Which Alabama area has the worst traffic? See the data

Each year, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) publishes a study that analyzes how different areas drive, how much it costs, amount of time it takes to reach their destinations and other vital traffic info. 

This year’s study included 14 urban areas in Alabama with data from last year. 

TTI found that traffic congestion was up at a national level in 2024.

“The numbers show more traffic than we’ve ever seen, but also a different kind of traffic.

“Hybrid work capabilities, online shopping and other changes in our daily lives have reshaped when and where congestion happens. This can create more unpredictability and make travel harder to plan.”

David Schrank, TTI senior research scientist and lead author of the study

We ranked a few key data points from Alabama cities in 2024, and the results may not be what you’d expect:

To explore more data beyond our rankings, explore the Urban Mobility Report’s interactive map.

Note: Two urban areas included in the study — Pensacola, Florida, and Columbus, Georgia — have overlap in Alabama, so they will be included in our rankings as Pensacola-Orange Beach and Columbus-Phenix City.

Hours of delay per auto commuter annually

1. Birmingham — 57 hours
2. Mobile — 54 hours
3. Huntsville — 45 hours
4. Tuscaloosa — 40 hours
5. Dothan — 40 hours
6. Montgomery — 38 hours
7. Auburn — 38 hours
8. Daphne-Fairhope — 38 hours
9. Gadsden — 37 hours
10. Pensacola-Orange Beach — 37 hours
11. Florence — 35 hours
12. Decatur — 29 hours
13. Columbus-Phenix City — 26 hours
14. Anniston-Oxford — 25 hours

Percent of population that commutes via car 

1. Florence — 54.8%
2. Gadsden — 54.5%
3. Anniston-Oxford — 54.3%
4. Montgomery — 54.3%
5. Mobile — 54.1%
6. Auburn — 54.0%
7. Tuscaloosa — 53.8%
8. Columbus-Phenix City — 53.7%
9. Dothan — 53.6%
10. Decatur — 53.3%
11. Huntsville — 53.1%
12. Daphne-Fairhope — 50.0%
13. Birmingham — 49.3%
14. Pensacola-Orange Beach — 45.7%

Cost of congestion per auto commuter annually

(Based on cost of fuel in Alabama, time lost in traffic and average hourly wage)

1. Birmingham — $1,404
2. Mobile — $797
3. Pensacola-Orange Beach — $751
4. Montgomery — $735
5. Gadsden — $700
6. Dothan — $680
7. Auburn — $642
8. Tuscaloosa — $639
9. Huntsville — 626
10. Decatur — $612
11. Florence — $594
12. Daphne–Fairhope — $450
13. Columbus–Phenix City — $440
14. Anniston–Oxford — $413

Annual total dollars lost due to congestion

1. Birmingham — $852 million
2. Mobile — $359 million
3. Huntsville — $280 million
4. Pensacola–Orange Beach — $241 million
5. Montgomery — $224 million
6. Columbus–Phenix City — $136 million
7. Tuscaloosa — $120 million
8. Auburn — $71 million
9. Dothan — $65 million
10. Florence — $57 million
11. Gadsden — $52 million
12. Decatur — $52 million
13. Daphne–Fairhope — $52 million
14. Anniston–Oxford — $40 million

Total gallons of gas lost in traffic per auto commuter

1. Birmingham — 16 gallons
2. Pensacola–Orange Beach — 14 gallons
3. Mobile — 12 gallons
4. Gadsden — 10 gallons
5. Dothan — 10 gallons
6. Montgomery — 9 gallons
7. Tuscaloosa — 9 gallons
8. Florence — 9 gallons
9. Auburn — 8 gallons
10. Huntsville — 8 gallons
11. Decatur — 8 gallons
12. Columbus–Phenix City — 5 gallons
13. Anniston–Oxford — 5 gallons
14. Daphne–Fairhope — 4 gallons

How does your area stack up? What should Alabama do to decrease traffic congestion? Let us know by tagging @thebamabuzz on Facebook and Instagram!