Nov 11, 2025 - News
Denver commuters spend this much time in traffic
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The average Denver metro commuter is spending an astounding 76 hours annually stuck in traffic amid changes in when and why we drive, a new report finds.
Why it matters: The findings put some hard data behind a common feeling among many drivers: Traffic has been getting worse — or at least different — since the pandemic.
By the numbers: Denver's rate represents a sharp increase from 62 hours in 2019, according to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute's 2025 Urban Mobility Report.
- Colorado Springs also saw its rate jump from 48 to 61 hours over the same period.
The big picture: Congestion is once again growing in many cities after a pandemic-era dip, while driver behavior has also changed, per the report.
- Traditional rush hours are returning. Yet there's also been a "noticeable rise in midday congestion," the report finds, possibly tied to remote and hybrid work changing people's schedules and travel behaviors.
- Thursday overtook Friday with the highest share of weekly delay — perhaps "because some of the Friday travel is not associated with commuting."
- Delivery trucks are adding to traffic woes as well.