The Best States for Transportation (2026)
Oregon ranks #1 for transportation in 2026 with a score of 66.3/100, followed by Alaska (66.1), Colorado (61.4), Utah (59.7), and Minnesota (59.6). Scores combine travel time to work, transit, walking and biking, long commutes, driving alone, vehicle miles traveled, and remote work rates from Census and FHWA data. Mississippi ranks last at 29.6.
- Runner-up
- Alaska 66.1
- Last place
- Mississippi 29.6
Transportation score by state
Darker states score higher. Hover, focus, or tap a state to see its rank, score, and grade in the panel.
Key Takeaways
Oregon leads the nation in transportation with a score of 66.3, 0.2 points ahead of #2 Alaska. The top 3 is rounded out by Colorado at 61.4.
The West dominates: 7 of the top 10 states are in the West. Oregon, Alaska, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Washington, Idaho lead the way for the region.
The gap between #1 and #50 is 36.7 points — a moderate spread across states. The median score of 51.1 indicates a fairly even distribution with room for improvement in the lower half.
The bottom 5 — West Virginia, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi — are concentrated in the South, with 5 of 5 from that region. Mississippi ranks last with a score of 29.6, signaling persistent challenges in transportation.
Despite ranking #1 in transportation, Oregon sits at #35 overall — a notable divergence that shows category leadership doesn't always translate to top composite scores. This gap suggests Oregon has room to improve in other areas to climb the overall rankings.
All 50 states ranked by transportation
The top 20 are listed first; open the rest of the table for all 50.
| # State | Grade | Transportation score | Overall score | Key metrics | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Oregon | A+ | 66.3 | 50.9 | 23.2 min commute · 2.4% transit · 17.1% WFH | West |
| 2Alaska | A+ | 66.1 | 44.3 | 19.8 min commute · 0.7% transit · 8.4% WFH | West |
| 3Colorado | A+ | 61.4 | 64.7 | 25.7 min commute · 1.7% transit · 19.9% WFH | West |
| 4Utah | A+ | 59.7 | 75.4 | 23.2 min commute · 1.9% transit · 15.7% WFH | West |
| 5Minnesota | A+ | 59.6 | 70.4 | 22.7 min commute · 1.8% transit · 14.7% WFH | Midwest |
| 6Vermont | A | 59.2 | 74.0 | 23.9 min commute · 1.4% transit · 16% WFH | Northeast |
| 7Montana | A | 58.7 | 75.0 | 19.5 min commute · 0.8% transit · 11.7% WFH | West |
| 8Washington | A | 58.6 | 61.8 | 27.2 min commute · 4.2% transit · 16.4% WFH | West |
| 9Pennsylvania | A | 55.9 | 56.9 | 27.1 min commute · 4.2% transit · 13.8% WFH | Northeast |
| 10Idaho | A | 55.8 | 78.4 | 22.2 min commute · 0.5% transit · 12.7% WFH | West |
| 11Kansas | B+ | 55.7 | 55.1 | 20 min commute · 0.3% transit · 10.3% WFH | Midwest |
| 12Nebraska | B+ | 55.6 | 71.1 | 19.9 min commute · 0.5% transit · 9.7% WFH | Midwest |
| 13Iowa | B+ | 55.6 | 69.2 | 20.4 min commute · 0.8% transit · 9.9% WFH | Midwest |
| 14North Dakota | B+ | 54.6 | 75.5 | 17.5 min commute · 0.5% transit · 7.1% WFH | Midwest |
| 15South Dakota | B+ | 54.4 | 79.3 | 18.5 min commute · 0.2% transit · 8% WFH | Midwest |
| 16Hawaii | B+ | 54.4 | 64.8 | 26.7 min commute · 4.3% transit · 8.9% WFH | West |
| 17Illinois | B+ | 54.2 | 47.6 | 28.3 min commute · 7% transit · 13.6% WFH | Midwest |
| 18Arizona | B+ | 53.4 | 47.8 | 26.4 min commute · 1.1% transit · 16.3% WFH | West |
| 19Rhode Island | B | 52.9 | 62.0 | 26.3 min commute · 2.1% transit · 11.6% WFH | Northeast |
| 20New York | B | 52.6 | 54.9 | 33.2 min commute · 24.2% transit · 11.8% WFH | Northeast |
Show all 50 states ↓Show fewer ↑
| # State | Grade | Transportation score | Overall score | Key metrics | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21Nevada | B | 52.4 | 45.8 | 25.7 min commute · 2.5% transit · 11.3% WFH | West |
| 22Wisconsin | B | 52.3 | 70.6 | 22.7 min commute · 1.4% transit · 11.8% WFH | Midwest |
| 23Ohio | B | 52.1 | 52.1 | 23.8 min commute · 1% transit · 11.9% WFH | Midwest |
| 24Massachusetts | B | 51.7 | 70.0 | 30.6 min commute · 7.8% transit · 14.8% WFH | Northeast |
| 25Connecticut | B | 51.4 | 66.9 | 27 min commute · 4% transit · 13.4% WFH | Northeast |
| 26Maine | B | 51.1 | 71.6 | 25.6 min commute · 0.6% transit · 14.7% WFH | Northeast |
| 27Michigan | C+ | 49.4 | 42.7 | 24.3 min commute · 1% transit · 11.2% WFH | Midwest |
| 28North Carolina | C+ | 48.2 | 59.1 | 25.7 min commute · 0.8% transit · 15.4% WFH | South |
| 29Virginia | C+ | 47.8 | 67.7 | 28.3 min commute · 3% transit · 15.8% WFH | South |
| 30Delaware | C+ | 47.8 | 53.6 | 26.8 min commute · 2.3% transit · 12.9% WFH | Northeast |
| 31Wyoming | C+ | 47.6 | 79.9 | 19.7 min commute · 1.1% transit · 9.7% WFH | West |
| 32Oklahoma | C+ | 47.1 | 43.0 | 22.7 min commute · 0.3% transit · 8.9% WFH | South |
| 33New Hampshire | C+ | 46.1 | 83.4 | 27.5 min commute · 0.6% transit · 16% WFH | Northeast |
| 34Missouri | C+ | 46.1 | 51.0 | 24 min commute · 1% transit · 11.8% WFH | Midwest |
| 35California | C | 46.0 | 40.2 | 29.7 min commute · 3.3% transit · 14.1% WFH | West |
| 36New Jersey | C | 45.9 | 55.0 | 31.9 min commute · 9.7% transit · 13.5% WFH | Northeast |
| 37Kentucky | C | 44.8 | 44.8 | 24.5 min commute · 0.6% transit · 9.5% WFH | South |
| 38Texas | C | 43.7 | 52.2 | 27.5 min commute · 1% transit · 12.9% WFH | South |
| 39Florida | C | 43.6 | 59.9 | 28.9 min commute · 1.3% transit · 15.5% WFH | South |
| 40Tennessee | C | 42.9 | 57.1 | 26.5 min commute · 0.5% transit · 12.7% WFH | South |
| 41Arkansas | C | 42.9 | 40.1 | 22.7 min commute · 0.3% transit · 8.6% WFH | South |
| 42New Mexico | C | 42.9 | 30.6 | 24 min commute · 0.5% transit · 10.3% WFH | West |
| 43South Carolina | D | 42.4 | 49.0 | 26.3 min commute · 0.3% transit · 12.3% WFH | South |
| 44Indiana | D | 42.1 | 59.2 | 24.6 min commute · 0.6% transit · 9.6% WFH | Midwest |
| 45Maryland | D | 40.9 | 53.6 | 32.3 min commute · 5% transit · 15.6% WFH | Northeast |
| 46West Virginia | D | 39.2 | 42.8 | 26.5 min commute · 0.6% transit · 8.8% WFH | South |
| 47Georgia | D | 38.7 | 55.4 | 29.4 min commute · 1.2% transit · 14.9% WFH | South |
| 48Louisiana | D | 36.4 | 30.0 | 26.2 min commute · 0.9% transit · 8% WFH | South |
| 49Alabama | F | 32.9 | 48.5 | 26 min commute · 0.4% transit · 8.3% WFH | South |
| 50Mississippi | F | 29.6 | 41.9 | 26.4 min commute · 0.3% transit · 6.2% WFH | South |
Best and worst states for transportation
Top 10 States for Transportation
ScoreBottom 10 States for Transportation
ScoreFrequently Asked Questions
What is the best state for transportation in 2026?
Oregon ranks #1 for transportation in 2026 with a score of 66.3/100, followed by Alaska (66.1) and Colorado (61.4). Rankings combine the Census Bureau's mean travel time to work (25%, inverted — shorter commutes score better), the share of commuters taking transit, biking or walking (20%), vehicle miles traveled per capita from FHWA (15%, inverted), the work-from-home share (15%), the share with hour-plus commutes (15%, inverted), and the share driving alone (10%, inverted). Oregon benefits from shorter commutes and/or higher rates of transit usage and remote work. Good transportation infrastructure means less time commuting and more time for everything else.
Which states have the worst transportation?
The states with the lowest transportation scores in 2026 are Mississippi (29.6/100), Alabama (32.9), and Louisiana (36.4). These states tend to have longer average commute times, lower public transit usage, higher vehicle miles traveled per capita, and fewer remote work opportunities. Long commutes reduce quality of life by eating into personal time and increasing stress, transportation costs, and carbon emissions. States with car-dependent development patterns where most residents drive long distances to work score lower in this category.
How is the transportation score calculated?
The transportation score combines six metrics: the Census Bureau's mean travel time to work (25% weight, inverted, scaled from 17 to 33 minutes), the share of workers commuting by transit, bicycle or on foot (20%), vehicle miles traveled per capita from the Federal Highway Administration (15%, inverted — lower VMT indicates more walkable and transit-oriented areas), the share working from home (15%, scaled from 5% to 20%), the share with a commute of 60 minutes or more (15%, inverted), and the share driving alone to work (10%, inverted). Commuting shares come from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Each metric is normalized to a 0-100 scale. Transportation carries a 7% weight in the composite. This combination captures multiple dimensions of how people get around — not just car commuting, but also transit infrastructure and the growing shift toward remote work.
How does remote work affect transportation rankings?
Remote work accounts for 15% of the transportation score because it fundamentally changes the transportation equation. Workers who work from home have zero commute time, drive fewer miles, and don't need transit infrastructure. States with higher work-from-home percentages score better on this component. The remote work revolution has been especially beneficial for states that previously scored poorly due to car-dependent development — if enough workers can skip the commute entirely, the impact of long average commute times is partially offset. States with strong broadband infrastructure and knowledge-economy jobs tend to have higher remote work rates, which boosts their transportation scores.
Does commute time really affect quality of life?
Yes, substantially. Research consistently shows that commute time is one of the strongest predictors of life satisfaction. Every additional 10 minutes of commuting is associated with lower self-reported happiness, less physical activity, higher stress, and reduced time with family. The average American spends over 200 hours per year commuting — equivalent to five full work weeks. States with shorter mean commute times give residents that time back. Beyond personal well-being, long commutes increase household transportation costs (fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance), contribute to air pollution, and reduce community engagement. This is why travel time to work carries the largest weight (25%) in our transportation score.
How the Transportation Score Is Calculated
Our transportation score combines the Census Bureau's mean travel time to work (25%, inverted — shorter commutes are better; scaled from 17 to 33 minutes), the share of commuters who take transit, bike or walk (20%), vehicle miles traveled per capita from FHWA Highway Statistics (15%, inverted — lower VMT indicates more walkable/transit-oriented areas), the share working from home (15%), the share with a commute of an hour or more (15%, inverted), and the share driving alone (10%, inverted). Commuting shares come from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Transportation carries a 7% weight in the composite. States with shorter commutes, more transit, walking and biking, and more remote work score highest.