Arizona A congested highway.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/HighwaytrafficAR1FAJ.png)
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#24. Arizona
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 77.38 billion
---Per capita: 10,514.5
![#23. Florida Interstate highway leading downtown.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/FloridaH191.png)
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#23. Florida
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 234.29 billion
---Per capita: 10,532.4
![#22. Nebraska A highway in the middle of green fields and trees passing over a river.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/NebraskaYC4A.png)
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#22. Nebraska
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 20.86 billion
---Per capita: 10,598.5
![#21. South Dakota A city downtown surrounded by green hills.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/RapidCityISYD.png)
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#21. South Dakota
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 9.75 billion
---Per capita: 10,718.6
![#20. Vermont A highway with little traffic surrounded by green woods.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/VermontS9U5.png)
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#20. Vermont
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 6.97 billion
---Per capita: 10,774.8
![#19. Maine A pickup truck driving on foggy morning rural highway.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/RuralMainehighwayJVX2.png)
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#19. Maine
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 14.93 billion
---Per capita: 10,780.0
![#18. Kansas An aerial view of highways with the city skyline.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/KansasCBRZ.png)
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#18. Kansas
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 31.67 billion
---Per capita: 10,782.2
![#17. Kentucky An aerial view of a suspended highway.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/AerialoversuspendedhighwayRQWB.png)
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#17. Kentucky
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 50.26 billion
---Per capita: 11,138.4
![#16. North Carolina Downtown view of a city.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/DowntownCharlotteFJDX.png)
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#16. North Carolina
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 119.59 billion
---Per capita: 11,178.1
![#15. Wisconsin An aerial view of a large highway interchange.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/DowntownMilwaukee3P9H.png)
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#15. Wisconsin
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 65.88 billion
---Per capita: 11,179.9
![#14. Oklahoma A city skyline with roads around it.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Tulsadowntown15G4.png)
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#14. Oklahoma
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 45.20 billion
---Per capita: 11,243.3
![#13. South Carolina A city downtown with a raised road in the center.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/GreenvilleSouthCarolinaXWTM.png)
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#13. South Carolina
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 60.26 billion
---Per capita: 11,407.8
![#12. Georgia City skyline with roads leading to the city in the foreground.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Atlanta69TS.png)
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#12. Georgia
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 125.48 billion
---Per capita: 11,498.3
![#11. Indiana A city view with the roads in the foreground.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/IndianaK0T1.png)
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#11. Indiana
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 80.70 billion
---Per capita: 11,810.9
![#10. North Dakota An aerial view of city skyline at dusk.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Fargoskyline7HZA.png)
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#10. North Dakota
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 9.33 billion
---Per capita: 11,978.0
![#9. Tennessee Main road in a small town with tree-covered mountains surrounding it.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/MainroadinasmalltowninTennessee7MVL.png)
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#9. Tennessee
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 84.72 billion
---Per capita: 12,014.5
![#8. Montana Downtown traffic in small town with mountains in the background.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/MontanatowntrafficW05X.png)
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#8. Montana
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 13.53 billion
---Per capita: 12,045.1
![#7. Louisiana Signs on freeway in New Orleans.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/NOLA9N17.png)
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#7. Louisiana
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 55.33 billion
---Per capita: 12,054.7
![#6. Arkansas Traffic in a town decorated for holidays.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/FortSmithAKKZ5Y.png)
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#6. Arkansas
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 38.25 billion
---Per capita: 12,560.3
![#5. Missouri Traffic in St. Louis on 7th Street.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/StLouistrafficUCMW.png)
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#5. Missouri
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 80.59 billion
---Per capita: 13,045.1
![#4. New Mexico Long stretch of highway with mountains in the background.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/NMexicoRELJ.png)
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#4. New Mexico
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 27.62 billion
---Per capita: 13,068.4
![#3. Mississippi An high-angle view of cars driving on the interstate.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Mississippiinterstate9JUH.png)
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#3. Mississippi
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 40.49 billion
---Per capita: 13,771.5
![#2. Alabama An aerial view of a city and highways leading to it.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/BirminghamALW3I0.png)
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#2. Alabama
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 77.64 billion
---Per capita: 15,300.3
![#1. Wyoming Traffic jam on roads with drifting snow.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/WintertrafficWyomingM4YH.png)
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#1. Wyoming
Annual vehicle-miles driven: 10.69 billion
---Per capita: 18,378.7
Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Ania Antecka.
This story originally appeared on CheapInsurance.com and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
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