Road Trip Ready: North Dakota Earns Top Spot for Best Highways

If you’ve ever hit a pothole that rattled your teeth and spilled your coffee, you know just how personal road quality can feel. So here’s a little news that might make you puff your chest out the next time you cross the state line—North Dakota officially has the best roads in the nation.

Yep, you read that right.

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North Dakota Tops the Nation, Region Holds Strong in Road Rankings

According to a brand-new 2026 report from Reason Foundation, the Peace Garden State cruised into the number one spot in the country. Not bad for a place where winter tries to destroy pavement six months out of the year. Apparently, we’re doing something right between the snowplows, salt, and summer construction season.

And it’s not just us showing off. Regionally, things look pretty solid across the board. South Dakota rolled in at #9, Montana came in at #11, and Minnesota landed at #18. Not exactly a bad neighborhood when it comes to smooth driving. Meanwhile, bringing up the rear (and maybe shaking a few hubcaps loose) is New Jersey, which ranked dead last.

Read More: North Dakota Sees Sharp Rise In Auto Loan Delinquencies

What Goes Into Ranking America’s Roads (And Why Some States Still Struggle)

So how do they figure this stuff out? The Annual Highway Report looks at 13 different categories—everything from pavement condition on rural and urban roads to bridge quality, traffic fatalities, and even how efficiently states spend money per mile. In other words, it’s not just about having nice-looking roads; it’s about getting the most bang for your buck while keeping drivers safe and comfortable.

Nationally, there’s some good news too. The report says America’s highway system is slowly improving in most categories. But—and there’s always a “but”—the bottom 10 states are still struggling. Even with increased spending, they’re having a tough time catching up.

That’s what makes North Dakota’s top ranking even more impressive. It’s not just that the roads are in great shape—it’s that they’re being maintained efficiently. In a state where distances are long, weather is harsh, and budgets aren’t unlimited, that’s no small feat.

So the next time you’re cruising down a North Dakota highway without dodging craters, take a moment to appreciate it. Around here, smooth roads aren’t just a luxury—they’re a point of pride. And now, officially, they’re the best in the country.