Texas travel
Texas coasts to No. 1 on new list of best states for summer road trips
Who wants to take a road trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park?
Houston is already at the top of the list when it comes to the best summer travel destinations, but the expansive Lone Star State is leading the rest of the nation as the No. 1 state for for summer road trips in 2024.
Texas' superior traveling potential was recognized in WalletHub's annual list of the best and worst states for summer road trips, which ranked all 50 states based on their road trip costs, safety, and activities. Over 32 metrics were considered for the study, including each state's average gas prices, road quality, and variety of attractions.
The top states are the ones that have plenty of fun things to do at relatively low costs, and provide "the best driving experience," according to WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. Texas was also No. 1 in 2023.
Texas earned 58.59 out of 100 total possible points, barely edging ahead of Minnesota (No. 2) and New York (No. 3), which earned 58.48 and 58.44 points, respectively.
Out of the three main categories in the report, Texas performed the best for its numerous attractions, ranking No. 5 nationwide. WalletHub specifically highlights zoos, botanical gardens, and amusement parks, but you can't forget about Texas' beautiful state parks, lakes, family-friendly resorts, or the beaches.
"There are plenty of things to make stops at for a day or even just a few hours while taking a road trip," the report said. "Even in between activities, the act of being on the road in Texas can be very enjoyable, since the state has over 9,500 miles of scenic byways."
Texas ranked just outside the top 10 for its costs of taking a road trip, landing at No. 11 nationally. Planning affordable meals and accommodations is a big factor on travelers' minds this summer, and WalletHub revealed Texas has the second-cheapest three-star hotel prices within a 10-mile radius of city centers during mid-July. The Lone Star State is also leading the U.S. with the highest number of lodging accommodations and restaurants per capita.
Unfortunately, Texas fell far behind other states when it comes to safety, coming in at No. 39. The report doesn't explain why Texas ranked so low, but it examined each state's road quality, car thefts per 1,000 residents, the number of uninsured drivers, and traffic "indiscipline" (also known as the number of accidents due to phone use, speeding, aggressive acceleration, and others). Poor safety rating aside, Texas still came out on top.
"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 heavily impacted by inflation, you’ll want to be in a state that makes this type of vacation affordable," said Happe. "Safe roads are also key, and so is having plenty of worthwhile attractions to stop at along the road."
The top 10 states for summer road trips in 2024 are:
- No. 1 – Texas
- No. 2 – Minnesota
- No. 3 – New York
- No. 4 – Louisiana
- No. 5 – Florida
- No. 6 – Ohio
- No. 7 – North Carolina
- No. 8 – Wyoming
- No. 9 – Maine
- No. 10 – Pennsylvania
