A new report is silencing traffic complainers by ranking Texas the 9th best state to drive in the country.

The WalletHub study, "Best & Worst States to Drive in (2025)" compared all 50 states based on 31 key metrics in four categories: Cost of ownership and maintenance; traffic and infrastructure; safety; and access to vehicles and maintenance.

The top three best states for driving are Kansas (No. 1), Idaho (No. 2), and Indiana (No. 3).

Texas performed the best with its "access to vehicles and maintenance" rank, earning No. 3 overall, and earned fair placements in the nationwide categories for "safety" (No. 17) and "cost of ownership and maintenance" (No. 19).

WalletHub determined Texas has the fourth-highest number of auto repair shops per capita in the U.S., and the state landed in a three-way tie for the No. 1 most car washes per capita alongside California and Florida.

The Lone Star State also has the third-lowest average gas prices, according to the study. AAA says the current average price for gas in Texas is $2.72 per gallon for regular, compared to $2.68 a year ago. National average gas prices come out to about $3.13.

However, the state flopped hard in the national comparison of states with the best "traffic and infrastructure" and ranked No. 43 overall.

Transportation data company Inrix, Inc. says traffic congestion cost the average driver $771 in 2024, and drivers also lost 43 hours of their lives (on average) due to sitting in traffic. Ouch.

"On top of having pricey gas, maintenance and insurance expenses, some states can hurt you even more financially with excessive traffic congestion, which wastes both your fuel and your productivity," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "The best states to drive in are ones that are relatively rural, with smaller populations, a low cost of living, well-maintained roads and safe motorists."

If we ignore the state's recent inclement weather - and the familiar annoyance of being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic - there's plenty to enjoy about driving in Texas. It's vast landscape allows for some incredible sightseeing during a summer road trip, or while taking a scenic drive through the Twisted Sisters in the Hill Country.

Driving at home doesn't have to be a pain, either. In a separate WalletHub ranking of the best and worst U.S. cities to drive in for 2024, Plano outshined the rest of Texas 10th best U.S. city. It's all about perspective, as one might say.

According to the study's rankings, Texans can be glad they aren't driving in Hawaii (No. 50), Washington (No. 49), or Montana (No. 48), which were dubbed the three worst states for driving.

The top 10 best states for driving in 2025 are:

• No. 1 – Kansas
• No. 2 – Idaho
• No. 3 – Indiana
• No. 4 – Iowa
• No. 5 – Oklahoma
• No. 6 – Alabama
• No. 7 – North Carolina
• No. 8 – Ohio
• No. 9 – Texas
• No. 10 – Tennessee