The Best and worst states for summer road trips

The Top Destinations for a Road Trip This Summer
Road trips took off amid the pandemic and with air travel being hampered by staffing shortages and surging demand this summer, many travelers will be looking to explore their top destinations by car, truck, motorcycle or RV. Before you set out though, consider the best places for a summer road trip. Personal finance website WalletHub recently compared all 50 U.S. states based on 32 different metrics to determine which are the best and worst for a summer road trip in 2022. Analysts looked at costs, safety and activities, including factors such as average gas prices and the lowest cost of a three-star hotel room as well as the quality of roads, the number of attractions, violent crime rates and access to scenic byways, among others. Here’s a look at the best and worst states to drive, from first to last.

New York
Earning an overall WalletHub score of 58.05, New York is the best state in the U.S. for a summer road trip in 2022. Despite ranking a disappointing 37th for costs, the Empire State ranks third and seventh for activities and safety, respectively. Even outside of New York City, the state boasts attractions, scenic byways, festivals and other summer fun in bunches.

Minnesota
Placing fifth for safety and eighth for costs, Minnesota offers summer road trippers peace of mind. There’s also much to see and do in this Midwest destination, including some one-of-a-kind roadside attractions like the 55-foot-tall Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth just off of Interstate 90.

Texas
The Lone Star State is one of the best you can visit on a road trip this summer as it ranks fourth nationwide for activities. Texas offers travelers a wide variety of exciting and charming cities from Austin to Fredericksburg as well as spectacular scenery in places like Texas Hill Country through the central and south portions of the state.

Louisiana
Louisiana ranks inside the top 10 for both costs (second) and activities (10th), making it a no-brainer for road trip travelers looking to stretch their dollar this summer. It helps that the state boasts as many as 19 scenic byways and no shortage of summer festivals and fun in places like New Orleans.

Maine
Ranking number one in the nation for summer road trip safety, Maine also has the second-lowest average cost of car repairs, which is good news in the event of an unexpected breakdown. Plus, the state is celebrated for its scenery, perhaps none more famous than that on display in the 47,000-acre Acadia National Park.

Arkansas
Arkansas offers natural beauty in abundance but WalletHub’s analysis of the Natural State wasn’t all that kind. Despite having the fourth-lowest gas prices and ranking sixth in the country for overall summer road trip costs, Arkansas rounds out the list of the five worst states, placing a dismal 49th for safety and 42nd for activities.

Montana
Another state renowned for its natural beauty, Montana doesn’t rank better than 34th in either of the three major categories considered and finished 40th for safety. Nonetheless, if scenery and charming small towns and villages are your priority, Montana is certain to deliver.

Delaware
A tiny state in the Northeast, Delaware doesn’t rank better than 30th in either of the three categories and its small size is partly to blame as only Conneecituct has fewer scenic byways than America’s First State. Still, Delaware is sure to surprise, especially those passing through its inviting beach towns.

Connecticut
Home to the fewest scenic byways in the U.S., Connecticut is also held back by its 42nd-place finish for costs. After all, only California is more expensive when it comes to the average cost of car repairs. If there’s a silver lining though, it’s that Connecticut ranks 18th among the 50 states for safety, according to WalletHub’s research.

Rhode Island
It should come as no surprise that the nation’s smallest state ranks the worst for summer road trips. Rhode Island boasts the fourth-fewest scenic byways in the country and one of the highest daily camping costs, both of which limit its overall WalletHub score to a nation-worst 36.95.