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(NEXSTAR) – Few experiences compare to cruising along a freshly paved road. The absence of potholes and random bumps makes for an exceptionally smooth journey.
Regrettably, most roads don’t offer this kind of comfort, even as states invest record amounts in highway maintenance and construction.
A recent study by MoneyGeek took a deep dive into data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, aiming to rank each state’s road quality and identify the ones with the roughest conditions.
To evaluate the nationwide road conditions, MoneyGeek created a “Roughness Index.” This index rates pavement quality based on standards set by the Federal Highway Administration, categorizing road surfaces as good, acceptable, or poor.
The “Roughness Index” assigns higher scores to states with deteriorating road conditions, highlighting where improvements are most needed.
At the very bottom of the list was California, which had a score of 153.4 and had 42% of its roads graded as being in poor condition. This is despite California having the second-highest highway budget in the country (roughly $24 billion).
Not doing much better was Rhode Island, which had a score of 139.3 with 36% of roads considered poor. Followed by Nebraska at 137.7 and then Wisconsin with 136.
Here’s the list of the top 10 states with the worst roads in the country, according to MoneyGeek.
| Rank | State | Roughness Index | % Poor Condition | % Good Condition | Total Amount Spent on Highways (Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 153.4 | 42% | 22% | $24,023 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 139.3 | 36% | 32% | $781 |
| 3 | Nebraska | 137.7 | 32% | 33% | $1,646 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 136 | 29% | 29% | $5,568 |
| 5 | New York | 135 | 30% | 35% | $17,337 |
| 6 | Hawaii | 130 | 26% | 34% | $849 |
| 7 | Louisiana | 129.6 | 28% | 36% | $2,400 |
| 8 | Washington | 125 | 25% | 39% | $6,613 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 124.2 | 27% | 41% | $6,500 |
| 10 | Colorado | 121.7 | 19% | 38% | $5,365 |
On the other end of the spectrum was New Hampshire, which was found to have the best roads in the country. Only 5% were considered to be poor, while 78% were graded as good.
Several southern cities, including Alabama, Georgia and Florida, also had over 70% of their roads considered to be in good condition.
To see how your state’s roads fared, check out the full study on MoneyGeek’s website.