STACKER — Rush hours are infamous for densely packed streets, seas of brake lights, and raging commuters—all products of a population that mostly drives alone. About 7 in 10 Americans drive alone to work. That marks a new standard for the U.S. in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused drive-alone commutes to drop as remote work became more widespread. Even so, driving alone remains the primary commuting method in the nation. To identify areas where solo commutes remain most common, Truck Parking Club used Census Bureau data to map states by the share of people who drive to work alone, and to rank North Dakota counties by their drive-alone rates. State-level figures are from 2023, while county-level data and comparisons are for 2022—the most recent data available in both cases. The analysis draws on other surveys and research to identify why these areas have more solo commuters and how it impacts individuals and their communities. Americans drive alone to work more than their counterparts in peer nations. Across a selection of six countries, including China, Germany, and Brazil, the share of U.S. commuters who drove alone led the other nations by at least 10 percentage points in 2022, according to Statista's Global Consumer Survey. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and other institutions found that most American cities have less access to jobs by walking or cycling than in European cities, and transit access to jobs falls behind other major cities throughout the world, according to a 2021 article in the journal Nature. Research also shows that these driving habits often lead to physical inactivity, stress, anxiety, air-quality related health concerns, and a higher risk of car accidents. A high volume of people driving their own cars also creates congestion, which costs Americans valuable time—$733 worth of time on average in 2023 while spending 42 hours in traffic, according to data from transportation insights company Inrix. Some U.S. city economies lost billions in productivity and supply chain delays. U.S. drive-alone rates hovered between 76% to 78% for decades, but dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, falling to 68% in 2021. The rates have continued to hover below 70% through 2023, mitigating the adverse effects of driving alone. What's more, younger Americans acquire driver's licenses less often than previous generations, according to an analysis of Census data by the Washington Post published in 2023, meaning there are fewer drivers among the working-age population. Still, the drop in drive-alone commutes has not happened evenly across the country. Read on to see where Americans—and North Dakota residents—continue driving alone to work at the highest rates. 1 / 54 Truck Parking Club In the Northwest and mid-Atlantic, people drive to work alone at the lowest rates In North Dakota, 76.7% of workers over 16 drove alone for their commutes in 2023. In general, states in the central part of the country had the highest rates of drive-alone commutes, between the central South and Midwest. Mississippi and Alabama were the top states for solo commutes, with about 8 in 10 people driving alone to work. They were followed closely by neighboring Louisiana and Arkansas, where 78.7% and 78.3% of commuters drove alone, respectively. As of 2023, these states had below-average rates of remote work as compared to the rest of the nation. In Mississippi, for instance, only 5.5% of people worked from home, compared to 15.2% nationally. Lacking opportunities to work remotely, commuters in these states maintained their solo drives. Most leading states also have below-average gas prices, making drive-alone commutes more affordable. And with lower population density, there is more space between homes and workplaces, making other transportation modes less feasible. Meanwhile, states in the Northeast and Northwest have lower drive-alone rates. In New York, fewer than half of workers drive alone to work. Solo drivers comprise between 62% and 65% of commuters in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Hawai'i, Oregon, and Washington. Each has some combination of population density, heightened environmental consciousness, existing or expanding infrastructure for public transit, cycling, and walkability, and incentives for carpooling. As a result, residents of the Northeast and Northwest are more likely to use alternative commute methods. Additionally, the Northeast and Northwest offer plentiful jobs in business, finance, information, and other professional services—industries with more capabilities for remote work, per 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most employers in these industries increased telework after the pandemic's onset and continue to offer it at higher rates than the economy overall, BLS data shows. This further minimizes the need for drive-alone commutes in those areas. Remote work opportunities have fallen since the pandemic's peak, and some have reverted back to their former driving habits. However, as the return of heavy traffic harms people's health, the economy, and the planet, and as gas prices in most areas of the country remain high, individuals and communities may continue seeking ways to cut down on their driving trips. Read on to see the counties in North Dakota with the most drive-alone commutes. 2 / 54 Jeffrey M. Frank // Shutterstock #53. Slope County - Workers who drove alone: 53.2%- Difference from state share: 23.5 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 18.5 percentage points lower 3 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #52. Logan County - Workers who drove alone: 62.4%- Difference from state share: 14.3 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 9.3 percentage points lower 4 / 54 Roadwardbound // Shutterstock #51. Grant County - Workers who drove alone: 64.8%- Difference from state share: 11.9 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 6.9 percentage points lower 5 / 54 Randall Runtsch // Shutterstock #49. Billings County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 66.3%- Difference from state share: 10.4 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 5.4 percentage points lower 6 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #49. Sheridan County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 66.3%- Difference from state share: 10.4 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 5.4 percentage points lower 7 / 54 northlight // Shutterstock #48. Adams County - Workers who drove alone: 68.6%- Difference from state share: 8.1 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 3.1 percentage points lower 8 / 54 Dirk Wierenga // Shutterstock #47. Nelson County - Workers who drove alone: 69.1%- Difference from state share: 7.6 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 2.6 percentage points lower 9 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #46. Wells County - Workers who drove alone: 69.2%- Difference from state share: 7.5 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 2.5 percentage points lower 10 / 54 Cammie Czuchnicki // Shutterstock #45. Emmons County - Workers who drove alone: 69.9%- Difference from state share: 6.8 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 1.8 percentage points lower 11 / 54 northlight // Shutterstock #44. Kidder County - Workers who drove alone: 70.5%- Difference from state share: 6.2 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 1.2 percentage points lower 12 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #43. LaMoure County - Workers who drove alone: 70.8%- Difference from state share: 5.9 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 0.9 percentage points lower 13 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #42. Griggs County - Workers who drove alone: 71.6%- Difference from state share: 5.1 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 0.1 percentage points lower 14 / 54 Traveller70 // Shutterstock #41. Dunn County - Workers who drove alone: 72.2%- Difference from state share: 4.5 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 0.5 percentage points higher 15 / 54 Zack Frank // Shutterstock #40. Eddy County - Workers who drove alone: 72.5%- Difference from state share: 4.2 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 0.8 percentage points higher 16 / 54 Charissa Enget // Shutterstock #38. Burke County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 72.6%- Difference from state share: 4.1 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 0.9 percentage points higher 17 / 54 Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock #38. Dickey County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 72.6%- Difference from state share: 4.1 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 0.9 percentage points higher 18 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #37. Oliver County - Workers who drove alone: 72.9%- Difference from state share: 3.8 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 1.2 percentage points higher 19 / 54 Dirk Wierenga // Shutterstock #36. McHenry County - Workers who drove alone: 73.7%- Difference from state share: 3.0 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 2.0 percentage points higher 20 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #35. Benson County - Workers who drove alone: 73.8%- Difference from state share: 2.9 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 2.1 percentage points higher 21 / 54 StompingGirl // Shutterstock #34. Sargent County - Workers who drove alone: 73.9%- Difference from state share: 2.8 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 2.2 percentage points higher 22 / 54 Logan Bush // Shutterstock #33. Bowman County - Workers who drove alone: 74.5%- Difference from state share: 2.2 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 2.8 percentage points higher 23 / 54 Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock #32. Sioux County - Workers who drove alone: 75%- Difference from state share: 1.7 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 3.3 percentage points higher 24 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #31. McIntosh County - Workers who drove alone: 75.4%- Difference from state share: 1.3 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 3.7 percentage points higher 25 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #30. Bottineau County - Workers who drove alone: 75.9%- Difference from state share: 0.8 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 4.2 percentage points higher 26 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #29. Towner County - Workers who drove alone: 76.4%- Difference from state share: 0.3 percentage points lower- Difference from national share: 4.7 percentage points higher 27 / 54 northlight // Shutterstock #27. Hettinger County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 76.7%- Difference from state share: No difference- Difference from national share: 5.0 percentage points higher 28 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #27. Steele County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 76.7%- Difference from state share: No difference- Difference from national share: 5.0 percentage points higher 29 / 54 dedio // Shutterstock #25. Cavalier County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 77.9%- Difference from state share: 1.2 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 6.2 percentage points higher 30 / 54 Danita Delimont // Shutterstock #25. Ransom County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 77.9%- Difference from state share: 1.2 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 6.2 percentage points higher 31 / 54 Kit Leong // Shutterstock #23. Mountrail County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 78.3%- Difference from state share: 1.6 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 6.6 percentage points higher 32 / 54 Bob Pool // Shutterstock #23. Pembina County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 78.3%- Difference from state share: 1.6 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 6.6 percentage points higher 33 / 54 Smpalmero // Shutterstock #22. McLean County - Workers who drove alone: 78.5%- Difference from state share: 1.8 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 6.8 percentage points higher 34 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #21. Renville County - Workers who drove alone: 79.3%- Difference from state share: 2.6 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 7.6 percentage points higher 35 / 54 Canva #20. Richland County - Workers who drove alone: 79.4%- Difference from state share: 2.7 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 7.7 percentage points higher 36 / 54 Canva #19. Barnes County - Workers who drove alone: 79.6%- Difference from state share: 2.9 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 7.9 percentage points higher 37 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #18. Rolette County - Workers who drove alone: 80%- Difference from state share: 3.3 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 8.3 percentage points higher 38 / 54 Guy William // Shutterstock #17. Cass County - Workers who drove alone: 80.4%- Difference from state share: 3.7 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 8.7 percentage points higher 39 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #16. Foster County - Workers who drove alone: 80.5%- Difference from state share: 3.8 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 8.8 percentage points higher 40 / 54 Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock #13. Burleigh County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 80.6%- Difference from state share: 3.9 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 8.9 percentage points higher 41 / 54 Michael Coddington // Shutterstock #13. Ramsey County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 80.6%- Difference from state share: 3.9 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 8.9 percentage points higher 42 / 54 Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock #13. Stutsman County (tie) - Workers who drove alone: 80.6%- Difference from state share: 3.9 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 8.9 percentage points higher 43 / 54 Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock #12. Grand Forks County - Workers who drove alone: 80.7%- Difference from state share: 4.0 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 9.0 percentage points higher 44 / 54 Canva #11. Walsh County - Workers who drove alone: 80.8%- Difference from state share: 4.1 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 9.1 percentage points higher 45 / 54 Cavan-Images // Shutterstock #10. Stark County - Workers who drove alone: 81.1%- Difference from state share: 4.4 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 9.4 percentage points higher 46 / 54 Tanyarmorgan2436 // Shutterstock #9. McKenzie County - Workers who drove alone: 81.2%- Difference from state share: 4.5 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 9.5 percentage points higher 47 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #8. Traill County - Workers who drove alone: 81.5%- Difference from state share: 4.8 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 9.8 percentage points higher 48 / 54 SevenMaps // Shutterstock #7. Divide County - Workers who drove alone: 81.6%- Difference from state share: 4.9 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 9.9 percentage points higher 49 / 54 Yosoyana // Shutterstock #6. Ward County - Workers who drove alone: 82.1%- Difference from state share: 5.4 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 10.4 percentage points higher 50 / 54 Bob Pool // Shutterstock #5. Morton County - Workers who drove alone: 82.9%- Difference from state share: 6.2 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 11.2 percentage points higher 51 / 54 Canva #4. Pierce County - Workers who drove alone: 83.2%- Difference from state share: 6.5 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 11.5 percentage points higher 52 / 54 Canva #3. Williams County - Workers who drove alone: 85.9%- Difference from state share: 9.2 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 14.2 percentage points higher 53 / 54 northlight // Shutterstock #2. Mercer County - Workers who drove alone: 86.7%- Difference from state share: 10.0 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 15.0 percentage points higher 54 / 54 Scott Cummings // Shutterstock #1. Golden Valley County - Workers who drove alone: 87%- Difference from state share: 10.3 percentage points higher- Difference from national share: 15.3 percentage points higher This article originally appeared on Truck Parking Club, and was produced and distributed through a partnership with Stacker Studio. It has been republished pursuant to a CC by NC 4.0 License. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW