Rush hour statistics from the FHWA Urban Congestion Report 2025 show a national average of 3:44 congested hours during April–June 2025, an increase of 0:14 from 2024. The same report recorded a national average travel time index of 1.31, up 3 points, and a planning time index of 1.96, up 1 point. Together, these measures show both typical delay and the extra time travelers may need for a more predictable arrival.
Rush hour statistics at a glance
- National measures
- Highest and lowest congested-hour totals
- Travel time index by urban area
- Planning time index and reliability
- Southern and Midwestern commute patterns
- Northeastern and Western comparisons
The figures below refer specifically to April–June 2025 unless a change from 2024 is stated. The source label for each measurement is the FHWA Urban Congestion Report 2025.
National measures
The national average congested-hour figure was 3:44 in April–June 2025. It was 0:14 higher than the 2024 figure. In this report, the national average travel time index was 1.31, up 3 points from 2024. The national average planning time index was 1.96, up 1 point.
These measures describe different parts of a commute. The travel time index compares peak-period travel time with free-flow travel time, while the planning time index reflects the additional buffer associated with a more reliable trip. They should therefore be read separately rather than combined into a single delay total.
The national results also provide a reference point for the urban-area figures. Some areas recorded substantially more than 3:44 congested hours, while others recorded less than two hours. The spread is especially clear when the reported congested-hour totals are placed side by side.
Highest and lowest congested-hour totals
Among the urban areas listed in the report, Baltimore recorded the highest congested-hour total at 6:18. Denver followed at 5:38. Atlanta and Chicago each recorded 5:06. Dallas–Fort Worth recorded 4:58, Austin 4:54, and Boston 4:34.
At the lower end, Cleveland recorded 1:14 congested hours and Birmingham recorded 1:42. Hartford recorded 2:08, Columbus 2:15, Fresno 2:33, Detroit 2:39, Grand Rapids 2:42, and Cincinnati 2:47.
| Urban area | Congested hours, April–June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | 6:18 |
| Denver, CO | 5:38 |
| Atlanta, GA | 5:06 |
| Chicago, IL | 5:06 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth, TX | 4:58 |
| Austin, TX | 4:54 |
| Boston, MA | 4:34 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1:14 |
| Birmingham, AL | 1:42 |
These are reported congested-hour measures for the stated period, not forecasts of future conditions. The source does not provide a single national ranking method beyond the figures listed here, so the comparisons should remain tied to the report’s April–June 2025 measurement period.
Travel time index by urban area
Chicago had the highest reported travel time index among these areas at 1.42. Austin and Hartford each recorded 1.37, while Atlanta recorded 1.37. Dallas–Fort Worth recorded 1.33. Baltimore and Boston each recorded 1.32, and Denver also recorded 1.32.
At the lower end, Cleveland recorded 1.05, Fresno and Grand Rapids each recorded 1.08, Birmingham 1.09, Buffalo 1.10, Columbus 1.12, Detroit 1.17, and Cincinnati 1.19. Charlotte recorded 1.25.
The report also gives year-over-year changes for many of these measures. Atlanta’s travel time index was up 7 points from 2024, Chicago’s was up 6 points, Cincinnati’s was up 6 points, Dallas–Fort Worth’s was up 5 points, and Charlotte’s was up 4 points. Austin increased by 3 points, Baltimore by 3, Boston by 3, Detroit by 3, Cleveland by 2, Birmingham by 2, and Buffalo by 1. Denver increased by 1 point.
The travel time index was 1.09 in Birmingham and 1.10 in Buffalo despite their different congested-hour totals. That distinction illustrates why hours and index values answer different commute questions: one describes the reported amount of congestion, while the other describes the relationship between peak and free-flow travel time.
Planning time index and reliability
The highest planning time index in the listed urban areas was Atlanta’s 2.17. Austin recorded 2.15, Dallas–Fort Worth 2.14, Chicago 2.13, and Baltimore 2.07. Denver recorded 2.06, Boston 2.01, and Charlotte 1.84.
Lower reported planning time indexes included Cleveland at 1.31, Fresno at 1.42, Buffalo at 1.49, Birmingham at 1.53, Grand Rapids at 1.57, Columbus at 1.59, Detroit at 1.67, and Cincinnati at 1.75.
Year-over-year movement varied considerably. Atlanta’s planning time index increased by 9 points, Birmingham’s increased by 9 points, Dallas–Fort Worth’s increased by 7 points, Cincinnati’s increased by 12 points, and Columbus’s increased by 14 points. Boston increased by 3 points, Buffalo by 3, Cleveland by 3, Chicago by 3, Denver by 2, and Charlotte by 2.
Austin’s planning time index decreased by 1 point from 2024. Detroit’s decreased by 9 points. Baltimore’s was unchanged from 2024. The report lists no year-over-year change for Fresno or Grand Rapids in the supplied figures.
Planning time index values are useful for readers deciding how much schedule flexibility to allow. The 2025 values show that an area can have a relatively high travel time index and a different level of planning uncertainty; these metrics should not be treated as interchangeable.
Southern and Midwestern commute patterns
The Southern urban areas in the supplied figures show a wide range. Atlanta recorded 5:06 congested hours, a 1.37 travel time index, and a 2.17 planning time index. Austin recorded 4:54, 1.39, and 2.15 respectively. Birmingham recorded 1:42, 1.09, and 1.53. Charlotte recorded 3:26, 1.25, and 1.84. Dallas–Fort Worth recorded 4:58, 1.33, and 2.14.
| Urban area | Congested hours | Travel time index | Planning time index |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 5:06 | 1.37 | 2.17 |
| Austin, TX | 4:54 | 1.39 | 2.15 |
| Birmingham, AL | 1:42 | 1.09 | 1.53 |
| Charlotte, NC | 3:26 | 1.25 | 1.84 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth, TX | 4:58 | 1.33 | 2.14 |
The Midwestern figures also span a broad range. Chicago recorded 5:06 congested hours, a 1.42 travel time index, and a 2.13 planning time index. Cincinnati recorded 2:47, 1.19, and 1.75. Cleveland recorded 1:14, 1.05, and 1.31. Columbus recorded 2:15, 1.12, and 1.59. Detroit recorded 2:39, 1.17, and 1.67. Buffalo, listed in the report with these comparison figures, recorded 2:56, 1.10, and 1.49.
Cincinnati’s planning time index rose 12 points from 2024, while Columbus’s rose 14 points. Detroit was the exception among these listed change figures, with its planning time index down 9 points.
Northeastern and Western comparisons
The Northeast figures include Baltimore at 6:18 congested hours, Boston at 4:34, Buffalo at 2:56, and Hartford at 2:08. Baltimore’s travel time index was 1.32 and its planning time index was 2.07. Boston recorded 1.32 and 2.01. Buffalo recorded 1.10 and 1.49. Hartford recorded a travel time index of 1.37; the supplied Hartford figure does not include a planning time index.
Baltimore’s planning time index was unchanged from 2024. Boston’s increased by 3 points, while Buffalo’s increased by 3 points. Baltimore’s travel time index increased by 3 points, Boston’s by 3 points, and Buffalo’s by 1 point.
The Western figures include Denver and Fresno. Denver recorded 5:38 congested hours, a 1.32 travel time index, and a 2.06 planning time index. Fresno recorded 2:33 congested hours, a 1.08 travel time index, and a 1.42 planning time index. Denver’s travel time index increased by 1 point and its planning time index increased by 2 points from 2024. The supplied Fresno figures do not include year-over-year changes.
Grand Rapids recorded 2:42 congested hours, a 1.08 travel time index, and a 1.57 planning time index. Its supplied figures do not include year-over-year changes. Across these areas, the contrast between Denver’s 5:38 congested hours and Fresno’s 2:33 provides a clear example of how reported rush hour conditions differ by urban area.
Reading the 2025 figures for commute planning
The FHWA Urban Congestion Report 2025 figures are most useful when the three available measures are kept together: congested hours indicate the reported congestion amount, the travel time index describes peak-period travel relative to free flow, and the planning time index indicates the reliability buffer represented by the report’s measure.
For April–June 2025, the national reference point was 3:44 congested hours, a 1.31 travel time index, and a 1.96 planning time index. Urban-area results ranged from Cleveland’s 1:14 congested hours to Baltimore’s 6:18, and from Cleveland’s 1.05 travel time index to Chicago’s 1.42. The planning time index ranged from 1.31 in Cleveland to 2.17 in Atlanta among the listed figures.
Because the measurements cover April–June 2025, they describe that period rather than every commute throughout the year. Changes from 2024 are reported as points or time differences by the FHWA Urban Congestion Report 2025 and should be interpreted as comparisons with the report’s corresponding prior figures.