Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Why This Florida City Was Named A Top U.S. Driving Destination

Author Mo On The Radio

From doing errands to getting to work or school, driving is a necessity for daily life. In other cases, it can be more difficult depending on where you live. Among the many problems faced by drivers are higher insurance costs, awful traffic, and nightmare road conditions. No place is perfect, although many areas of the United States don’t have these problems. Florida’s best city for driving. has been named!

WalletHub listed the best and worst American cities for driving if you’re unsure whether you reside in one. By comparing “the 100 largest cities across 30 key driver-friendliness indicators,” analysts came up with their top recommendations for 2023. According to the financial website, the data collection “ranges from average petrol prices to annual hours of traffic congestion per vehicle commuter to auto-repair businesses per inhabitant.

When it comes to the best, Jacksonville made the Top 10! In the “Cost of Ownership & Maintenance” category, which takes into account typical gas prices, auto maintenance costs, auto insurance premiums, and more, the well-known city received the top ratings. Florida’s best city for driving, according to the data.

Some good news… at No. 13, here at home in Tampa, we are just behind it. The lowest ranked Florida city, Hialeah, came in at number 77.

The top ten places in America to drive are listed below:

  1. Corpus Christi, Texas
  2. Raleigh, North Carolina
  3. Boise, Idaho
  4. Plano, Texas
  5. Scottsdale, Arizona
  6. Greensboro, North Carolina
  7. Laredo, Texas
  8. Lubbock, Texas
  9. Lincoln, Nebraska
  10. Jacksonville, Florida

View the complete study on the WalletHub website.

14 Florida Cities Made U.S. News' Best Places to Live for 2023

It’s never been a secret that Florida is a great place to live. The U-Haul trucks are almost always heading south when you’re on I-95 in the northeast. Our beaches, sports teams, (formerly) lower cost of living, and outdoor recreation choices are second to none. So it should be no surprise that no less than 14 cities made the newest U.S. News & World Report list of the best 150 places to live in the U.S. for 2023-2024.

Tampa did NOT top the list. But only 4 Florida cities beat us. And with the number of incoming residents every week, maybe that’s a good thing. U.S. News came up with these rankings based on things like quality of life and value. That second one is tricky these days as real estate prices have soared in the past decade. Add to that skyrocketing home insurance rates, value is definitely a relative term.

Here are the 14 Florida cities that made list for Best Places To Live in the U.S. for 2023

  • #14: Miami

    Sure they may be home to South Beach and the Miami Heat and scored a 6.2 for quality of life. But our largest city in the state scored the lowest for value with a 3.6.

  • #13: Lakeland

    With 38 lakes and an infusion of “Old Florida history and natural beauty,” making this list is no shock to Polk County residents have seen a huge uptick in traffic and population.

  • #12: Fort Myers

    White sand beaches and countless outdoor activities have made this spot a favorite among retirees.

  • #11: Ocala

    The “Horse Capital of the World” landed at #67 nationwide. U.S. News loved Ocala’s rolling hills and green pastures. Ocala scored highest on this list in terms of value with a 7.2.

  • #10: Port St. Lucie

    With a relaxed atmosphere compared to the cities it rests between (Orlando and Miami), Port St. Lucie made the list with scenic waterways and lush green golf courses along with more affordable homes (relatively speaking).

  • #9: Tallahassee

    Tally is the only other city besides Tampa on this list where I’ve lived. I only lasted a year… it was too remote for me.  And when FSU students and the government workers were out of town, it felt like a ghost town.  But you can’t be the vibe on a Seminoles game day. U.S. News also liked the city’s southern heritage influences in its architecture and landscape.

  • #8: Orlando

    Lots to do when Disney, Universal, Sea World are all in your backyard. But that traffic!

  • #7: Daytona Beach

    Great fishing spots and proximity to Daytona International Speedway were the selling points writers loved.

  • #6: Pensacola

    Beautiful sunsets and emerald green waters helped the area land at #28 nationally.

  • #5: Tampa

    U.S. News loved our laid back beach lifestyle and our big city amenities like our successful sports teams, museums, and social scene.

  • #4: Jacksonville

    Nature trails for hiking and marshes to kayak along with a new art and music scene helped land Jacksonville in the #16 spot overall in the U.S.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng2y0NrOuy8

  • #3: Melbourne

    Their Eau Gallie Arts District scored points as well as their historic downtown area’s museums and galleries.

  • #2: Naples

    Certainly not the most affordable area on this list, U.S. News loved the beaches, golf courses, dining and shopping choices. Naples scored the highest among these Florida cities for quality of life with a 7.1.

  • #1: Sarasota

    They loved Sarasota’s art scene, beaches and restaurants.  Sarasota came in #5 nationally behind Green Bay, Huntsville, Raleigh, and Boulder.  U.S. News researchers loved the opera house, rooftop bars and Siesta Key.

Get The QYK Country Connections Newsletter

Enjoy the latest Country music & entertainment news, Tampa/St. Pete happenings, plus exclusive contests, games, and more.

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Author Mo On The Radio
Category:
Tags:
,,

More Uncategorized

Load More