Just how bad is the traffic in Greenville, SC?

Spoiler alert: Traffic isn’t great. We dove into the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s congestion data so you don’t have to.

woodruff-traffic

If you look up “traffic” in the dictionary, there’s a picture of Woodruff Road. | Photo by The Greenville Journal

What would you do with 48 hours? Sit in traffic, apparently. That’s the average time Greenvillians lost to traffic congestion in 2024, which is 5% worse than the year before.

By the numbers

According to a recent report from Texas A&M Transportation Institute, a trip that would take 20 minutes without traffic takes...

  • 23 minutes with traffic
  • 24 minutes in the peak direction
  • 29 minutes to plan for a punctual arrival
GVL_Traffic_Management_Center_GIF_APR2025

We’re going behind-the-scenes at the TMC. | Video by GVLtoday

Inside the Traffic Management Center

The City of Greenville keeps traffic flowing in its state-of-the-art Traffic Management Center at the Public Safety Complex on Halton Road. Traffic engineers stagger their shifts to keep an eye on commutes during the busiest times of day.

A wall of monitors features live feeds from 65 cameras along with live maps, and the engineers can adjust traffic signals in real-time.

More from GVLtoday
Greenville’s Design Review Board approved plans for a mixed-use development on the site of the former Municipal Court Building and the former American Legion building.
Here are 10 must-do activities for your Greenville spring bucket list that are unique to the Upstate and the spring season.
We’re putting our city’s vibrant ecosystem front-and-center in this new series.
Sponsored
Greenville is full of special places to stay that offer guests a break from traditional motels and hotels.
From upgraded suites to all-new menus around the ballpark, 2026 is all about celebrating the Upstate’s “Home Team.”
The road to the Final Four could start in Greenville, either for the Furman Paladins looking to shine their glass slippers or one of the teams starting the NCAA Tournament here for rounds one and two.
Grab a blanket and settle in to see these artists at local outdoor venues in Greenville.
Each week, GVLtoday and CLTtoday will recap “Top Chef: Carolinas” with fun facts we’ve learned from our reporting behind the scenes and our pro tips about venues featured in each of our cities.
Dining in Greenville is always a fresh experience, with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.