The quickest commutes in the U.S. have been revealed, with the shortest trip to work coming in at just under 22 minutes. Ride-share company Lyft and Harris Poll conducted an extensive analysis of which cities had the fastest, cheapest, and cleanest commutes, using data from the 2022 U.S. Census.
Three standout cities – Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Memphis, Tennessee – boasted commutes of 22 minutes or less. Columbus and Memphis also offered the cheapest commutes. The analysis indicated that cutting just three minutes from the average worker’s commute time could save them 13 hours per year.
Columbus ranked as the best city for commuters, largely due to its quick and affordable transportation options. Fort Worth, Texas; Detroit, Michigan; and Memphis showed the fastest commutes based on miles per hour traveled, thanks to less traffic congestion.
Fort Worth resident Vahid Behzadi noted the ease of getting around the city compared to his previous experience in Los Angeles. In contrast, Jeremy Adams from Columbus highlighted the multiple route options in his city, making commuting efficient and less prone to bottlenecks.
Memphis has taken further steps by installing a 150-mile fiber optic network to manage better traffic lights, which reduced average travel time on major roads by about 20 percent. Meanwhile, San Diego was the largest city with the fastest commute, with workers taking an average of 24.2 minutes to reach the office.
Although urban planning plays a major role in commuting efficiency, data still suggests that larger cities generally have more delays. New York, for instance, had the cleanest commutes thanks to the extensive use of public transportation but saw drivers in surrounding areas lose an average of 101 hours in traffic in 2023. Other major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston saw similar delays, although Boston stood out with a high percentage of walkers – 13 percent of its workforce commutes on foot, compared to a national average of just 3 percent.
