What to pack and prepare for a road trip
Don’t forget to pack these items before you head out on your next road trip. Even the smallest of them can make a big difference.
Summer is usually the preferred season for road trips as kids are out of school and the warm weather offers more opportunities to explore. In 2026, around 72% of adults are planning to take a road trip, with over one-third of those adults planning to take more than one, according to WalletHub.
Though road trips are a hot commodity in the summer, the national average for gas prices remains above $4.50 a gallon, which could create a price barrier among the inflated prices of accommodations, activities and dining options.
“Taking a summer road trip can be a very exciting way to experience a new place, but with the prices of gas, food and accommodations still impacted by inflation, you’ll want to be in a state that makes this type of vacation affordable,” WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said. “The best states for summer road trips therefore are those that keep costs low while providing the best driving experience and most fun activities.”
To help road trippers figure out where to get the best bang for their buck and overall experience this summer, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 32 metrics to determine the best road trip destinations based on fun, scenery and affordability. WalletHub also compared these metrics to determine which states road trippers should skip this summer.
WalletHub’s 10 best states for summer road trips
- Minnesota
- Utah
- Louisiana
- New York
- Florida
- Texas
- Maine
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- Ohio
WalletHub’s 10 worst states for summer road trips
- No. 50: Rhode Island
- No. 49: Delaware
- No. 48: Connecticut
- No. 47: California
- No. 46: Maryland
- No. 45: Vermont
- No. 44: Massachusetts
- No. 43: New Mexico
- No. 42: Montana
- No. 41: New Hampshire
How WalletHub assessed states on road trip-friendliness
To determine the best and worst summer road trip destinations, WalletHub compared all 50 states across three dimensions: costs, safety and activities.
The costs category analyzed these factors:
- Average gas prices
- Average cost of car repairs
- Lowest price of three-star hotel room
- Lowest price of camping
- Vacation rentals per capita
- Cost of living index
The safety category analyzed these factors:
- Vehicle miles traveled per capita
- Population Density
- Share of urban interstates congested during peak hours
- Increase in vehicle travel on roads
- Driving laws score
- Traffic indiscipline
- Quality of roads
- Quality of bridges
- Traffic-related fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled
- Share of uninsured drivers
- Car thefts per 1,000 residents
- Rate of larceny
- Violent crimes per 1,000 residents
The activities category analyzed these factors:
- Share of total area designated as National Parkland
- National Parks and Recreation visitors per capita
- Zoos and Botanical Gardens per capita
- Amusement & theme parks per capita
- Fairs and festivals per capita over summer time
- Number of attractions
- Nightlife options per capita
- Access to scenic byways
- Historical sites per capita
- Miles of shoreline
- Idealness of summer weather
- Accommodation & food services establishments per capita
- State & local direct general expenditures on parks & recreation per capita
Data used to create the ranking was collected as of May 25, 2026, and was sourced from multiple entities, including WalletHub research, the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Park Service.
Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York State. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@USATodayco.com.