Traffic on Interstate 476 in Media. (Shutterstock)
It won’t come as any surprise to Pennsylvania drivers to learn that the commonwealth did not rank too high in a recent report of the Best States to Drive in 2025.
Driving can be dangerous, even without having to avoid the potholes on Pennsylvania roads. From being stuck in traffic to driving on safe, well-maintained roads, the Keystone State did not rank too favorably in a recent study on Best and Worst States to Drive in 2025.
A new report from financial planning website WalletHub ranked Pennsylvania 36th in the nation for best states to drive in. Kansas came in first, followed by Idaho and Indiana.
Driving conditions aren’t consistent across the entire country. To identify the best states to drive in, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 31 key indicators of a positive commute, from average gas prices to rush-hour traffic congestion and road quality.
For anyone that has taken a trip on just about any road in Pennsylvania, it’s not surprising to learn that WalletHub ranked the state 38th in the nation for road quality. Going hand-in-hand with that, the state also ranked 38th for auto-maintenance costs.
Pennsylvania also got a low rating for average gas price, coming in at 37th in the nation. According to AAA, the current average price of regular gas in Pennsylvania is around $3.35 per gallon.
There are a few silver linings in the state, though. According to WalletHub, Pennsylvania ranked 7th in the nation for traffic fatality rate, 9th in the nation for rush-hour traffic congestion, and 14th for car theft rate.
The commonwealth scored its highest rankings in auto repair shops per capita (2nd) and car dealerships per capita (3rd). Seems fitting considering all the damage a pothole can cause a car in Pennsylvania.
Author
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Pennsylvanians and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at The Keystone has always been to empower people across the commonwealth with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Pennsylvania families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
Erie’s $72M lead pipe replacement project is ongoing. How much work has been completed?
If noise, heavy equipment and slicing holes into the street helps protect public health, Rebekah Weaver is more than willing to endure some...
Pa. electric customers will pay to keep an old power plant running under federal orders
The Trump administration has signaled it will use emergency powers to keep fossil fuel plants online. Electricity customers across a broad swath of...
What it’s like to ride on an Erie trolley, and why there’s a new fleet coming in 2026
Coming in 2026, the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA) is set to receive four new compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trollies. EMTA...
Philadelphia transit agency will use project reserves to avoid cuts. Pittsburgh’s might do the same
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration on Monday approved the use of hundreds of millions of dollars in capital project funding...
Philadelphia’s mass transit cuts foreshadow possible similar moves in Pittsburgh, other cities across US
SEPTA has said its cuts this week amount to a 20% across-the-board service reduction to deal with a deficit of more than $200 million. Pittsburgh...
