The States With the Worst Roads

Highway Headaches

Dodging potholes on your way to work? Getting road rage because your local highway is deteriorating? According to Transportation for America, a nonpartisan watchdog that lobbies for responsible infrastructure spending, you’re not alone. The group says 20% of U.S. roads are in poor condition despite increased transportation spending, which states often use to build new roadways instead of fixing existing ones. Wonder if you live in a state where roads need more than a little TLC? Read on to find out. (And take a look at what other motorists face on 20 Heart-Stopping Roads Around the World.)

20. Utah

22% of roads in poor condition
39% of roads in fair condition
38% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 26%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 47%

19. Maine

22% of roads in poor condition
36% of roads in fair condition
41% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 65%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 11%

18. Colorado

22% of roads in poor condition
44% of roads in fair condition
32% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 30%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 30%

Blumeyer Demolition by Paul Sableman (CC BY)

17. Missouri

23% of roads in poor condition
45% of roads in fair condition
32% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 20%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 31%

16. Michigan

24% of roads in poor condition
35% of roads in fair condition
41% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 54%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 8%

15. New Hampshire

25% of roads in poor condition
30% of roads in fair condition
44% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 45%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 26%

I love a car with no wheels. by Kevin O'Mara (CC BY-NC-ND)

14. Louisiana

25% of roads in poor condition
38% of roads in fair condition
35% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 22%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 29%

U.S. Route 10 by Bill Herndon (CC BY-NC-ND)

13. Wisconsin

29% of roads in poor condition
38% of roads in fair condition
33% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 33%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 36%

12. Washington

29% of roads in poor condition
45% of roads in fair condition
25% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 21%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 35%

11. Pennsylvania

30% of roads in poor condition
40% of roads in fair condition
30% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 22%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 29%

10. Mississippi

30% of roads in poor condition
41% of roads in fair condition
29% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 4%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 77%

9. Massachusetts

30% of roads in poor condition
41% of roads in fair condition
29% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 23%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 4%

8. West Virginia

31% of roads in poor condition
43% of roads in fair condition
25% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 19%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 31%

7. New Mexico

31% of roads in poor condition
37% of roads in fair condition
32% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 39%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 19%

6. Oklahoma

33% of roads in poor condition
38% of roads in fair condition
29% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 27%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 33%

5. New Jersey

34% of roads in poor condition
44% of roads in fair condition
22% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 57%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 7%

4. Connecticut

34% of roads in poor condition
44% of roads in fair condition
21% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 21%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 19%

3. Hawaii

42% of roads in poor condition
41% of roads in fair condition
17% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 31%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 32%

2. California

45% of roads in poor condition 37% of roads in fair condition 17% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 35%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 16%

1. Rhode Island

53% of roads in poor condition
36% of roads in fair condition
11% of roads in good condition

Roadway repair as percentage of total capital spending: 20%
Roadway expansion as percentage of total capital spending: 3%

States With the Best Roads

So which states are doing something right? Believe it or not, in the states that top the list, nearly two-thirds of roads or more are in good condition, and in the top state, only 5% of roads are in poor condition. But that doesn’t mean every state is devoting a bundle to road repair — in the top state, it represents only 16% of capital spending.