America’s most dangerous states to drive in during 4th of July — here’s where NY ranks

The biggest danger may not be traffic this July Fourth weekend — it could be the state you’re driving through.

North Dakota ranked as the nation’s most dangerous state for July 4th travel, recording 0.28 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. That’s more than seven times the rate of Rhode Island, which ranked safest at just 0.04, according to a new MoneyGeek analysis of federal crash data.

From 2020 to 2024, the five most recent years of final federal crash data, 2,724 people were killed in US crashes during the holiday period.

Independence Day is America’s second deadliest major holiday for drunk driving, second only to cocktail-happy New Year’s Eve — with 38% of drivers killed over the past five years legally drunk, the highest impaired-driver share of any major holiday.

The study ranked every state and Washington, DC, by fatal crashes per 100 million miles driven — and the results may surprise drivers.

After North Dakota, Delaware, Nevada, New Mexico and Montana rounded out the five most dangerous states.

Many of the highest-risk states have something in common: long, high-speed rural highways, lighter traffic enforcement, lower population density and longer trips to trauma centers after serious crashes, researchers said.

“For New Yorkers and those from Jersey heading out on July 4th … the numbers are reassuring,” said Nathan Paulus, Head of Content and SEO at MoneyGeek. “New York ranks 39th and New Jersey 48th out of 51 states. Both are safer than the national average per mile driven.”

But alcohol remains one of the holiday’s biggest risk factors for all states.

After Rhode Island, the safest states were Massachusetts at 50 with Hawaii close behind at 49, New Jersey at 48, Maryland at 47, New Hampshire taking the 46th spot and Virginia at 45.

Arkansas and South Carolina recorded the highest share of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes at 53%, followed by Iowa at 51% and Oregon and Connecticut coming in at 50% each.

New York’s impaired-driving share was among the nation’s lowest at 25%, while New Jersey came in even lower at 24%.

There is some encouraging news, though.

Preliminary NHTSA estimates show about 36,640 people died in traffic crashes nationwide in 2025, down 6.7% from 2024 and marking the second-lowest fatality rate per mile driven on record.

“The rural West and South still cluster at the top of the holiday ranking every year we run it,” Paulus said. “But the national number keeps dropping: fewer people are dying on the roads.”

By contrast, the country’s most populous states recorded the highest number of deaths simply because far more people were traveling.

California reported 284 July 4th holiday traffic fatalities during the five-year study period, followed by Texas with 274 and Florida with 209. But once researchers adjusted for miles driven, all three states fell into the middle of the national rankings.

The danger also peaks after the celebrations.

“The deadliest hours are the ones after the fireworks end,” said Paulus. “Nearly a quarter of July 4th road deaths happen between 9 p.m. and midnight, which is when the crowds are heading home.”

That late-night stretch accounted for 23% of all holiday traffic deaths, making it one of the trickiesst times to be on the road.

“If you’re planning to drink, book the ride before the first beer, not after the third,” Paulus said. “And if you’re driving that late-night window sober, drive like everyone else on the road isn’t.”