This Is the Best State for a Summer Road Trip in 2024 — With More Than 9,500 Miles of Scenic Byways

Sing it with me now — “school’s out for summer …” And while it may not actually be out “forever,” now is at least a very good time to plan a road trip family vacation. And if you’re looking for a little inspiration on where to go this summer, WalletHub has a few ideas. 

In June, WalletHub released its report showing the best and worst states for a summer road trip in 2024 and named Texas the best state for a road trip adventure this year. 

To make its findings, WalletHub compared all 50 U.S. states based on 32 metrics, including the number of activities including zoos, amusement parks, national parks, and shoreline miles in each state. It also considered the cost of gas, a hotel, or campsite, crime and highway safety statistics, and more, and gave each state a normalized score out of 100. 

“Texas is the best state for summer road trips, leading the country when it comes to the number of available attractions, especially things like zoos, botanical gardens, and amusement parks. There are plenty of things to make stops at for a day or even just a few hours while taking a road trip,” WalletHub shared in its results. It added that the very act of being on the road can be enjoyable enough as the state is home to more than 9,500 miles of scenic byways to travel through. And as far as cost, WalletHub reported that Texas is also home to the second-cheapest 3-star hotel room prices in the nation. 

Joining Texas at the top of the list is Minnesota in second place thanks to its plentiful parks and high safety rating, followed by New York in third for its high number of attractions. It’s followed by Louisiana, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Wyoming, Maine, and Pennsylvania rounding out the top 10. 

“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,” Cassandra Happe, an analyst at WalletHub, said in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. “Safe roads are also key, and so is having plenty of worthwhile attractions to stop at along the road. The best states for summer road trips therefore are those that keep costs low while providing the best driving experience and most fun activities.”

See the full rankings at wallethub.com, and make sure to check out this list of essential things to pack on your next road trip before you pull out of the driveaway.