This page delivers traffic analytics for District of Columbia. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for District of Columbia among 539 road miles divided in 21,067 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 135 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.
8,168
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
6.0%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
38.8 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.
21.6%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
39.0 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$123,449
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 8,168 vehicles per day in District of Columbia that results in 4,142,343 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.5 billion per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 17 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 38.8 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the US national averages: At 8,168 vehicles per day, the average monitored road in District of Columbia carries 17% more traffic than the national average of 6,986 vehicles per day - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. Network-wide, District of Columbia accounts for about 0.1% of the national total, at 4,142,343 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.5 billion per year). At 38.8 minutes, the average travel time is 17% higher than the national level. The congestion ratio of 21.6% is 15% higher, pointing to more pronounced congestion than the national level - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. District of Columbia carries more traffic than 86% of states nationwide. At 38.8 minutes, District of Columbia also has the highest average travel time 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.
15,983
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
7.4%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
38.4 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.
30.9%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
39.9 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$119,655
A significant volume of traffic in District of Columbia utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 15,983 vehicles per day, 112% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 7,543 vehicles per day. That average covers 75 highway road miles divided in 1,560 segments (average segment length 255 ft), together carrying 1,051,152 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈384 million per year). Trucks constitute 7.4% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Highway truck concentration here runs 43% lower than the national average, at 7.4% - positioning District of Columbia as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. 2% of states nationwide see a lower highway truck share than District of Columbia's 7.4%. 16% of states nationwide see fewer highway trucks per day than District of Columbia's roughly 1,188.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
7,543
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
5.6%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
38.8 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.
20.9%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
38.6 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$124,268
The non-highway road network in District of Columbia supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 7,543 vehicles per day, 53% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 15,983 vehicles per day. That average covers 464 non-highway road miles divided in 19,507 segments (average segment length 126 ft), together carrying 3,091,191 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.1 billion per year). Trucks constitute 5.6% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 25% lower than on highways. The non-highway congestion ratio of 20.9% is 14% higher than the national level, suggesting slower local mobility than the national average. District of Columbia also posts the highest overall average travel time nationwide - 38.8 minutes. District of Columbia's average driver income exceeds 98% of states nationwide. Drivers here also skew toward the lowest median age nationwide, at 39 years.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 7:00 AM–9:00 AM and PM peak 12:00 PM–7:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 48% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 14% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
April–June is the high season, with volumes +3% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -9% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In District of Columbia, the peak hour concentrates about 6% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is mild at +3% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
District of Columbia
United States
Average
Difference
Traffic
8,168
6,986
+16.9%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
6.0%
9.3%
-35.3%
Truck % (Highway)
7.4%
13.1%
-43.2%
Avg. Travel Time
38.8 min
33.3 min
+16.5%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 8,168 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Yes - at 38.8 minutes, District of Columbia has the highest average travel time of any state nationwide.
Trucks account for approximately 6.0% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 7.4% on highways.
Traffic volumes are typically 3% higher during April–June. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in January, averaging 7,427 vehicles per day - a 9% decrease from the annual average.
The average travel time for drivers is 38.8 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
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)
