In 2024, Hilo, Hawaii, sees a predominant use of cars for commuting, with 75% of the population relying on this mode of transport. Walking is the second most popular mode of transportation, accounting for 25% of the commutes, reflecting the city's compact and pedestrian-friendly layout.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in Hilo is approximately 25.75 minutes, with most of this time spent driving.
  • Car - For those commuting by car, the average driving time is about 27.67 minutes over a distance of 23.07 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes average around 10 minutes, covering a distance of 5.63 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
75%
Walking
25%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the tourist season, particularly in summer months, affecting commute times. Rainy seasons can also impact traffic flow, as road conditions may become challenging.

Commuter Pain Points

Limited public transportation options force reliance on cars, leading to higher emissions and congestion. Traffic congestion during peak tourist seasons can significantly increase commute times.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings before 8 AM and late evenings after 6 PM are generally the best times to travel to avoid congestion. Midday travel is also advisable for those with flexible schedules.

Event Impacts

Public events, such as festivals and parades, can lead to temporary road closures and increased traffic in downtown areas. Planning alternative routes during these events can help mitigate delays.

Sustainability Efforts

Hilo is exploring initiatives to expand bike lanes and pedestrian pathways to encourage non-motorized commuting. Efforts are underway to increase the efficiency of traffic signals to reduce idle times and emissions.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services are gradually gaining popularity, offering an alternative to car ownership and potentially reducing the number of vehicles on the road. These services can help alleviate parking shortages and reduce congestion in busy areas.

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: Jan, 2025
Full Traffic Rankings

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 4 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
11.6 miles
Walking
2.5 mins
Driving Car
23.3 mins
Total:
25.8 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
14.3 miles
Driving Car
27.7 mins
Total:
27.7 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
3.5 miles
Walking
10.0 mins
Driving Car
10.0 mins
Total:
20.0 mins
Hilo Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Increasing the availability and appeal of public transportation could help reduce car dependency and emissions.

Promoting walking and cycling can leverage Hilo's pedestrian-friendly environment to decrease traffic congestion.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Hilo's CO2 emissions index is relatively high at 6184.5, indicating significant emissions from car usage.

Efforts to reduce car dependency could help lower these emissions.

Time

The time index is 25.75, suggesting moderate commute times across the city.

Efficient traffic management could further reduce these times.

Inefficiency

With an inefficiency index of 99.16, there is room for improvement in traffic flow and management.

Implementing smarter traffic solutions could enhance overall efficiency.