A Tale Of Two Cities
Potholes are daily reminders of how infrastructure affects lives and wallets. In some places, they dominate conversations and infuriate drivers of all stripes. While other cities provide their drivers with smooth sailing throughout. So which cities fall on the extreme ends of the spectrum? The findings may surprise you! Let’s start with the cities where potholes reign.
1. Atlanta, GA
Atlanta tops the nation in pothole complaints and logs 529.1 per 1,000 kilometers of road each year, according to The Clunker Junker. Residents even formed a “pothole patrol” to help, and they still jokingly call large rain-filled potholes “Atlanta lakes.”
Car-sized pothole on I-85 causes thousands in damage to car, driver says by FOX 5 Atlanta
2. Washington, D.C.
Despite large maintenance budgets, Washington, D.C., remains the second-worst city for potholes, with 451.4 complaints per 1,000 kilometers, Apartment Therapy reports. Each spring, the city launches “Potholepalooza” and repairs thousands. Thanks to poor roads, residents' vehicle repair bills rank among the country’s highest.
Potholes have hit the District hard. Will motorists see relief anytime soon? by Washington Post
3. St. Louis, MO
In St. Louis, potholes generate 385.2 complaints per 1,000 kilometers, Apartment Therapy finds, placing the city third nationwide. Cheapism also notes its frequent “worst roads” rankings. Recycled asphalt experiments have been tried, and some maps show danger zones.
Pothole patrol across the St. Louis area by FOX 2 St. Louis
4. New Orleans, LA
According to Vivid Maps, New Orleans sees 324.4 pothole complaints per 1,000 kilometers yearly, worsened by heavy rain and soft soil that erodes roads. Residents highlight the issue by planting flowers in craters and reporting through the “Fix My Street” app.
Pothole on Banks Street frustrating residents by WWLTV
5. Oklahoma City, OK
Nearly one-third of Oklahoma City’s roads are rated poor, the TRIP report confirms, and freeze-thaw cycles in winter contribute to pothole growth. The city provides a “Pothole Hotline,” but frustrated residents also launch petitions demanding quicker fixes.
How does Oklahoma City respond to one of its residents' biggest complaints, potholes? by KOCO 5 News
6. San Diego, CA
Drivers in San Diego pay heavily for bad roads, with annual pothole repairs averaging $1,900, CBS8 reports. Cheapism ranks the city among America’s worst, and aging infrastructure and traffic produce more potholes. Even military vehicles suffer damage.
Mayor Gloria's new proposal to repair San Diego's crumbling roads up for review by CBS 8 San Diego
7. San Jose, CA
San Jose’s road network struggles—64% of roads are labeled “poor,” according to Teletrac Navman and CBS. Smart street sensors and experiments with rubberized asphalt aim to help commuters, and Cheapism once named it the nation’s single worst city for roads.
2017 January 24 - potholes in San Jose, CA by Zealousy
8. San Francisco, CA
According to ABC, nearly 71 percent of San Francisco’s roads were rated poor in 2015. Cheapism notes the city consistently ranking among America’s five worst for potholes. A “Pothole Blitz” helps, but heavy traffic and hilly terrain create potholes faster.
San Francisco woman left with $1K+ car damage from storm-induced pothole by ABC7 News Bay Area
9. Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles drivers face terrible roads, with 64 percent in poor or mediocre condition, the Los Angeles Times reports. There are over 50,000 3-1-1 pothole calls annually, and potholes remain a leading cause of bike accidents here.
Potholes popping up all over Los Angeles area following storms by ABC7
10. Yakima, WA
Ranked as America’s worst pothole city by a QuoteWizard survey, Yakima stands out nationally. CDL Life highlights heavy resident search activity, proof of deep concern. Agricultural trucking traffic worsens conditions, while social media snapshots and thousands of public works service requests reveal a frustrated community.
Now, let’s see which cities have the most pothole-free roads.
1. Chesapeake, VA
Chesapeake drivers enjoy some of the smoothest roads in America, with only 3.8 pothole complaints per 1,000 kilometers reported, Apartment Therapy notes. It ranks at the very bottom nationally, according to Cheapism, and it’s aided by strong infrastructure funding and coastal weather.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel - US 13 Eastern Shore Virginia by Filmed
2. Laredo, TX
With just 4.6 pothole complaints per 1,000 kilometers, Apartment Therapy confirms Laredo’s roads rival the smoothest nationwide, tying Boise. Cheapism also highlights its low ranking, surprising given the heavy truck traffic. Warm weather helps residents enjoy fewer repairs.
3. Boise, ID
Boise consistently appears on lists of cities with the fewest pothole problems, Cheapism reports, and averages only 4.6 complaints per 1,000 kilometers, Apartment Therapy adds. Smaller populations reduce road stress, while quick repair crews keep streets smooth.
I-84 East - Boise - Idaho - 4K Highway Drive by Mileage Mike Travels
4. Stockton, CA
Cheapism reveals Stockton averages just five pothole complaints per 1,000 kilometers of road, placing it among America’s lowest. Even with California’s heavy traffic, Stockton’s resurfacing projects keep conditions better than in larger cities, and locals are more likely to complain about congestion.
5. Irvine, CA
Irvine, a planned city, records only 5.3 pothole complaints per 1,000 kilometers, according to Cheapism. Its reputation for some of the nation’s best-maintained roads is supported by strong tax-funded infrastructure, and many residents remark on rarely encountering potholes during commutes.
Two Cities in One - Interstate 405 in Irvine, CA by YoshiCraft2011
6. Des Moines, IA
One of the smoothest-driving Midwestern cities, Des Moines averages just 5.4 pothole complaints per 1,000 kilometers of road, Cheapism reports. Despite Iowa’s harsh winters, residents praise quick plowing and maintenance, while visitors notice smoother drives compared to nearby states.
7. Fremont, CA
U.S. News and World Report confirms that Fremont is frequently ranked among the nation’s best-maintained roads among cities and records far fewer pothole complaints than California’s average. Commuters say its roads are more dependable than those in San Jose or Oakland, and investments fueled by Silicon Valley help.
Fremont, CA - Driving Downtown 4K by DS NEVADA
8. Plano, TX
Plano stands out in Texas, recognized for having some of the fewest pothole complaints, according to U.S. News and World Report. Even within the busy Dallas metro, its suburban layout limits heavy trucking, and locals often compare its roads favorably to its neighbors.
4k Driving in Texas | Plano to Mckinney | 75 highway north by Driving guy
9. Chandler, AZ
Chandler’s reputation for smooth roads and having some of the state’s lowest pothole complaints is supported by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Its desert climate avoids freeze-thaw damage, and strong tech-driven infrastructure investment leaves visitors remarking that roads feel newer and better maintained than in Phoenix.
Driving on 587 and Hunt Highway in Chandler, Arizona by Run MDX
10. Gilbert, AZ
The rapid growth of Gilbert hasn’t translated into rougher streets. The Arizona Department of Transportation notes consistently low pothole complaints, with the city recognized as one of the most proactive in maintenance. Innovative asphalt mixes and smart planning keep its community driving on smooth roads.
Gilbert, Arizona to Scottsdale, Arizona: AZ Loop 101 & 202 Freeway (Rush Hour) by Livin' Our Dreamz
