New Study Reveals What Minnesota Roads Cost You Each Year

Minnesota's roads may not always feel smooth, but did you know they could actually be saving you hundreds of dollars every year? A new study reveals just how much rough roads cost drivers across the country, and the numbers for Minnesota might surprise you.

Speaking of roads and highways, we have a lot of them here in the Bold North. In fact, Minnesota has some of the most roads of any state in the country. According to the Minnesota Legislature website, there are about 135,000 miles of roads and highways that traverse the Gopher State. For comparison, Wisconsin has just under 116,000 miles of roads running across the state, its Department of Transportation says.

Minnesota Roads Rank Among America's Best Again

But our roads in Minnesota are in much better shape than those in many other states. In a story I wrote about last year, according to a survey from the Consumer Affairs list of the States With The Best Roads in America, Minnesota was ranked as the second-best state in the country.

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I know that sounds a little tough to believe, especially if you've driven on the really rough parts of some Minnesota highways, like maybe Interstate 494 in Maplewood, or the southbound lanes of Highway 52 between Pine Island and Oronoco, am I right?

Here's How Much Rough Roads Cost Minnesota Drivers

But another new survey backs up the claim that our roads and highways are in pretty good shape here in the North Star State, especially compared to other states. This survey by American Trucks ranks Minnesota 40th out of all 50 states on the list of States Where Rough Roads Hit Your Wallet the Hardest.

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To come up with those results, American Trucks said they looked at vehicle operating cost data alongside pavement quality metrics, climate stress factors, and infrastructure assessments for all 50 states. They then identified which states are putting the greatest strain on drivers' wallets, and why road conditions vary so dramatically across the country.

Overall, the survey found that the average American driver loses about $725 a year to rough roads through additional repairs, tire wear, depreciation, and fuel costs. But here in Minnesota, that cost is quite a bit less, at $507 a year.

Wisconsin Drivers Pay Much More Than Minnesotans

Behind the Cheddar Curtain over in Wisconsin, drivers in America's Dairyland are losing even more than the national average, and are shelling out an estimated $839 a year, ranking 13th on the survey.

Meanwhile, down in Iowa, drivers are paying the least here in our neck of the woods, with an average extra cost of $439 a year, which puts the Hawkeye State at #42 on the American Trucks survey.