10 American Cities Known for the Worst Road Conditions
America’s pothole crisis is peaking, turning daily commutes into costly, suspension-shaking gauntlets across major cities.
Driving across the United States can feel like an obstacle course when you hit certain metro areas that seem to have forgotten about paving. You may have experienced that heart-stopping moment when a tire dips into a crater so deep you wonder if you will ever come out. These roads have proven particularly rough on our suspensions, as infrastructure struggles to keep up with heavy traffic and wild weather. Drivers are tired of spilling their morning coffee every time they hit a bump on their way to work.
The situation highlights a crumbling reality where tax dollars do not always translate into smooth pavement for the daily commuter. From the frozen streets of the Midwest to the sun-baked highways of the West Coast, the damage to our vehicles is adding up fast. You might want to double-check your spare tire and alignment before you head into any of these notorious urban jungles. Here is a look at the cities where your car is most likely to take a beating this year.
Cleveland, Ohio
The Rust Belt has seen better days, and unfortunately, so have Cleveland’s roads. Years of heavy industrial traffic, combined with shrinking budgets, have left many thoroughfares in disrepair. The freeze-thaw cycle here is just as damaging as it is in Chicago, turning small cracks into gaping holes. It gives the city a gritty texture that you can feel through the steering wheel every time you drive.
Commuters here have to be vigilant, scanning the road ahead for the tell-tale shadows of a missing chunk of asphalt. It is not uncommon to see cars pulled over on the shoulder with flat tires after hitting a particularly nasty patch. Navigating these streets requires a level of focus that can leave you exhausted by the time you get home. The city is working on it, but the backlog of repairs is a heavy lift.
San Francisco And Oakland, California
The Bay Area might be famous for its Golden Gate and tech giants, but the asphalt beneath your wheels tells a much grittier story of neglect. Hills are rugged enough to drive up without having to dodge jagged holes that seem to appear overnight. Antioch Herald highlights that 73% of major locally and state-maintained roads in the San Francisco-Oakland urban area are in poor or mediocre condition. It is a jarring contrast to the immense wealth generated just a few miles away in Silicon Valley.
Locals know that driving here is not just annoying, it is actually a significant drain on their bank accounts. Mechanics in the area are constantly busy fixing bent rims and realigning wheels that have lost a fight with the pavement. These rough road conditions cost the average motorist in the area thousands of dollars each year in extra vehicle operating costs. If you visit, you might want to consider insurance that covers undercarriage damage.
Providence, Rhode Island
You might not expect such a small state to have such a massive infrastructure problem, but Rhode Island consistently ranks at the bottom. The capital city of Providence serves as the epicenter of pavement that looks like it’s been through a war zone. Data from Construction Coverage shows that 37.2% of the state’s major roadways are in poor condition. It is a rough ride that leaves drivers clenching their steering wheels in frustration.
The freeze-thaw cycles in New England are brutal, cracking asphalt wide open and leaving behind dangerous gaps for unsuspecting drivers. Repair crews try to patch things up, but the fixes often peel away as soon as the next winter storm rolls through. Driving through Providence usually feels less like a commute and more like an off-road rally event that you never signed up for. Residents have simply learned to memorize where the biggest craters live to avoid disaster.
New York City, New York
The Big Apple is known for its frenetic energy, but that energy apparently does not extend to keeping the streets smooth. Yellow cabs and delivery trucks bounce along avenues that are riddled with lumps, bumps, and metal plates that clang at all hours. According to a recent TRIP report, driving on these deteriorated roads costs the average New York driver $733 annually. It is just another “hidden tax” of living in one of the most expensive cities on the planet.
Manhattan gets a lot of attention, but the outer boroughs like Queens and Brooklyn often fare much worse when it comes to maintenance. You can tell you have crossed a city line just by the sudden change in vibration under your seat. Statistics reveal that 45% of major state and locally owned roads and highways in New York are rated in poor condition. It is a bustling metropolis where you have to keep your eyes on the ground as much as on the traffic.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Paradise comes with a price, and in Honolulu, that price is often paid in blown tires and rattled suspensions. The tropical climate and heavy rains wreak havoc on the asphalt, while the salty air accelerates the decay of road materials. In fact, 26.5% of major roadways in Hawaii are in poor condition, making for a bumpy ride to the beach. It is hard to enjoy the palm trees when you are worried about snapping an axle.
Tourists renting convertibles often get a rude awakening when they leave the resort areas and head into the city proper. The roads are narrow, congested, and filled with imperfections that can ruin a vacation drive in seconds. Locals joke that the potholes are just ancient lava tubes opening up to say hello to your car. You definitely need to slow down and pay attention to the surface if you want to keep your rental deposit.
Chicago, Illinois
The Windy City faces a distinct set of challenges thanks to brutal winters that turn water into road-destroying ice. Salt trucks do their best to melt the snow, but that same salt eats away at the pavement year after year. On a national scale, potholes cost U.S. taxpayers approximately $3 billion in vehicle repairs each year, and Chicago contributes heavily to that total. It is a cycle of freezing, cracking, and patching that never seems to end.
Springtime in Chicago is affectionately known as “pothole season” because melting snow reveals the carnage left behind by winter. Drivers develop a sixth sense for swerving around dark spots in the lane to save their tires. Hitting a submerged pothole on Lake Shore Drive is practically a rite of passage for anyone who lives in the area. The city has crews working overtime, but the sheer volume of defects is hard to manage.
Los Angeles, California
In a city where the car is king, the throne is looking a little rusty and uneven these days. Los Angeles traffic is legendary for its jams, but the condition of the freeways and boulevards is equally soul-crushing. With millions of cars grinding down the asphalt every single day, the wear and tear on the infrastructure is relentless and severe. You can spend hours stuck in traffic while staring directly at the cracks that are about to ruin your commute.
The sprawling nature of the city means there are thousands of miles of pavement to maintain, and the budget never seems to cover it all. You might find a smooth stretch in Beverly Hills, but venture out a bit, and things get rough quickly. It is estimated that 240 million tires are damaged annually nationwide by potholes, and L.A. drivers certainly feel that pain. It creates a driving environment where you have to be aggressive yet extremely cautious.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is another Midwest city that takes a beating from the elements and struggles to put the pieces back together. The temperature swings here are violent, causing the ground to heave and the roads to buckle under the pressure. Residents frequently complain that their city has some of the roughest rides in the region, and the data backs them up. It is a place where you learn to appreciate a freshly paved street as if it were a rare gift.
The local government tries to keep up with repair demand, but winter is always around the corner, ready to undo their work. Driving a sports car with low clearance in this town is a brave decision that few are willing to make. Even the most rugged SUVs can develop alignment issues after a few months of navigating these battered streets. It is a constant battle between heavy machinery and the laws of physics.
Orlando, Florida
You might be surprised to see the home of Mickey Mouse on this list, but recent data points to a growing problem. Intense heat, daily thunderstorms, and an explosion of tourist traffic are tearing up the roads faster than they can be fixed. A 2025 report from Pep Boys identified Orlando as the top metro area where drivers experience the highest rates of road-related vehicle repairs. It seems the magic does not extend to the pavement conditions outside the theme parks.
The constant construction on I-4 adds to the misery, shifting lanes and creating uneven surfaces that catch drivers off guard. Locals know that the smooth ride ends the moment you leave the expertly manicured resort driveways. While the palm trees look nice, the roads beneath them often hide defects that can send you to the mechanic. It is a sunny destination with a shady secret under your tires.
St. Louis, Missouri
The Gateway to the West is also a gateway to some serious suspension damage if you are not careful. St. Louis has been struggling with crumbling infrastructure that leaves drivers dodging obstacles on major arteries. Search trends show that drivers in this area are seeking pothole repair shops more frequently than anywhere else. It is a clear sign that the roads are winning the battle against local vehicles.
The mixture of old brick streets in some neighborhoods and worn-out asphalt in others creates a patchwork of driving hazards. You can be cruising along smoothly one minute and bouncing out of your seat the next. City officials have pledged to focus on the issue, but for now, driving here remains a bumpy proposition. It is a city with a lot of history and, unfortunately, many potholes in the road.
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