This page delivers traffic analytics for Cowlitz County, Washington. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Cowlitz County, Washington among 442 road miles divided in 9,778 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 239 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.
5,120
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
12.3%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
33.2 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.
15.0%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
48.3 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$79,981
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 5,120 vehicles per day in Cowlitz County, Washington that results in 3,588,922 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.3 billion per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 8 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 33.2 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the Washington state averages: At 5,120 vehicles per day, the average monitored road in Cowlitz carries 30% less traffic than the state average of 7,322 vehicles per day - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. In total volume terms, its road network carries 3,588,922 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.3 billion per year), about 2.3% of Washington's statewide total. At 33.2 minutes, the average travel time matches the state level closely. At 25% lower than the state level, the 15.0% congestion ratio signals smoother traffic flow - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. Cowlitz carries more traffic than 63% of counties in Washington. On travel time, Cowlitz runs longer than 39% of counties in Washington.
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.
25,830
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
15.5%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
50.4 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.
41.5%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
47.6 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$86,860
A significant volume of traffic in Cowlitz County, Washington utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 25,830 vehicles per day, 502% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 4,292 vehicles per day. That average covers 86 highway road miles divided in 376 segments (average segment length 1,201 ft), together carrying 2,487,754 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈908 million per year). 78% of counties in Washington move less traffic on their highways. Trucks constitute 15.5% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on highways (15.5%) is 63% higher than the state average for similar road classifications. This indicates Cowlitz serves as a significant freight corridor. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of highway access. Cowlitz's highway truck share (15.5%) is higher than 84% of counties in Washington. At roughly 4,513 trucks per day, Cowlitz carries the highest volume of highway trucks in Washington.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
4,292
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
5.0%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
32.6 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.
13.9%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
48.9 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$74,068
The non-highway road network in Cowlitz County, Washington supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 4,292 vehicles per day, 83% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 25,830 vehicles per day. That average covers 357 non-highway road miles divided in 9,402 segments (average segment length 200 ft), together carrying 1,101,168 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈402 million per year). Trucks constitute 5.0% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 68% lower than on highways. The non-highway congestion ratio of 13.9% is 29% lower than the state level, suggesting more efficient local mobility than the state average. Cowlitz's overall average travel time exceeds 39% of counties in Washington. Cowlitz's average driver income exceeds 55% of counties in Washington. The driver population here skews older than 58% of counties in Washington.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 2:00 PM–5:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 74% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 6% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
June–August is the high season, with volumes +18% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -20% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Cowlitz County, Washington, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is pronounced at +18% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Cowlitz
Washington
Average
Difference
Traffic
5,120
7,322
-30.1%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
12.3%
7.1%
+72.6%
Truck % (Highway)
15.5%
9.5%
+63.2%
Avg. Travel Time
33.2 min
33.2 min
+0.2%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 5,120 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Yes - Cowlitz carries the highest raw volume of highway trucks of any county in Washington, at roughly 4,513 trucks per day.
Traffic volumes are typically 18% higher during June–August. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in January, averaging 4,076 vehicles per day - a 20% decrease from the annual average.
The average travel time for drivers is 33.2 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Approximately 26% of highway traffic and 4% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside Cowlitz County, Washington. This indicates that a portion of highway traffic is regional pass-through, while local roads are more representative of resident and commuter activity.
Trucks account for approximately 12.3% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 15.5% on highways.
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)
