States with the best and worst road quality, ranked
Reported by Business Insider · October 9, 2026
Potholes, cracks, and uneven road surfaces are a nuisance at best — and hazardous at worst.
Each year, US News & World Report publishes a ranking of the best states to live in, which it calculates from a range of categories, including infrastructure.
As part of its infrastructure ranking, US News & World Report rated the quality of each state's transportation using metrics such as commute time, public transit usage, and road quality.
The Federal Highway Administration assesses road conditions by examining defects such as cracks, uneven surfaces, and grooves.
Dive deeper
- Potholes, cracks, and uneven road surfaces are a nuisance at best — and hazardous at worst.
- Each year, US News & World Report publishes a ranking of the best states to live in, which it calculates from a range of categories, including infrastructure.
- As part of its infrastructure ranking, US News & World Report rated the quality of each state's transportation using metrics such as commute time, public transit usage, and road quality.
- The Federal Highway Administration assesses road conditions by examining defects such as cracks, uneven surfaces, and grooves.