Road Quality by State

Hawaii ranks 50th, with 26% of urban and 16% of rural pavement rated rough. Rhode Island at 49th combines 41% rough urban pavement with 17% rural, the worst rural figure in the country.

Rhode Island also leads the FHWA poor-pavement measure, with 37.2% of its major roads in poor condition. Massachusetts follows at 27%, California at 26.6%, and Hawaii at 26.5%, against a national average of 13.1%.

California shows the widest urban-rural gap, with 44% of urban pavement rated rough, the highest share in the country, against just 5% on rural roads. New York runs 30% urban versus 4% rural.

Alaska and Maryland reverse the pattern. Alaska's rural roads are rougher at 16% versus 9% urban, and Maryland pairs the nation's best urban figure of 1% with 3% rural.

Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey each spent more than $250,000 per lane-mile, the highest rates in the Reason Foundation report. Missouri, South Carolina, West Virginia, North Dakota, and South Dakota spent less than $30,000.

Money alone does not buy smooth pavement. Massachusetts ranks 39th for road quality despite its top-tier spending, while low-spending Missouri sits 13th.

Alaska, South Carolina, and Hawaii post the highest rural fatality rates, each above 1.80 deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles. Half the states exceed 1.0 on urban roads, including New Mexico, Wyoming, and Mississippi.

Minnesota records the best urban fatality rate in the country, and Maryland has the lowest rural rate. Both states also place in the top 15 for pavement quality.