Dallas Traffic Isn’t That Bad

As long as you never leave before 10 AM or after 3 PM and make peace with I-635 chaos.

The Reality of Dallas Traffic in 2025

Dallas ranks as the 17th most congested city in the U.S., with drivers losing an average of 38 hours a year stuck in traffic—up 6 hours from the previous year. This congestion costs about $658 per driver annually in wasted time 56. While that sounds daunting, many locals find that avoiding peak rush hours can make a big difference.

Peak Traffic Hours and Patterns

• The traditional morning and evening rush hours have shifted. Post-pandemic, midday congestion around lunchtime often surpasses morning traffic 5.
• Avoiding travel before 10 AM and after 3 PM helps bypass the worst jams.
• The stretch of I-635 is notorious for heavy congestion and chaotic traffic patterns, requiring patience and sometimes alternate routes 58.

Congestion Data Insights

• Dallas’s average congestion level is around 30%, with travel times about 10 seconds longer per 10 km than the previous year 7.
• During rush hour, average speeds drop significantly, with evening commutes showing congestion levels as high as 64% and travel times for 10 km extending to over 19 minutes 7.
• Despite population growth and increased traffic (up 12% since pre-COVID), Dallas has maintained its congestion ranking, thanks in part to innovative infrastructure funding and ongoing road projects 56.

What’s Being Done?

• Texas and Dallas officials are investing in road improvements, traffic signal timing adjustments, and better management of freeway and tollway access to ease congestion 510.
• Public transit expansion and smarter urban planning are also part of long-term solutions, although the region acknowledges it cannot simply build its way out of congestion 610.

Making Peace with Dallas Traffic

Dallas traffic isn’t unbearable if you:

• Plan your trips outside the worst congestion windows.
• Accept some level of chaos, especially on I-635.
• Use navigation apps to find alternate routes and real-time updates.

For a metro area as large and growing as Dallas-Fort Worth, ranking 17th nationally in congestion is considered relatively manageable compared to other major cities.

Selden Tual
Rogers Healy and Associates Real Estate
512.944.3121