Here’s how long it takes to drive 6 miles in Boston, according to a report

Drivers in Boston face some of the worst traffic in America, according to a new report by TomTom.

The geolocation technology company released its Traffic Index for 2023, and named Boston the fourth worst city in the U.S. for traffic. The report ranked 387 cities in 55 countries, evaluating cities by their average travel time, CO₂ emissions, and fuel costs.

In Boston, it took 19 min and 6 seconds to drive 6 miles last year, according to the report, which is a 20-second increase over 2022. The worst American city for traffic was New York City, where it took 24 minutes and 50 seconds to go 6 miles.

The worst day to drive during rush hour in Boston last year was on Thursday between 5 and 6 p.m., when driving 6 miles took 29 minutes and 6 seconds. Overall, Boston motorists lost 86 hours driving in rush hour in 2023.

TomTom says drivers can save time and money by avoiding rush hour travel, running errands during a single journey rather than multiple outings, turning the engine off while waiting in a car, and sticking to the speed limit because a 10 mph increase can use up to 25% more fuel.

Here’s a list of the 10 U.S. cities with the worst traffic:

1. New York City

2. Washington, D.C.

3. San Francisco

4. Boston

5. Chicago

6. Baltimore

7. Seattle

8. Philadelphia

9. Los Angeles

10. Miami

Boston ranked 97th in the world for bad traffic, according to this report.

Check out TomTom’s Traffic Index for 2023.

Kristi Palma

Travel writer

 

Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.

Want to leave a comment?

Create an Account Or sign in to your account

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

To comment, please verify your email address

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com