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Traffic heat map of Jefferson County, Montana: 354 miles of roads shaded from blue (light) to red (heavy traffic), busiest on I 90 and US 12

Jefferson County, Montana Traffic Counts

TrafficZoom tracks traffic on 354 road miles in Jefferson County, Montana, divided into 1,102 segments averaging 1,694 ft. Its drivers come from neighborhoods among the top 5 counties in Montana for household income. Built from cross-verified mobile and road-sensor data, these counts help you size up a retail site, plan logistics routes or assess infrastructure needs.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
Data current as of:
Q3 2026
Updated:
September 29, 2026
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Total Traffic Volume & Performance in Jefferson County, Montana

Traffic

The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.

vehicles per day1,887
Trucks

The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.

16.4%
Average travel time

The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.

38.2 min
Congestion ratio

The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.

6.4%
Drivers’ average age

Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.

50.5 yrs
Drivers’ average income

Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.

$78,294

The average monitored road in Jefferson County, Montana carries 1,887 vehicles per day. Across its 354 miles of monitored roads, that adds up to 929,067 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈339 million per year). At 16.4%, the truck share runs above the 11.7% across Montana: about 1 in 6 vehicles.

Traffic 55% below the Montana average

At 1,887 vehicles per day, the average monitored road in Jefferson carries 55% less traffic than the state average of 4,202, suggesting less demand on each road - very light roads: easy truck access, but little passing trade for roadside retail. Network-wide, Jefferson accounts for about 3.3% of Montana's statewide total of vehicle-miles. 58% of counties in Montana see less traffic than Jefferson's 1,887 vehicles per day.

The average trip takes 38.2 minutes, 6% higher than the state level. On travel time, Jefferson runs shorter than 60% of counties in Montana.

Congestion runs 48% lower than the state level, at a ratio of 6.4%, which means smoother traffic flow - fewer delays make delivery windows more reliable.

Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis

highway traffic icon

Highway Traffic in Jefferson County, Montana

Trafficvehicles per day2,941
Trucks18.2%
Average travel time38.8 min
Congestion ratio6.5%
Drivers’ average age50.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income$77,116

Highways carry the vast majority of travel in Jefferson County, Montana, 84% of all vehicle-miles. The average highway carries 2,941 vehicles per day, 88% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 1,564 vehicles per day.

With 62% of the road miles (220 miles in 258 segments), highways punch above their length, carrying 776,940 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈284 million per year).

89% of counties in Montana move less traffic on their highways.

More highway trucks than 72% of counties in Montana

At 18.2%, highway truck share is 21% higher than the state average. Highways here lean toward freight, so highway access is a real asset for logistics operators.

By truck concentration, highways here outrank 70% of counties in Montana. 72% of counties in Montana see fewer highway trucks per day than Jefferson's roughly 534.

non-highway traffic icon

Non-highway Traffic in Jefferson County, Montana

Trafficvehicles per day1,564
Trucks7.6%
Average travel time38.1 min
Congestion ratio6.4%
Drivers’ average age50.8 yrs
Drivers’ average income$82,931

Local roads carry a smaller share of travel in Jefferson County, Montana, 16% of vehicle-miles; most driving happens on highways. On the average non-highway road, that comes to 1,564 vehicles per day.

Local roads make up 38% of the monitored road miles (133 miles in 844 segments) but carry less than their share of travel: 152,127 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈55.5 million per year). About 1 in 13 vehicles on non-highway roads is a truck (7.6%).

Drivers from higher-income areas than 93% of counties in Montana

Non-highway roads carry a truck concentration that's 58% lower than the highway network.

At 47% lower than the state level, the non-highway congestion ratio of 6.4% signals easier movement on local roads.

93% of counties in Montana see lower average driver income among trip origins than Jefferson. 51% of counties in Montana have a younger driver population than Jefferson.

Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns

peak hours icon
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
A long morning plateau from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and a long afternoon plateau from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 82% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend traffic is about as busy as on weekdays (-1%): leisure and through trips largely replace the commute.
seasonal traffic icon
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
June–August is the high season, with volumes +30% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -29% versus the annual average - the usual winter low.

Data Finding: Hourly & Seasonal Patterns

In Jefferson County, Montana, the peak hour concentrates about 8% of the day's traffic, and there is a strong seasonal swing of +30% in high season.

Jefferson County vs. Montana Traffic Comparison

Jefferson County's biggest difference from the Montana average is its average daily traffic per road, 55% below it. Its truck share, by contrast, is 41% above.

MetricJefferson CountyMontana averageDifference
Traffic1,8874,202-55.1%
Truck % (Total Traffic)16.4%11.7%+40.9%
Truck % (Highway)18.2%15.0%+21.3%
Avg. Travel Time38.2 min36.2 min+5.7%

How Jefferson County compares

Jefferson County moves more traffic than any nearby county

Set against the average of the 4 areas nearest to it, Jefferson County carries 35.7% less traffic on a typical road and is 26.4% less congested; it has the fourth busiest roads of the five. Less traffic and more room for it - the roads here run both quieter and freer than the areas around them.

Jefferson County and the 4 nearest county-level areas by centroid distance, with the Montana average for scale.
AreaAverage daily trafficTruck shareDaily vehicle-milesAverage travel timeCongestion ratio
Jefferson County1,88716.4%929,06738.2 min6.4%
Silver Bow County, Montana4,14712.6%726,86738.7 min11.7%
Broadwater County, Montana3,92213.6%474,63743.1 min10.0%
Deer Lodge County, Montana2,19717.0%298,40132.2 min8.2%
Granite County, Montana1,47919.0%486,49929.9 min5.1%
Montana average4,20211.7%N/A36.2 min12.3%

Jefferson County ranked within Montana

Jefferson County sits in the top quarter of the Montana field on average driver income, at #5 of 56.

Jefferson County ranked among 56 county-level areas in Montana (1 = highest); measures without data in every county rank a smaller field, down to 47.
MeasureJefferson CountyMontana rank
Traffic volume (AADT)1,887#24 of 56
Highway vehicle-miles per day776,940#6 of 47
Truck share on highways18.2%#15 of 47
Highway trucks per day534#14 of 47
Average travel time38.2 min#34 of 56
Average driver income$78,294#5 of 56
Average driver age50.5 yrs#28 of 56

Busiest roads in Jefferson County, Montana

On their busiest stretches, the three busiest roads in Jefferson County carry 7,615 vehicles a day on average, 4.0 times the typical road in the county (1,887).

I 90 is the busiest road, at 11,155 vehicles a day, 2,299 of them trucks (20.6%). That is 64% more than the next road, US 12 (6,793). It tops the truck ranking too, with the most trucks.

Drivers on Colonial Drive come from neighborhoods with an average household income of $106,435, 36% above the county average of $78,294, while those on Legion Avenue average $49,191, 37% below it.

MT 55 carries longer journeys than most roads here, with a median trip of 54.7 minutes against 38.2 county-wide.

Legion Avenue is busy with cars rather than freight: only 6.4% of its traffic is trucks, against 16.4% county-wide.

Ranked by daily traffic (AADT)

Cars and light vehiclesTrucks
1I 90Motorway · 11,155vehicles2,299trucks · 20.6%
Road class
Motorway
Congestion ratio
12.9%
Median trip time
39.9 min
Drivers’ median age
50.8 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$70,110

I 90 carries 5.9 times the county average at its busiest, 2,299 of them trucks (20.6%, above the county-wide 16.4%).

2US 12Trunk road · 6,793vehicles664trucks · 9.8%
Road class
Trunk road
Congestion ratio
15.8%
Median trip time
36.2 min
Drivers’ median age
49.1 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$72,353

Delays build on US 12: its congestion ratio of 16% over free-flow time is well above the county's 6%.

3Legion AvenuePrimary road · 4,898vehicles312trucks · 6.4%
Road class
Primary road
Congestion ratio
11.0%
Median trip time
42.5 min
Drivers’ median age
56.4 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$49,191

Legion Avenue peaks at 4,898 vehicles a day, 2.6 times the county average; trucks are 6.4% of it, below the county-wide 16.4%.

4Whitehall StreetPrimary road · 4,621vehicles327trucks · 7.1%
Road class
Primary road
Congestion ratio
11.4%
Median trip time
34.9 min
Drivers’ median age
56.7 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$53,409

Whitehall Street carries 2.4 times the county average at its busiest, 327 of them trucks (7.1%, below the county-wide 16.4%).

5Colonial DriveSecondary road · 4,392vehicles184trucks · 4.2%
Road class
Secondary road
Median trip time
26.3 min
Drivers’ median age
47.5 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$106,435

Trips on Colonial Drive are short, a median 26.3 minutes against 38.2 county-wide, so it mostly serves local errands and commutes.

Ranked by trucks per day

Cars and light vehiclesTrucks
1I 90Motorway · #1 by traffic11,155vehicles2,299trucks · 20.6%
2US 12Trunk road · #2 by traffic6,793vehicles664trucks · 9.8%
3I 15Motorway · 3,636vehicles477trucks · 13.1%
Road class
Motorway
Congestion ratio
2.9%
Median trip time
38.3 min
Drivers’ median age
49.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$83,995

At 93% more than the county average, I 15 draws drivers from neighborhoods averaging $83,995 in household income.

4MT 55Primary road · 3,076vehicles336trucks · 10.9%
Road class
Primary road
Congestion ratio
6.5%
Median trip time
54.7 min
Drivers’ median age
59.3 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$49,430

MT 55 is busy by local standards, at 63% more than the county average on its busiest stretch; trucks are 10.9% of it, below the county-wide 16.4%.

5Whitehall StreetPrimary road · #4 by traffic4,621vehicles327trucks · 7.1%
How to read these road counts
  • The first number is AADT, annual average daily traffic: the vehicles passing a point on an average day, both directions combined and trucks included. On a divided highway both carriageways are added together.
  • Traffic changes along a road, with more near interchanges and towns and less in open country. Every figure for a road describes its busiest stretch in the county, so the two rankings show the same numbers for the same road.
  • The second number is the trucks on that stretch, a part of its AADT. The bar splits the AADT into cars and light vehicles (blue) and trucks (amber).
  • See segment-level AADT for any road on TrafficZoom.

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)

Road sensor networks and traffic counters

Historical traffic pattern databases

Public traffic count programs published by the

JeffersonDepartment of Transportation

Demographic Baseline for O-D Modeling

U.S. Census Bureau
All metrics represent estimates based on statistical modeling and are intended for strategic planning purposes.
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Data current as of:
Q3 2026

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Counties near Jefferson County

The same traffic breakdown for the areas closest to Jefferson County, Montana.

Need segment-level traffic data?

Identify traffic patterns street by street and analyze the exact corridors that matter to your project.