3 NC metros have among the worst driving commutes in the US. Here’s where & why
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Bumper-to-bumper traffic and unexpected delays are a daily reality for drivers in the nation’s big cities. But a new study suggests gridlocked commutes are driving burnout in the suburbs, too.
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A Mission for Michael, a platform that connects users to specialized mental health treatment, surveyed 3,002 drivers as part of a nationwide study highlighting metro areas where drivers face the most stressful commutes.
Three North Carolina suburbs were ranked among America’s worst “burnout belts” where traffic is driving feelings of physical and mental exhaustion, according to the report.
“When you’re losing hours of your day before and after work even begins, it leaves very little room to recover,” said Anand Mehta, executive director of AMFM San Diego, in the report. “Over time, that constant drain can have a real impact on mental wellbeing — even if it doesn’t feel obvious at first.”
Here’s which NC commuter towns made the list:
Drivers identified commutes in three NC suburbs that contribute most to burnout:
The AMFM survey, conducted online in April, asked drivers about their daily commutes where they faced “heavy congestion, ongoing roadworks, and long journey times.”
Mooresville, a Charlotte-area suburb, ranked highest of the three cities, landing at No. 47. It’s fewer than 30 miles from downtown Charlotte, but consistently heavy traffic, crashes and other delays can make for a stressful commute to and from work.
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A similar analysis from INRIX ranked metro Charlotte the 18th-worst city in the U.S. for traffic congestion. Speeds peaked at 30 mph during the heaviest morning and afternoon commute times, according to the software firm’s 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard.
Traffic congestion in the Raleigh metro was slightly better — but still annoying. The AMFM report ranked Wake Forest 63rd-worst for driving commutes, followed by Hillsborough at 72nd in the nation.
Mooresville-area restaurants say construction and traffic caused by a state road project is significantly hurting business, The Charlotte Observer reported this week. Lake Norman’s Habibi Lebanon Bar & Grill saw a $20,000 drop in business last month, Executive Chef/Owner Nazira Atmer told The Observer.
These suburban cities were identified as having commutes that led to the highest burnout for drivers, according to the AMFM survey:
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The report was inspired by a story from The State in South Carolina.
