
Total Traffic Volume & Performance in Carter County, Missouri
Traffic The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network. | vehicles per day1,458 |
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Trucks The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles. | 11.7% |
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Average travel time The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network. | 32.5 min |
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Congestion ratio The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network. | 4.8% |
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Drivers’ average age Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated. | 51.1 yrs |
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Drivers’ average income Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated. | $49,021 |
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A typical monitored road in Carter County, Missouri sees 1,458 vehicles per day, while its 153 miles of monitored roads together handle 267,221 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈97.5 million per year). Trucks are 11.7% of traffic, more than the 9.8% across Missouri.
Congestion 75% below the Missouri average
Carter sees 74% lower average daily traffic volume than the state average (1,458 vehicles per day against 5,631), suggesting less demand on each road - quiet roads that suit freight movement more than drive-by retail. Across the whole network, that travel is about 0.2% of Missouri's statewide total. Carter carries less traffic than 76% of counties in Missouri.
The average trip takes 32.5 minutes, on par with the state level. Its average travel time of 32.5 minutes is longer than 51% of counties in Missouri.
Congestion runs 75% lower than the state level, at a ratio of 4.8%, which means smoother traffic flow - free-flowing roads make scheduled deliveries highly predictable.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis

Highway Traffic in Carter County, Missouri
| Traffic | vehicles per day2,780 |
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| Trucks | 12.5% |
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| Average travel time | 45.7 min |
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| Congestion ratio | 8.5% |
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| Drivers’ average age | 51.0 yrs |
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| Drivers’ average income | $49,642 |
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The vast majority of driving in Carter County, Missouri happens on highways: 83% of all vehicle-miles. The average highway carries 2,780 vehicles per day, 177% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 1,003 vehicles per day.
With 52% of the road miles (80 miles in 196 segments), highways punch above their length, carrying 222,662 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈81.3 million per year).
The fewest highway trucks of any county in Missouri
The concentration of trucks on highways (12.5%) is 7% lower than the state average for similar road classifications. The highway traffic mix is typical for Missouri: neither freight- nor commuter-dominated.
By truck concentration, highways here trail 66% of counties in Missouri. By raw volume, Carter carries the lowest number of highway trucks in Missouri - roughly 348 trucks per day.

Non-highway Traffic in Carter County, Missouri
| Traffic | vehicles per day1,003 |
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| Trucks | 7.8% |
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| Average travel time | 27.9 min |
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| Congestion ratio | 3.6% |
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| Drivers’ average age | 51.1 yrs |
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| Drivers’ average income | $47,188 |
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Local roads carry a smaller share of travel in Carter County, Missouri, 17% of vehicle-miles; most driving happens on highways. A typical local road sees 1,003 vehicles per day.
Spread over 73 miles and 569 segments, 48% of the road network, local roads carry a lighter load per mile: 44,558 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈16.3 million per year). About 1 in 13 vehicles on non-highway roads is a truck (7.8%).
Drivers from lower-income areas than 96% of counties in Missouri
The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 38% lower than on highways.
Non-highway congestion (3.6%) runs 81% lower than the state average, pointing to smoother local traffic flow.
Trip origins here have lower average income than 96% of counties in Missouri. The driver population here skews older than 80% of counties in Missouri.