How Bad Is Cleveland Traffic?

High accident rates and lake effect snow can make Cleveland traffic a nightmare. Drivers lose 29 hours a year to delays.
Written by Matt Nightingale
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Drivers in Cleveland lose about 29 hours a year due to traffic delays. That’s not great—but it’s not that bad, either, when you consider drivers in Los Angeles lose 62 hours a year.
While road congestion isn’t quite as bad as
Atlanta
or
Los Angeles
, Cleveland still ranks as one of the worst cities in the country to drive. Poor grades in safety and infrastructure, as well as treacherous winter driving conditions, make for a pretty high accident rate.
Cleveland has its own particular challenges when it comes to driving. Enter
Jerry
, the
car insurance
comparison super app—here to give you the lowdown on driving in the 216. In this article, we’ll look at some traffic stats for greater Cleveland, find out what’s slowing drivers up, and offer some tips to help you avoid gridlock and lower your
Cleveland insurance costs
.

How bad is Cleveland traffic?

Drivers in Cleveland lost about 33 hours on average in 2021 due to traffic delays, down significantly from 47 lost hours in 2019. Much of that decrease can be attributed to COVID-19 shutdowns. So, as restrictions continue to be lifted, Clevelanders can probably expect congestion levels to move closer and closer to pre-pandemic norms. 
Pre-pandemic traffic congestion cost Cleveland drivers an average of $890 per year. Here’s a look at congestion trends in Cleveland over the past few years.
Year
Hours lost to congestion
2019
47 hours
2020
29 hours
2021
33 hours
Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees
icon4.717k Ratings
5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged

Why is Cleveland traffic so bad?

Ohio recently received a C-minus
grade from the federal government for its bridges and highways. Bridges in desperate need of repair include the I-90 bridge over East 152nd, the I-90 bridge over the Rocky River Valley, and the I-77 bridge over Market Avenue and 15th Street. 
Cleveland’s crumbling pavement isn’t doing drivers any favors, either—large potholes can immobilize cars, causing traffic jams. Meanwhile, construction, which is meant to fix the infrastructure, also creates bottlenecks. 
And Cleveland’s weather doesn’t help. CLE consistently ranks in the top five cities with the most days of precipitation. During the winter, that precipitation takes the shape of snow and ice. Slippery conditions are responsible for countless accidents every year in Cleveland, and big dumps of lake effect snow often bring the city’s streets to a grinding halt.

Population size

While it may not be a megacity like Los Angeles or
New York
, greater Cleveland is still a major U.S. city. The metropolitan area is home to over two million people—many of them drivers. That makes for inevitable congestion and accidents.

Major chokepoints

Congestion is perhaps worst where southbound I-71 meets I-480. Evening rush-hour speeds top out around 20 miles per hour on average.
I-480 between Broadway and Camden moves very slowly in the morning—about 27 miles per hour—due to a bottleneck at the Warrensville Center Road exit.
Professional sporting events are a hot ticket in Cleveland, too. So, all year, thousands of residents and visitors alike trek I-77 and I-90 to watch the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), the Cleveland Browns (NFL), and the Cleveland Guardians (MLB) play home games in downtown Cleveland stadiums. 
After experiencing these world-class sporting events, Clevelanders get to experience world-class traffic snarls as thousands of fans clog the streets, trying to make their way back home.
MORE: How different types of car accidents affect your insurance rates

Driving habits

The average commute time in Cleveland is 24.1 minutes, which is below the national average of 27 minutes. But, Cleveland has a very high accident rate. An average of 37 people are killed in traffic accidents each year in Cleveland, which is significantly higher than the national average. 
Clevelanders have gained a reputation as dangerous drivers. A recent study ranked Cleveland drivers seventh-worst in terms of the number of accidents, DUIs, speeding, and overall
citations
annually. 
icon
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now

How to navigate Cleveland traffic like a pro

Even though Cleveland’s traffic might not be as bad as Atlanta’s or
Houston’s
, it sure doesn’t feel like that when you’re stuck in it. Not only can bumper-to-bumper traffic make you late, but it can also cause accidents, which can make your car insurance rates go up. 
So, here are some tips to help you navigate the streets of the CLE safely and smoothly:
  • Avoid rush hour. Cleveland’s rush hours are typically 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The worst time to drive in Cleveland is 4 p.m., the height of the evening rush hour—especially on Thursdays. Fridays are a popular day for workers to take off, so traffic tends to be lighter than usual.
  • Take back roads if you can. I-90 might be the most direct route where you’re going, but it’s not unusual to see traffic backed up on the stretch nearing Dead Man’s Curve. Look for back-road alternatives to I-90, I-77, I-480, and I-71.
  • Use a traffic app for current traffic conditions. The
    OHGO
    app will show you real-time incidents, delays, current construction, and even future construction. 
  • Keep calm and carry on. If you do find yourself in a traffic jam, stay alert and avoid distractions like your cell phone. And, most importantly, be patient. Frustration can lead to more aggressive driving, which can cause more accidents and delays.

Prepare for Cleveland traffic by updating your car insurance

With Cleveland’s high accident rates, you’ll want to be prepared by having the right insurance. The
minimum car insurance required in your state
does not cover damage to your car. For that, you’ll need to get additional coverage like
collision insurance
or
full-coverage insurance
.
Jerry
can help you find the best insurance rates in Cleveland. Just download Jerry's
trustworthy super app
and enter your information. It only takes about 45 seconds, and Jerry gets straight to work comparing your current coverage with
car insurance quotes
from 50+ top insurance providers.
Once you’ve found a quote you like, Jerry can help you cancel your old policy and finalize your new one, all within the app. It’s that easy, and Jerry can save you hundreds on
car insurance
.
Jerry
saved me so much time and money! I went from $230 to $150, still with full coverage! The whole process was amazingly simple!” —Ronda S.
rating reverse-full
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”

FAQs

The worst traffic in Cleveland can be found during rush hour on the I-90, the I-480, I-77, and I-71.
Clevelanders lose about 29 hours stuck in traffic a year, but that number will likely go up as Cleveland returns to pre-pandemic norms.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings