Ready to Hit the Road This Summer? A New Study Ranked the Best and Worst States to Visit
Summer is one of the busiest times of year for road trips, with families, couples, and solo travelers taking advantage of warm weather to explore the country. But deciding where to go can be just as challenging as planning the route. To help travelers narrow their options, WalletHub compared all 50 states across dozens of travel-related factors, creating a ranking that highlights which destinations offer the best combination of affordability, safety, and memorable experiences for a summer getaway.
What Makes A Great Road Trip Destination?
Rather than focusing on a single factor, WalletHub evaluated 32 metrics grouped into three categories: costs, safety, and activities. Researchers considered everything from gas prices, lodging, vehicle maintenance costs, and traffic congestion to road quality, weather, attractions, nightlife, and the number of national parks. The result is a ranking designed to reflect not just where travelers can save money, but where they’ll also find plenty to see and do once they arrive.
Minnesota Claimed The Top Overall Spot
Minnesota earned the No. 1 ranking thanks to its strong balance of recreation, reasonable travel costs, and road trip-friendly infrastructure. Summer visitors can explore the rugged North Shore of Lake Superior, visit the iconic Split Rock Lighthouse, paddle through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, or spend a weekend hopping between the state’s more than 11,000 lakes. In Minneapolis and St. Paul, travelers can also enjoy museums, breweries, parks, and the Chain of Lakes, making Minnesota a destination that appeals to both outdoor adventurers and city explorers alike.
These States Rounded Out The Top Five
Minnesota wasn’t the only state that impressed researchers. New York finished second, offering everything from the Adirondack Mountains and Finger Lakes to Niagara Falls and New York City. Ohio ranked third thanks in part to attractions like Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Hocking Hills, and the Lake Erie shoreline. Utah claimed fourth place with its internationally known “Mighty Five” national parks, including Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Arches, while Louisiana rounded out the top five with the culture and cuisine of New Orleans, Cajun Country, scenic bayous, and Gulf Coast destinations. Together, the rankings highlight the wide variety of experiences available across the country.
The Lowest-Ranked States Faced Different Challenges
Finishing near the bottom of the rankings does not necessarily mean a state lacks worthwhile destinations. Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Montana all offer popular attractions, from charming coastal towns and historic sites to mountain scenery and outdoor recreation. However, WalletHub’s methodology found that higher travel costs, fewer entertainment options, or lower overall value compared with competing states reduced their scores. For travelers, the rankings are better viewed as a measure of overall road trip convenience than a list of places to avoid.
Costs Continue To Shape Summer Travel Plans
Even beautiful destinations can become expensive once fuel, hotels, meals, and attraction fees are added together. WalletHub found substantial differences between states in average gas prices, camping costs, hotel rates, and vehicle maintenance expenses, all of which can significantly affect a travel budget. Experts recommend booking accommodations early, considering weekday stays, and comparing campground options to stretch vacation dollars further, especially during peak summer months.
Safety Can Be Just As Important As Attractions
Road conditions and driving safety remain important parts of any successful road trip. WalletHub’s rankings account for traffic fatalities, road quality, vehicle theft rates, and weather-related travel risks. Beyond those statistics, travelers should also consider seasonal hazards such as heavy holiday traffic, extreme desert heat in the Southwest, mountain driving conditions, and rapidly changing weather that can affect even the most carefully planned itinerary.
National Parks And Outdoor Recreation Boosted Several States
Many of this year’s highest-ranked states share one thing in common: easy access to outdoor adventure. Utah’s five national parks remain among America’s premier hiking destinations, while Minnesota’s lakes and forests attract paddlers and anglers throughout the summer. New York’s Adirondack Park offers one of the country’s largest protected landscapes, and Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park provides scenic trails and waterfalls within driving distance of major cities. For travelers seeking nature without sacrificing convenience, those destinations helped separate the top-ranked states from much of the competition.
Experts Say Planning Ahead Still Matters
While statewide rankings provide a useful starting point, travel experts say preparation often determines whether a road trip is enjoyable. Checking weather forecasts, reserving accommodations in advance, downloading offline maps for remote areas, and identifying fuel stops before entering long stretches of highway can help prevent unexpected delays. Travelers visiting national parks should also check reservation requirements and seasonal closures before departing, as some popular destinations reach capacity during the busiest weeks of summer.
Rankings Offer A Starting Point, Not The Final Destination
No ranking can capture every great road trip experience, and even states that placed near the bottom offer destinations that many travelers would consider bucket-list worthy. Instead, WalletHub’s study provides a snapshot of where travelers may find the strongest combination of affordability, safety, and activities this summer. Whether the journey leads to the lakes of Minnesota, the red rock landscapes of Utah, the waterfalls of New York, or somewhere entirely unexpected, the best road trips often begin with a willingness to take the scenic route.