How Many Miles Do Americans Drive Each Year?

The most recent report from the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) showed that Americans drove an average of approximately 7,461 miles in 2022. In this analysis, we draw correlations between the average miles driven per year and location, age and sex, along with looking at potential reasons why the average mileage dropped considerably from 2021 to 2022.

On This Page

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  Average Miles Driven Per Year by State

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  States Where People Drive the Most

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  States Where People Drive the Least

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  Why Average Annual Mileage Was So Low in 2022

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  Do Different Demographics Play a Role in Annual Mileage?

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  How Does Annual Mileage Affect Insurance Rates?

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  FAQs

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  Methodology

Average Miles Driven Per Year by State

On average, U.S. citizens drive about 7,461 miles per year based on the most recent report from the FHA. However, this figure can vary significantly by state. Below is a state-by-state breakdown of the average annual mileage per driver.

States Where People Drive the Most

When looking at total mileage, California takes the top spot at 212,293 miles. However, when you break it down per capita, the below 10 states have the highest average annual mileage per driver:

1. Wyoming: 12,651 miles
2. Missouri: 9,792 miles
3. Mississippi: 9,662 miles
4. Utah: 9,364 miles
5. Texas: 9,287 miles
6. Tennessee: 9,039 miles
7. Louisiana: 8,879 miles
8. Oklahoma: 8,841 miles
9. New Mexico: 8,780 miles
10. Virginia: 8,702 miles

States Where People Drive the Least

At just 2,805 miles, Alaska drivers drove the least in the U.S. in 2022. Below are the 10 states with the lowest average annual mileage per driver:

1. Hawaii: 5,040 miles
2. New York: 5,347 miles
3. Alaska: 5,382 miles
4. Maine: 5,736 miles
5. Vermont: 5,863 miles
6. Washington: 6,028 miles
7. New Hampshire: 6,108 miles
8. Pennsylvania: 6,108 miles
9. Arizona: 6,141 miles
10. Delaware: 6,327 miles

Why Average Annual Mileage Was So Low in 2022

The national average annual mileage per driver dropped from 14,263 miles in 2019 to 12,724 miles in 2020, which was to be expected due to pandemic protocols that required many stores to close and more employees to work from home. It then increased to 13,456 in 2021, suggesting that pandemic restrictions were easing up and more people were driving for leisure or commuting.

However, the drop in average annual mileage to 7,461 miles in 2022 is startling and while there is no clear explanation for this phenomenon, we have a few ideas.

A Gallup survey in June 2022 surveyed 8,090 employees and found that eight in 10 remote-capable workers were working either remote hybrid or exclusively remotely.^[1] With 65% of U.S. companies offering work location flexibility in 2024, it is possible that mileage will remain lower than pre-pandemic levels for the foreseeable future.^[2]

In addition, the distance that Americans were willing to travel for a road trip could be contributing to the lower-than-average mileage in 2022. One survey showed that 20% of participants did not plan to take a road trip in the summer of 2022 and about 40% of those that did plan a road trip chose destinations within only 100 to 250 miles of their home. Meanwhile, slightly more than half of participants planned to travel by plane, which would otherwise replace the mileage racked up from a road trip.^[3]

It may also be possible that more people using delivery services instead of driving out to complete errands could be contributing to lower overall mileage among U.S. drivers. For example, the grocery delivery service industry increased by nearly 67% from about $94 billion at the start of the pandemic in 2020 to nearly $157 billion in 2022.^[4]

Do Different Demographics Play a Role in Annual Mileage?

Our analysis showed that there are some correlations between annual mileage, location, age and sex.

Regional Trends

Nine of the 10 states with the highest average annual mileage per driver are located in the southern and western regions. The six states in the southern regions are Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Virginia, while Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico represent the western region. The final state is Missouri, which is located in the midwestern region.^[5]

Meanwhile, the northeastern and western regions hold nine of the 10 states with the lowest average annual mileage per driver. States from the northeastern region include New York, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. The four states from the western region are Hawaii, Alaska, Washington and Arizona, while Delaware is the only state on this list to represent the southern region.^[5]

Average Annual Car Mileage by Age

A different data set by the FHA showed that annual mileage can also vary based on your age.^[6]

Drivers in the 16-to-19 and 65+ age group drive the least. A portion of these drivers are likely learner’s permit drivers and may not commute as regularly as working adults. The drivers with the highest annual mileage are ages 20 to 54 — nearly double that of teenagers and adults 65 years and older. Drivers in this age group likely hold stable jobs and commute regularly and further for work compared to teenage drivers who may only work part-time or retirees.

Average Annual Car Mileage by Sex

Overall, men drive about 63% more miles than women. Females ages 65 years and older have the lowest average annual mileage, while male drivers ages 35 to 54 have the highest.^[6]

How Does Annual Mileage Affect Insurance Rates?

If all other factors are equal, high-mileage drivers will pay higher car insurance premiums than low-mileage drivers. A driver who commutes seven times per week is more likely to get into an accident than someone who drives only once a week and as a result, insurance companies charge a higher rate for the higher-mileage driver to reflect their increased risk.

If You’re a Low-Mileage Driver, Consider Pay-Per-Mile Car Insurance

A pay-per-mile auto policy adjusts premiums based on the number of miles driven, offering an affordable alternative for low-mileage drivers, usually those who drive under 10,000 miles each year.^[7] Retirees, stay-at-home parents and remote workers may save significantly with this type of insurance.

Methodology

To calculate the average car mileage per driver for each state, we used 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 data from the Federal Highway Administration for annual vehicle miles by functional system by state and the number of licensed drivers by state. For each state, we divided the total annual miles in each state by the number of licensed drivers in each state