Consumer Affairs has released its 2025 list of states with the worst road conditions nationwide.
Examining all 50 states, the study examines factors like road surface roughness and car accident fatalities to determine which states are the best for drivers.
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More specifically, those factors break down as follows:
- Road Surface Roughness (80%): Includes the percentage of rural roads and urban roads classified as “poor” according to the International Roughness Index
- Car Accident Fatalities per 100 Million Miles Traveled (20%): Includes 2022 data gathered by the Federal Highway Administration
“Depending on where you live, poor road conditions may be an occasional inconvenience or a daily frustration,” the study reads. “Either way, they accelerate wear and tear on your car, leading to costly repairs that may not be covered by an extended auto warranty.”
Overall, Indiana ranked as the best state for road conditions in the U.S., have a relatively low share of “poor” ratings. The Hoosier State also boasted the seventh-lowest fatality rate in the U.S., helping cement that placement.
But on the other end of the spectrum, the lowest-ranked state turned out to be New Mexico.
“New Mexico ranks worst overall for road conditions in the U.S., finishing among the five worst states in each of the categories we examined. As the fifth-largest state by area, much of it rural, New Mexico has a vast network of deteriorating roads. The state also has the third-highest traffic fatality rate, further adding to its dangerous driving conditions.
Poor road conditions translate to significant costs for consumers, and the Land of Enchantment is no exception. A report released in early 2025 by national transportation research nonprofit TRIP found that driving on rough roads costs the average New Mexico motorist $1,075 annually in additional vehicle operating costs, including increased fuel consumption, tire wear and accelerated vehicle depreciation.”
Consumer Affairs, "States with the worst (and best) road conditions" (2025)
So how did the Sunshine State fare? Well, it turned out that Florida ranked No. 36 — solidly in the bottom half of the ranking, with stats as follows:
- Percentage of Urban Roads in Poor Condition: 19.4% — Ranked No. 17
- Percentage of Rural Roads in Poor Condition: 4.4% — Ranked No. 8
- Traffic Fatalities per 100 Million Miles Traveled: 1.55 — Ranked No. 33
As such, while Florida placed fairly high for the condition of its rural roadways, the urban areas and number of traffic fatalities were what held it back.
Meanwhile, the rest of the ranking is as follows:
| Rank | State | Score | % of Urban Roads in Poor Condition | Miles of Urban Roads | % of Rural Roads in Poor Condition | Miles of Rural Roads | Traffic Fatalities per 100M Miles Traveled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | 91.80 | 41.7% | 2,721 | 30.7% | 9,300 | 1.74 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 87.51 | 40.9% | 3,956 | 27.6% | 17,827 | 1.76 |
| 3 | Hawaii | 80.97 | 44.3% | 993 | 28.5% | 552 | 1.13 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 73.98 | 38.2% | 6,340 | 21.2% | 8,368 | 1.60 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 73.57 | 39.3% | 836 | 32.2% | 347 | 0.69 |
| 6 | Missouri | 70.65 | 39.6% | 6,688 | 21.2% | 24,118 | 1.33 |
| 7 | Washington | 67.88 | 40.6% | 7,883 | 19.4% | 11,389 | 1.25 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 64.76 | 46.2% | 7,973 | 17.6% | 20,312 | 0.90 |
| 9 | Colorado | 64.26 | 37.2% | 5,380 | 16.9% | 10,854 | 1.42 |
| 10 | Texas | 63.81 | 41.4% | 33,440 | 12.2% | 55,789 | 1.52 |
| 11 | Alaska | 63.60 | 31.7% | 852 | 19.3% | 2,766 | 1.50 |
| 12 | Connecticut | 63.48 | 36.5% | 5,078 | 19.5% | 1,265 | 1.21 |
| 13 | Arizona | 62.23 | 36.3% | 8,896 | 12.1% | 7,578 | 1.71 |
| 14 | South Dakota | 61.57 | 44.7% | 934 | 10.3% | 13,727 | 1.35 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 59.98 | 34.5% | 12,551 | 18.7% | 13,955 | 1.18 |
| 16 | South Carolina | 56.66 | 24.4% | 6,079 | 14.4% | 15,090 | 1.85 |
| 17 | California | 55.68 | 39.5% | 9,768 | 8.7% | 9,968 | 1.40 |
| 18 | Montana | 55.47 | 36.9% | 1,090 | 8.2% | 11,646 | 1.58 |
| 19 | Illinois | 49.02 | 36.9% | 13,893 | 7.9% | 17,480 | 1.22 |
| 20 | Maine | 48.71 | 21.8% | 1,039 | 18.4% | 5,257 | 1.24 |
| 21 | Maryland | 47.89 | 39.4% | 5,626 | 8.2% | 2,548 | 0.99 |
| 22 | New York | 46.12 | 39.5% | 15,496 | 6.5% | 11,502 | 1.02 |
| 23 | Virginia | 45.36 | 26.0% | 7,095 | 12.9% | 12,105 | 1.23 |
| 24 | Nevada | 44.32 | 27.6% | 2,686 | 7.2% | 4,837 | 1.50 |
| 25 | North Dakota | 44.11 | 40.8% | 935 | 3.4% | 13,171 | 1.07 |
| 26 | Nebraska | 43.82 | 35.3% | 530 | 6.0% | 9,520 | 1.15 |
| 27 | Michigan | 43.33 | 25.6% | 7,490 | 12.4% | 20,905 | 1.17 |
| 28 | Utah | 42.27 | 36.0% | 2,835 | 7.2% | 5,458 | 0.93 |
| 29 | Oregon | 40.49 | 17.1% | 1,376 | 10.1% | 7,341 | 1.64 |
| 30 | Delaware | 40.30 | 22.8% | 975 | 5.8% | 608 | 1.64 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | 38.16 | 21.4% | 1,412 | 12.4% | 2,140 | 1.10 |
| 32 | Arkansas | 34.66 | 17.2% | 1,217 | 5.2% | 5,566 | 1.67 |
| 33 | Kentucky | 34.22 | 18.0% | 2,971 | 5.8% | 10,260 | 1.55 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | 34.17 | 14.6% | 1,435 | 7.6% | 12,832 | 1.59 |
| 35 | Ohio | 33.91 | 26.6% | 13,627 | 4.6% | 16,137 | 1.15 |
| 36 | Florida | 33.65 | 19.4% | 17,665 | 4.4% | 9,683 | 1.55 |
| 37 | North Carolina | 33.03 | 18.6% | 10,366 | 6.9% | 13,039 | 1.37 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | 32.35 | 30.0% | 4,441 | 6.1% | 887 | 0.76 |
| 39 | West Virginia | 30.07 | 10.0% | 820 | 6.1% | 2,201 | 1.72 |
| 40 | Georgia | 25.55 | 12.5% | 12,071 | 5.1% | 19,268 | 1.39 |
| 41 | New Jersey | 24.34 | 20.8% | 3,320 | 4.6% | 547 | 0.91 |
| 42 | Iowa | 24.29 | 17.3% | 1,088 | 5.5% | 4,022 | 1.03 |
| 43 | Wyoming | 23.94 | 12.1% | 511 | 3.6% | 6,405 | 1.44 |
| 44 | Vermont | 23.89 | 13.2% | 213 | 7.7% | 1,317 | 1.07 |
| 45 | Tennessee | 21.27 | 8.8% | 2,701 | 2.1% | 2,427 | 1.58 |
| 46 | Kansas | 20.52 | 10.4% | 909 | 3.9% | 12,465 | 1.31 |
| 47 | Minnesota | 17.84 | 13.7% | 7,556 | 6.6% | 25,589 | 0.77 |
| 48 | Idaho | 17.15 | 10.1% | 418 | 4.0% | 4,094 | 1.12 |
| 49 | Alabama | 11.83 | 3.5% | 2,518 | 1.3% | 8,791 | 1.38 |
| 50 | Indiana | 8.47 | 5.3% | 2,410 | 2.5% | 10,147 | 0.99 |
