Traffic in Saint Petersburg

In 2024, Saint Petersburg, FL, sees a dominant reliance on cars for commuting, with 87.5% of residents using this mode of transport.

Despite the heavy car usage, the city is making strides in sustainability efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and improve traffic flow.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in Saint Petersburg is approximately 31.93 minutes, with most of this time spent driving.

  • Car - For those commuting by car, the average driving time is 31.86 minutes, covering a distance of about 27.91 km.
  • Walking - Walking commuters spend around 8 minutes on foot, typically covering a distance of 4.83 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
88%
Walking
6%
Home
6%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 16 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
16.4 miles
Walking
1.9 mins
Driving Car
30.0 mins
Total:
31.9 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
17.3 miles
Walking
1.5 mins
Driving Car
31.9 mins
Total:
33.4 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
3.0 miles
Walking
8.0 mins
Driving Car
4.0 mins
Total:
12.0 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the winter months as tourists flock to the warmer climate of Saint Petersburg.

Summer months see a slight decrease in traffic as residents take vacations, leading to less congestion.

Commuter Pain Points

High dependency on cars leads to frequent traffic jams, especially during rush hours.

Limited public transportation options make it challenging for non-drivers to commute efficiently.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 7 PM are the best times to avoid heavy traffic.

Midday travel between 10 AM and 2 PM is also relatively smooth compared to peak hours.

Event Impacts

Public events such as festivals and sports games significantly increase traffic congestion in downtown areas.

Planning travel routes around major events can help avoid delays.

Sustainability Efforts

The city is investing in bike lanes and pedestrian pathways to encourage non-motorized transport.

Initiatives to increase electric vehicle charging stations are underway to support cleaner transportation.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road, offering a convenient alternative to car ownership.

These services are particularly popular among younger residents and tourists, contributing to a decrease in parking demand.

Worldwide
United States

Traffic Rankings

The Traffic Index for the United States combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in United States, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025
Full Traffic Rankings