This page delivers traffic analytics for California. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for California among 66,735 road miles divided in 1,457,402 segments. Our metrics go beyond simple volume counts to provide actionable insights on traffic intensity, congestion, commercial vehicle flow, and network performance with highest possible granularity (average segment length is 242 ft). Whether you are evaluating a new retail location, planning logistics routes, or assessing infrastructure needs, this data helps you move from assumptions to certainty.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
12,766
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
7.8%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
34.5 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
27.4%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$111,276
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 12,766 vehicles per day in California that results in 927,539,301 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈339 billion per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 13 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 34.5 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the US national averages: At 12,766 vehicles per day, the average monitored road in California carries 83% more traffic than the national average of 6,986 vehicles per day - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. In total volume terms, its road network carries 927,539,301 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈339 billion per year), about 12% of the national total. The average trip takes 34.5 minutes, 4% higher than the national level. The congestion ratio of 27.4% is 45% higher, pointing to more pronounced congestion than the national level - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. At 12,766 vehicles per day, California posts the highest average traffic volume nationwide. On travel time, California runs longer than 83% of states nationwide.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis
Highway Traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
37,794
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
10.4%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
41.0 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
62.6%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$111,892
A significant volume of traffic in California utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 37,794 vehicles per day, 224% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 11,652 vehicles per day. That average covers 14,127 highway road miles divided in 62,075 segments (average segment length 1,202 ft), together carrying 498,012,863 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈182 billion per year). No state nationwide moves more traffic on its highways. Trucks constitute 10.4% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
At 10.4%, highway truck share is 21% lower than the national average, marking California as a primarily local traffic hub - underscoring the importance of local access for logistics operators. By truck concentration, highways here outrank 24% of states nationwide. California also moves the highest raw count of highway trucks nationwide, at roughly 3,659 per day.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
11,652
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
4.8%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
34.3 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
26.5%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.5 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$110,743
The non-highway road network in California supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 11,652 vehicles per day, 69% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 37,794 vehicles per day. That average covers 52,608 non-highway road miles divided in 1,395,327 segments (average segment length 199 ft), together carrying 429,526,443 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈157 billion per year). Trucks constitute 4.8% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 54% lower than on highways. Non-highway congestion (26.5%) runs 45% higher than the national average, pointing to slower local traffic flow. California's overall average travel time exceeds 83% of states nationwide. Trip origins here have higher average income than 90% of states nationwide. 12% of states nationwide have a younger driver population than California.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 7:00 AM–9:00 AM and PM peak 3:00 PM–9:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 64% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 9% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
April–June is the high season, with volumes +5% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -8% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In California, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is mild at +5% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
California
United States
Average
Difference
Traffic
12,766
6,986
+82.7%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
7.8%
9.3%
-16.9%
Truck % (Highway)
10.4%
13.1%
-20.6%
Avg. Travel Time
34.5 min
33.3 min
+3.6%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 12,766 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Yes - California carries the highest raw volume of highway trucks of any state nationwide, at roughly 3,659 trucks per day.
Drivers on California roads have a median age of 43 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $111,276 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
Trucks account for approximately 7.8% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 10.4% on highways.
Traffic volumes are typically 5% higher during April–June. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in January, averaging 11,785 vehicles per day - a 8% decrease from the annual average.
Data Sources & Methodology
The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:
Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)
