In this article, we will be taking a look at the 20 cities with the best roads in the US. You can also check out 20 Cities with the Worst Roads in the US.
Challenges and Infrastructure of the US Highway System
The massive interstate highway network in the United States can handle heavy traffic. According to the Federal Highway Administration, there were 288.4 billion vehicle miles driven in the country in August 2023 alone, of which 92 billion were on rural roads and 196.4 billion were on urban highways and streets. Road traffic accidents also remain a significant concern in the United States, causing substantial loss of life and economic burden. Approximately 2.1 million people visited emergency rooms in 2020, and 40,000 people died in traffic accidents. This led to an estimated $430 billion in lost lives, medical expenses, and deterioration in quality of life.
US traffic crashes cost society an astounding $340 billion in 2019, of which $30 billion was borne by taxpayers. The economic cost of auto accidents is projected to be $242 billion annually, which includes $99 billion for lost productivity and medical expenses. The damage caused by auto accidents to society came to around $1.4 trillion. The yearly cost of these accidents approaches $1 trillion and includes emergency services, property damage, medical expenses, and legal bills.
An essential part of the US highway system is bridges and other structures. The Federal Highway Administration allots around $7 billion a year to transportation authorities to support their planning, design, and upkeep of these essential infrastructure components. For citizens all around the nation, safe and convenient transportation is guaranteed by this vast road network.
Major Players in Maintaining the Roads Across the US
Companies like Caterpillar Inc., Vulcan Materials Company, and Deere & Company, among others, have been at the forefront of maintaining the quality of roads across the USA. For example, Caterpillar’s machinery and equipment are used extensively in road construction projects throughout the country. In 2022 alone, more than 150 Cat machines were used to build roads, prepare processing sites, remove overburden, and lay two pipelines totaling over 430 miles in North America. The company’s support for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in the United States demonstrates its ongoing commitment to infrastructure development. The company generated a revenue of $15.8 billion in Q1 2024, slightly down from $15.9 billion in Q1 2023 and Earnings per share (EPS) were $5.75 which is a 53.7% increase from $3.74 in Q1 2023 and above analyst estimates of $5.14. Caterpillar’s new retail business volume saw an 11% increase from Q1 2023, with profits reaching $2.74 billion.
Similarly, Vulcan Materials Company is the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates, including crushed stone, sand, and gravel, and a major producer of aggregates-based construction materials like asphalt and ready-mixed concrete. The company plays a vital role in maintaining and expanding the U.S. infrastructure by providing the essential materials for building roads, highways, bridges, and other vital projects across the country. As of December 31, 2023, the company had 397 active aggregates facilities across the U.S. Financially, Vulcan Materials achieved $323 million in adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2024 and in the Aggregates segment, cash gross profit per ton increased 10% to $8.86, despite a 7% drop in shipments to 48.1 million tons. For the full year, Vulcan Materials expects demand to be flat or decline by up to 4%, with single-family construction and public demand offsetting weaker non-residential and multifamily construction.
Top 20 Countries with the Best Roads in the World
Our Methodology
For our methodology, we ranked the cities with the best roads in the US based on consensus. We looked up for best roads on different websites and considered factors like drainage systems, traffic, infrastructure, and safety and assigned points to each city. The city ranking in the first place received a score of 1 (20/20=1) and the city ranking in the second place received a score of 0.95 (19/20=0.95), and so on.
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Here is our list of the 20 cities with the best roads in the US.
20. Laredo, TX
Insider Monkey Score: 0.05
Laredo, Texas is home to the busiest inland port in the United States, with over 10,000 northbound trucks passing through each day. Over the next 10 years, TxDOT plans to spend $2.3 billion on road and highway improvements in the Laredo area, more than five times the amount spent a decade ago. This funding, partially provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will go towards widening Interstate Highway 35, upgrading U.S. Route 59 to Houston, and other local projects. To improve bicycle safety, Laredo has a 20-year plan to expand its bikeway network from 20 miles to 125 miles by 2041.
19. Arlington, TX
Insider Monkey Score: 0.1
Arlington, Virginia is known for its well-maintained roads and ongoing efforts to improve road safety. Arlington allocates substantial funds to maintain its 376 miles of roadway. In 2017, the city filled 2,928 potholes, while in 2019 the number increased to 5,118 due to harsher winter conditions. In 2023, the police department conducted 3,082 traffic stops, issued 1,871 citations, and held community education classes as part of an effort to reduce traffic fatalities.
18. Chandler, AZ
Insider Monkey Score: 0.15
Chandler stands among the cities with the best roads in the US. While Chandler’s roads are generally safe, the city takes proactive measures to address areas with higher accident rates. The intersection of Ray Road and Alma School Road is one of the most accident-prone areas, with high traffic volumes making it challenging for drivers to maneuver.
17. San Antonio, TX
Insider Monkey Score: 0.2
San Antonio has a well-developed freeway system that ranks among the best in the United States. The city maintains 1,030 miles of state-maintained roadways. San Antonio has improved its road network through several road development initiatives. Notable initiatives include the gradual expansion of US 281 at Loop 1604, which will see the first phase completed in 2022; more industrial complexes and Amazon centers around I-35 and Fischer Rd. will also increase traffic in that vicinity.
16. Birmingham, AL
Insider Monkey Score: 0.25
Birmingham, Alabama is ranked as one of the cities with the best roads in the United States, with 49% of its roads in good condition. The City of Birmingham has allocated $12.5 million for a street resurfacing project in 2023, which aims to upgrade streets in all 9 council districts. This project will resurface approximately 43 miles of city streets, with work underway in various districts.
15. Lexington-Fayette, KY
Insider Monkey Score: 0.3
Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky is known for having some of the best roads in the United States. High-traffic roads typically receive 50% of a fiscal year’s paving budget, with major and minor arterials receiving 25% and collector streets receiving another 25%. Neighborhood streets typically receive 40% of the paving budget each fiscal year, divided among Lexington’s 12 Council Districts based on the proportion of local road lane miles within each district.
14. Garland, TX
Insider Monkey Score: 0.35
Garland stands fourteenth among the cities with the best roads in the US. In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the city allocated $18.5 million for street maintenance and rehabilitation. Garland has implemented several road improvement acts to enhance the quality of its streets. One such initiative is the Neighborhood Traffic Control Program, which consists of various methods to address issues frequently cited as disruptive to residential streets.
13. Tampa, FL
Insider Monkey Score: 0.4
Tampa stands among the cities with the best roads but the traffic accidents rate is also high in the city. From 2018 through 2020, there were approximately 82,359 traffic crashes in Hillsborough County, resulting in 576 fatal crashes, 37,120 injury crashes, 1,535 bicycle accidents, 1,888 pedestrian accidents, and 1,875 motorcycle crashes. Many of these accidents were caused by speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and other forms of negligence.
12. El Paso, TX
Insider Monkey Score: 0.45
El Paso is also one of the US cities with the best roads but at the same the traffic accidents prevail in the city like Tampa. El Paso saw nearly 13,700 car accidents in 2021, with 3,166 of those resulting in at least one injury or fatality. In 2021, 75 people were killed in traffic crashes in El Paso, and as of September 2022, 51 people had died compared to 47 at the same point the previous year.
11. Winston-Salem, NC
Insider Monkey Score: 0.5
Winston-Salem, NC is known for having well-maintained roads compared to many other cities in the United States. One of the major road improvement projects currently underway in Winston-Salem is the Downtown Two-Way Conversion Project. Voters approved converting First, Second, Main, and Liberty streets downtown to two-way traffic as part of the 2018 bond referendum. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) also conducts regular traffic counts on selected roads in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County every two to three years.
10. Jacksonville, FL
Insider Monkey Score: 0.55
Jacksonville stands tenth among the cities with the best roads in the US. The city spends a significant amount on road maintenance and repair, with a focus on resurfacing, ADA compliance, and sidewalk construction. The city’s 2013-2014 budget included over $9.5 million for roadway resurfacing. In the fiscal year 2018-2019, the city allocated $12 million for roadway resurfacing, with similar amounts budgeted for subsequent years.
9. Lincoln, NE
Insider Monkey Score: 0.6
Lincoln spends a significant amount repairing its roads. In 2024, Lincoln has already filled over 6,000 potholes as of February, with crews repairing an average of 720 potholes per day. This is a common issue, as the city typically repairs around 50,000 potholes per year on its 2,600 lane miles of streets. To address these challenges, Lincoln’s mayor plans to devote $98 million to street infrastructure over the next two years. The city also has a program called Lincoln on the Move that uses revenue from a quarter-cent sales tax for street repairs, which is set to end in September 2025.
8. Lubbock, TX
Insider Monkey Score: 0.65
The City of Lubbock, Texas is known for its well-maintained roads and ongoing efforts to improve transportation infrastructure. In 2018, Lubbock County initiated its first Transportation Roadway Improvement Program (TRIP) to identify and prioritize roadway infrastructure needs through 2045. In January 2023, Lubbock County Commissioners voted to approve the 2023 caliche and seal coat plans, indicating ongoing efforts to upgrade county roads.
7. Greensboro, NC
Insider Monkey Score: 0.7
Greensboro, North Carolina has a well-developed road infrastructure. According to a recent presentation, Greensboro currently spends $7 million per year on road maintenance. However, to maintain overall road conditions, the city would need to allocate $16 million annually.
6. Orlando, FL
Insider Monkey Score: 0.75
Orlando, Florida is one of the cities in the United States with the best-maintained roads. According to a recent study, 69% of roads in the Orlando area are rated as “good”, meaning they are new or nearly new roadways that offer a smooth ride and have minimal cracks and patches. The Complete Streets policy, approved in 2020, ensures that all future road projects prioritize the safety and comfort of all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders, in addition to motorists.
5. Scottsdale, AZ
Insider Monkey Score: 0.8
Scottsdale stands fifth among the cities with the best roads in the US. In the fiscal year 2021-22 through 2025-26 Capital Improvement Plan, the city plans to complete the construction of approximately 51 lane miles (5%) of the arterial and collector street system One of the key initiatives in Scottsdale’s Street Element of the Transportation Action Plan is the implementation of “Complete Streets” policies. These policies aim to provide sufficient right-of-way and design streets to promote safe and convenient access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit vehicles, and cars.
