Best and worst US states to drive in: See where yours ranks on the list

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Travelers go viral for revealing US destinations to visit in your lifetime

Giselle and Stephen Jiroch of California have been traveling full-time for the last four years. The couple said these U.S. destinations are must-see spots.

A new study revealed which states in America are the best and worst places to drive in, and the top spot may (or may not) surprise you.

WalletHub released its 2025 report after conducting research across all 50 states. States were ranked in key dimensions: cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure rank, safety rank, plus access to vehicles and maintenance rank.

Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said that owning a car can be expensive if you’re not in the right location.

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"On top of having pricey gas, maintenance and insurance expenses, some states can hurt you even more financially with excessive traffic congestion, which wastes both your fuel and your productivity," Lupo said in a press release.

A new study found which states in America are the best places and worst to drive in by factoring in expenses and safety. (Getty Images)

Lupo added, "The best states to drive in are ones that are relatively rural, with smaller populations, a low cost of living, well-maintained roads and safe motorists."

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See where your home state ranked on the list.

Worst states to drive in the US

5. Colorado      

4. New Hampshire

3. Montana       

2. Washington

1. Hawaii

Hawaii was ranked as the worst state to drive in, according to the WalletHub study. 

The Aloha State ranked the highest for the cost of car ownership and maintenance. For traffic and infrastructure, the state came in 41st place.

Hawaii ranked as the worst state for drivers. (iStock)

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Best states to drive in the US

5. Oklahoma

4. Iowa

3. Indiana   

2. Idaho

More rural states took the top spots as the best places to drive in the country. The state of North Carolina (pictured here) ranked No. 7 on one of the best places to drive in. (Associated Press/ Chuck Burton)

1. Kansas   

Kansas took the top spot as the best state for drivers. 

The release said, "Kansas has the third-best road quality in the U.S., and well-maintained motorways are essential for minimizing crashes."

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It also noted, "Keeping roads paved well probably isn’t too hard, though, given that Kansas is ‘flatter than a pancake.’"

Kansas was ranked as the No. 1 U.S. state to drive in, according to Wallethub. (iStock)

The midwest state was noted for its low prevalence of speeding and lowest average commute time by car, at just over 20 minutes, Wallethub reported.

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"That suggests that while the population may be spread out, people tend to live close to their jobs and don’t get stuck in traffic often," said the release.