
Total Traffic Volume & Performance in Carbon County, Montana
Traffic The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network. | vehicles per day2,307 |
|---|
Trucks The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles. | 9.5% |
|---|
Average travel time The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network. | 38.9 min |
|---|
Congestion ratio The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network. | 6.6% |
|---|
Drivers’ average age Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated. | 51.4 yrs |
|---|
Drivers’ average income Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated. | $69,388 |
|---|
A typical monitored road in Carbon County, Montana sees 2,307 vehicles per day, while its 189 miles of monitored roads together handle 404,057 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈147 million per year). Trucks are a smaller part of the mix than across Montana: 9.5% against 11.7%.
Congestion 46% below the Montana average
Carbon sees 45% lower average daily traffic volume than the state average (2,307 vehicles per day against 4,202), suggesting less demand on each road - lighter roads for freight, but less passing trade for roadside retail. Network-wide, Carbon accounts for about 1.4% of Montana's statewide total of vehicle-miles. Carbon carries more traffic than 71% of counties in Montana.
At 38.9 minutes, the average travel time is 7% higher than the state level. 51% of counties in Montana have a longer average travel time than Carbon's 38.9 minutes.
At 46% lower than the state level, the 6.6% congestion ratio signals smoother traffic flow - fewer delays make delivery windows more reliable.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis

Highway Traffic in Carbon County, Montana
| Traffic | vehicles per day3,182 |
|---|
| Trucks | 10.5% |
|---|
| Average travel time | 53.0 min |
|---|
| Congestion ratio | 8.1% |
|---|
| Drivers’ average age | 49.4 yrs |
|---|
| Drivers’ average income | $67,190 |
|---|
Highways carry about half of all travel in Carbon County, Montana, 48% of vehicle-miles. The average highway carries 3,182 vehicles per day, 56% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 2,034 vehicles per day.
Highways make up 33% of the monitored road miles (63 miles, 327 segments), so they carry more than their share: 192,268 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈70.2 million per year).
By highway travel volume, Carbon outranks 50% of counties in Montana.
Lower highway truck share than 90% of counties in Montana
At 10.5%, highway truck share is 30% lower than the state average. Highways here mostly serve passenger trips, so local access matters more than long-haul routing for logistics operators.
90% of counties in Montana see a higher highway truck share than Carbon's 10.5%. 59% of counties in Montana see more highway trucks per day than Carbon's roughly 334.

Non-highway Traffic in Carbon County, Montana
| Traffic | vehicles per day2,034 |
|---|
| Trucks | 8.6% |
|---|
| Average travel time | 34.5 min |
|---|
| Congestion ratio | 6.2% |
|---|
| Drivers’ average age | 54.0 yrs |
|---|
| Drivers’ average income | $71,087 |
|---|
Local roads carry about half of all travel in Carbon County, Montana, 52% of vehicle-miles. The average non-highway road carries 2,034 vehicles per day.
Spread over 126 miles and 1,049 segments, 67% of the road network, local roads carry a lighter load per mile: 211,790 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈77.3 million per year). The truck share on non-highway roads is 8.6%.
Local congestion 49% below the Montana average
Non-highway roads carry a truck concentration that's 18% lower than the highway network.
Non-highway congestion (6.2%) runs 49% lower than the state average, pointing to smoother local traffic flow.
Trip origins here have higher average income than 60% of counties in Montana. Carbon's median driver age is higher than 55% of counties in Montana.