Jan 26, 2026 - News

Report: Tampa drivers lose 57 hours per year in rush hour traffic

Heavy traffic moves along Interstate 4 toward Tampa after Hurricane Milton. Photo: Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images

Tampa drivers wasted an average of 57 hours stuck in rush-hour traffic last year, per the TomTom Traffic Index.

Why it matters: That's more than two whole days staring at somebody else's license plate, tail lights, and — if you're lucky — quippy bumper stickers.

By the numbers: This is not news to anyone who lives in the city or has the misfortune of commuting to it, but it could be worse.

Drivers in New York (125 hours), San Francisco (116 hours), Honolulu (88) and Boston (86) practically lived bumper-to-bumper in 2025.

Zoom in: Tampa drivers in 2025 spent 23 minutes on a 10-mile drive during the morning rush and 30 minutes during the evening, according to TomTom.

The city's average highway speed fell to 43 mph last year, down about 1.3 mph from 2024. During rush hour, it slowed to 22.1 mph.
The Tampa Bay metro area fared better, averaging about 40 hours stuck in rush-hour traffic, with average rush-hour speeds of 26 mph.

The big picture: Worldwide congestion rose five percentage points from the previous year, the company found.

"Rising levels of congestion globally lead to more emissions, higher fuel consumption, reduced productivity, and growing pressure on urban infrastructure."

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Report: Tampa drivers lose 57 hours per year in rush hour traffic

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