facebook tracking ER Wait Times by State 2026: All 50 States Ranked (4,091 Hospitals)

ER wait times by state

In an emergency, call 911. These are yearly medians, not live wait times. Don't pick an ER from this page when someone needs help now.

According to HospitalsInEachState.com's analysis of the July 2026 CMS release, the median U.S. emergency room visit for patients treated and sent home lasts 2 hr 28 min, across 4,091 reporting hospitals. In the HospitalsInEachState.com State ER Wait Rankings, North Dakota has the shortest state median (1 hr 45 min) and Maryland the longest (4 hr 1 min); 22 of 50 states come in under the US median. 1,025 emergency rooms come in under two hours and 261 take four hours or more.

CMS data published July 20264,091 hospitals50 states

ER visit times near you

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Medians from CMS for patients treated and sent home, not live waits.

US median 2 hr 28 min 22 of 50 states are faster
Fastest state 1 hr 45 min North Dakota
Slowest state 4 hr 1 min Maryland
Under 2 hours 1,025 ERs 261 take 4 hours or more
ER wait times near me
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Report: Maryland has the longest ER visits: 4 hr 1 min at the typical hospital (Oct 25, 2026)

State ER Wait Rankings: states ranked by median ER visit time

The bar shows each state against the slowest; the tick marks the US median of 2 hr 28 min. Pick a state for every hospital in it.

Showing all 50 states

US states ranked by median emergency department visit time, CMS measure OP-18b, July 2026
# State Median visit Hospitals Shortest wait in the state
1 North Dakota43 hospitals reporting Fastest: Towner County Medical Center · 1 hr 8 min 1 hr 45 min 43 min faster than US 43 Towner County Medical Center · 1 hr 8 min
2 South Dakota50 hospitals reporting Fastest: Coteau Des Prairies Health Care System · 44 min 1 hr 52 min 36 min faster than US 50 Coteau Des Prairies Health Care System · 44 min
3 Nebraska83 hospitals reporting Fastest: Genoa Community Hospital · 1 hr 20 min 1 hr 54 min 34 min faster than US 83 Genoa Community Hospital · 1 hr 20 min
4 Montana56 hospitals reporting Fastest: McCone County Health Center · 1 hr 10 min 1 hr 55 min 33 min faster than US 56 McCone County Health Center · 1 hr 10 min
5 Kansas116 hospitals reporting Fastest: Kiowa District Hospital · 1 hr 12 min 1 hr 57 min 31 min faster than US 116 Kiowa District Hospital · 1 hr 12 min
6 Iowa112 hospitals reporting Fastest: Compass Memorial Healthcare · 55 min 2 hr 28 min faster than US 112 Compass Memorial Healthcare · 55 min
7 Wyoming22 hospitals reporting Fastest: North Big Horn Hospital District · 58 min 2 hr 28 min faster than US 22 North Big Horn Hospital District · 58 min
8 Oklahoma101 hospitals reporting Fastest: McBride Clinic Orthopedic Hospital · 57 min 2 hr 2 min 26 min faster than US 101 McBride Clinic Orthopedic Hospital · 57 min
9 Mississippi67 hospitals reporting Fastest: Covington County Hospital CAH · 1 hr 14 min 2 hr 5 min 23 min faster than US 67 Covington County Hospital CAH · 1 hr 14 min
10 Idaho38 hospitals reporting Fastest: Power County Hospital District · 1 hr 25 min 2 hr 6 min 22 min faster than US 38 Power County Hospital District · 1 hr 25 min
11 Louisiana89 hospitals reporting Fastest: Lady of the Sea General Hospital · 1 hr 2 min 2 hr 6 min 22 min faster than US 89 Lady of the Sea General Hospital · 1 hr 2 min
12 Minnesota120 hospitals reporting Fastest: Mille Lacs Health System · 42 min 2 hr 6 min 22 min faster than US 120 Mille Lacs Health System · 42 min
13 Hawaii20 hospitals reporting Fastest: Kula Hospital · 54 min 2 hr 8 min 20 min faster than US 20 Kula Hospital · 54 min
14 Utah44 hospitals reporting Fastest: Cache Valley Speciality Hospital · 1 hr 26 min 2 hr 9 min 19 min faster than US 44 Cache Valley Speciality Hospital · 1 hr 26 min
15 Alaska17 hospitals reporting Fastest: Bristol Bay DBA Kanakanak Hospital · 1 hr 38 min 2 hr 10 min 18 min faster than US 17 Bristol Bay DBA Kanakanak Hospital · 1 hr 38 min
16 Arkansas66 hospitals reporting Fastest: Baptist Health - van Buren · 1 hr 11 min 2 hr 10 min 18 min faster than US 66 Baptist Health - van Buren · 1 hr 11 min
17 Colorado78 hospitals reporting Fastest: Rio Grande Hospital · 45 min 2 hr 14 min 14 min faster than US 78 Rio Grande Hospital · 45 min
18 Wisconsin118 hospitals reporting Fastest: Edgerton Hospital and Health Services · 1 hr 11 min 2 hr 16 min 12 min faster than US 118 Edgerton Hospital and Health Services · 1 hr 11 min
19 Texas336 hospitals reporting Fastest: Mitchell County Hospital District · 48 min 2 hr 18 min 10 min faster than US 336 Mitchell County Hospital District · 48 min
20 West Virginia44 hospitals reporting Fastest: Grafton City Hospital · 1 hr 13 min 2 hr 18 min 10 min faster than US 44 Grafton City Hospital · 1 hr 13 min
21 Indiana108 hospitals reporting Fastest: St Mary's Warrick Hospital · 1 hr 32 min 2 hr 20 min 8 min faster than US 108 St Mary's Warrick Hospital · 1 hr 32 min
22 Kentucky82 hospitals reporting Fastest: Arh Our Lady of the Way · 1 hr 24 min 2 hr 20 min 8 min faster than US 82 Arh Our Lady of the Way · 1 hr 24 min
23 Alabama77 hospitals reporting Fastest: Wiregrass Medical Center · 59 min 2 hr 28 min Same as US 77 Wiregrass Medical Center · 59 min
24 New Hampshire26 hospitals reporting Fastest: Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital · 1 hr 25 min 2 hr 28 min Same as US 26 Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital · 1 hr 25 min
25 Florida179 hospitals reporting Fastest: Lake Butler Hospital · 1 hr 32 min 2 hr 29 min 1 min slower than US 179 Lake Butler Hospital · 1 hr 32 min
26 Missouri97 hospitals reporting Fastest: Mosaic Medical Center Albany · 1 hr 12 min 2 hr 31 min 3 min slower than US 97 Mosaic Medical Center Albany · 1 hr 12 min
27 Nevada35 hospitals reporting Fastest: Mount Grant General Hospital · 1 hr 22 min 2 hr 32 min 4 min slower than US 35 Mount Grant General Hospital · 1 hr 22 min
28 Maine30 hospitals reporting Fastest: Charles a Dean Memorial Hospital · 1 hr 26 min 2 hr 36 min 8 min slower than US 30 Charles a Dean Memorial Hospital · 1 hr 26 min
29 Ohio138 hospitals reporting Fastest: Paulding County Hospital · 1 hr 14 min 2 hr 36 min 8 min slower than US 138 Paulding County Hospital · 1 hr 14 min
30 South Carolina53 hospitals reporting Fastest: Edgefield County Hospital · 1 hr 20 min 2 hr 36 min 8 min slower than US 53 Edgefield County Hospital · 1 hr 20 min
31 Oregon55 hospitals reporting Fastest: St Alphonsus Medical Center - Baker City · 1 hr 32 min 2 hr 37 min 9 min slower than US 55 St Alphonsus Medical Center - Baker City · 1 hr 32 min
32 Michigan118 hospitals reporting Fastest: Sheridan Community Hospital · 55 min 2 hr 38 min 10 min slower than US 118 Sheridan Community Hospital · 55 min
33 Tennessee92 hospitals reporting Fastest: Trousdale Medical Center · 1 hr 13 min 2 hr 41 min 13 min slower than US 92 Trousdale Medical Center · 1 hr 13 min
34 Virginia80 hospitals reporting Fastest: Dickenson Community Hospital · 1 hr 49 min 2 hr 43 min 15 min slower than US 80 Dickenson Community Hospital · 1 hr 49 min
35 Georgia124 hospitals reporting Fastest: Optim Medical Center - Tattnall · 1 hr 6 min 2 hr 44 min 16 min slower than US 124 Optim Medical Center - Tattnall · 1 hr 6 min
36 Washington76 hospitals reporting Fastest: Garfield County Public Hospital District #1 · 1 hr 22 min 2 hr 46 min 18 min slower than US 76 Garfield County Public Hospital District #1 · 1 hr 22 min
37 New Mexico32 hospitals reporting Fastest: Holy Cross Hospital a Div of Taos Health Systems · 1 hr 32 min 2 hr 48 min 20 min slower than US 32 Holy Cross Hospital a Div of Taos Health Systems · 1 hr 32 min
38 Illinois155 hospitals reporting Fastest: Pinckneyville Community Hospital · 49 min 2 hr 53 min 25 min slower than US 155 Pinckneyville Community Hospital · 49 min
39 California273 hospitals reporting Fastest: Trinity Hospital · 1 hr 9 min 2 hr 54 min 26 min slower than US 273 Trinity Hospital · 1 hr 9 min
40 Vermont9 hospitals reporting Fastest: Grace Cottage Hospital · 1 hr 47 min 2 hr 55 min 27 min slower than US 9 Grace Cottage Hospital · 1 hr 47 min
41 Arizona63 hospitals reporting Fastest: Page Hospital · 1 hr 18 min 2 hr 56 min 28 min slower than US 63 Page Hospital · 1 hr 18 min
42 New Jersey60 hospitals reporting Fastest: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway · 1 hr 54 min 3 hr 5 min 37 min slower than US 60 Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway · 1 hr 54 min
43 North Carolina96 hospitals reporting Fastest: Dlp Swain County Hospital · 1 hr 21 min 3 hr 7 min 39 min slower than US 96 Dlp Swain County Hospital · 1 hr 21 min
44 Pennsylvania137 hospitals reporting Fastest: Highlands Hospital · 1 hr 8 min 3 hr 8 min 40 min slower than US 137 Highlands Hospital · 1 hr 8 min
45 Connecticut26 hospitals reporting Fastest: Sharon Hospital · 2 hr 10 min 3 hr 19 min 51 min slower than US 26 Sharon Hospital · 2 hr 10 min
46 New York139 hospitals reporting Fastest: Cuba Memorial Hospital · 48 min 3 hr 24 min 56 min slower than US 139 Cuba Memorial Hospital · 48 min
47 Massachusetts55 hospitals reporting Fastest: Fairview Hospital · 1 hr 53 min 3 hr 29 min 1 hr 1 min slower than US 55 Fairview Hospital · 1 hr 53 min
48 Rhode Island10 hospitals reporting Fastest: Westerly Hospital · 2 hr 22 min 3 hr 38 min 1 hr 10 min slower than US 10 Westerly Hospital · 2 hr 22 min
49 Delaware6 hospitals reporting Fastest: Nanticoke Memorial Hospital · 2 hr 47 min 3 hr 42 min 1 hr 14 min slower than US 6 Nanticoke Memorial Hospital · 2 hr 47 min
50 Maryland40 hospitals reporting Fastest: Garrett County Memorial Hospital · 2 hr 6 min 4 hr 1 min 1 hr 33 min slower than US 40 Garrett County Memorial Hospital · 2 hr 6 min
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Shortest and longest ER visits in the US

The ten fastest and ten slowest emergency rooms among the 4,091 hospitals that report the measure.

Fastest 10
HospitalMedian
Mille Lacs Health SystemOnamia, Minnesota42 min
Coteau Des Prairies Health Care SystemSisseton, South Dakota44 min
Rio Grande HospitalDel Norte, Colorado45 min
Cuba Memorial HospitalCuba, New York48 min
Family Health West HospitalFruita, Colorado48 min
Mitchell County Hospital DistrictColorado City, Texas48 min
Pinckneyville Community HospitalPinckneyville, Illinois49 min
Kula HospitalKula, Hawaii54 min
Compass Memorial HealthcareMarengo, Iowa55 min
Sheridan Community HospitalSheridan, Michigan55 min
Slowest 10
HospitalMedian
Loma Linda University Medical CenterLoma Linda, California6 hr 53 min
Rush University Medical CenterChicago, Illinois6 hr 10 min
Franklin Square Hospital CenterRosedale, Maryland6 hr 7 min
Harris County Hospital DistrictHouston, Texas6 hr 7 min
University Health SystemSan Antonio, Texas6 hr 6 min
Grady Memorial HospitalAtlanta, Georgia5 hr 57 min
MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital CenterClinton, Maryland5 hr 56 min
Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, California5 hr 55 min
Northwestern Memorial HospitalChicago, Illinois5 hr 50 min
University of Michigan Health SystemAnn Arbor, Michigan5 hr 45 min

Questions about ER wait times

Which state has the shortest ER waits?

North Dakota, where the median emergency room visit lasts 1 hr 45 min. South Dakota is next at 1 hr 52 min.

Which state has the longest ER waits?

Maryland, at 4 hr 1 min. Delaware follows at 3 hr 42 min.

What is the average ER wait time in the U.S.?

The typical U.S. hospital's median ER visit is 2 hr 28 min for patients treated and sent home (CMS OP-18b), across 4,091 reporting hospitals. That is total time in the ER, not time to see a doctor, and it isn't live. 1,025 ERs come in under two hours and 261 take four hours or more.

Are these live wait times?

No. They are 12-month medians for patients who were treated and sent home, published by CMS. They show what is typical, not what is happening tonight. In an emergency, call 911.

Why do some states have much longer waits?

States with more large urban hospitals tend to have longer visits, because busy emergency departments see more patients and more complex cases. Rural states with many small hospitals usually have the shortest medians.

Cite this data

Journalists, researchers and site owners are welcome to quote and chart these figures. They are free to use under CC BY 4.0: please credit HospitalsInEachState.com and link to this page.

Figures as of the July 2026 CMS release Updated automatically when CMS publishes new data Permanent link: hospitalsineachstate.com/er-wait-times/

Download the data (CSV)

Source: CMS Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting, measure OP-18b (median time from ED arrival to departure for discharged patients), published July 2026. State figures are the median across that state's reporting hospitals. Updated when CMS publishes new data.

Hospitals with too few cases to report are not included. Campuses that CMS reports under one facility number count once. How this measure works. Not affiliated with CMS.