The Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s “What Is True?” team investigated claims that Mississippi has “the worst roads in the United States.”
RESULTS: This claim is misleading.
Transportation experts can use several metrics to judge the safety and quality of Mississippi roadways, including the fatality rate, pavement condition and bridge inspections, among others. To learn more about how Mississippi stacks up against other states, read the full fact-check below:
The original claim came from a Reddit debate. Users stated that Mississippi ranks among the lowest in road quality and has a high fatality rate.
One source linked by several Reddit users cites Zutobi statistics that rank Mississippi 47th in the nation. Zutobi’s report specifically cites the state’s high death rate for highway accidents as a strong contributing factor to the low rating. However, the report also states that Mississippi’s roads have improved faster than those in most other states.
Another source cited by Reddit users is from the National Transportation Research Nonprofit, or TRIP. The TRIP report notes that traffic fatalities in Mississippi have increased since 2014, 10 years before the study was conducted.
Fatality rates, however, are only one metric for road safety and quality in the United States. The Reason Foundation provides a clearer picture of the various ways road quality can be assessed.
The Reason Foundation ranks Mississippi’s highway network 24th in the nation based on cost-effectiveness and conditions, among other metrics. Mississippi’s maintenance and administrative disbursements, as well as other disbursements, ranked second, eighth and 12th, respectively, among the highest in the nation. However, Mississippi’s urban interstate pavement condition and fatality rates drag down its overall score.
In a separate WalletHub study from Feb. 25, 2026, Mississippi ranked 34th overall. In the study, Mississippi ranked 16th for cost of ownership and maintenance, 10th for traffic and infrastructure, 49th for safety and 38th for access to vehicle maintenance.
Although Mississippi consistently ranks among the deadliest road systems in the country, the roadways themselves rank high in maintenance and have shown rapid improvement in recent years.
About “What Is True?”
The RHCJC “What Is True?” team of graduate investigators examines everything from viral online posts to local community rumors. If you have a question, submit to “What Is True?” inquiry on the RHCJC website or call 855-IS-IT-TRU (855-474-8878).
