Who doesn’t love a good road trip? Whether you’re riding solo, getting a group of friends together, or packing the family into the minivan (or SUV), hitting the open road and seeing all this beautiful country has to offer is always a good idea.

Of course, not all road trips are alike. A drive down the Pacific Coast Highway in California might look a little different than a drive through the corn fields of Nebraska. To each their own, of course (we’re big fans of the Cornhusker State), but we’ve found a fail-proof way to break down what the best states are to plan your next road trip.

We broke down the best states to road trip through based on five different categories:

1. Scenic beauty: Since the majority of a road trip is, well, on the road, it’s important that you’ve got something nice to look at while you’re driving. Bonus points for state parks and byways that show off natural beauty.

2. Affordability: Road trips aren’t free, and it’s important that a state has affordable lodging for overnight stays and cheap gas/charging for when it’s time to fill up.

3. Weather/climate: Road trips can happen in any conditions, but it’s sure nicer if you’ve got clean weather and are able to get out and visit sites (or just stretch your legs) in warm temps.

4. Accessibility: Pit spots are critical on road trips, whether it’s filling up the tank (or charging the battery) or grabbing some snacks on the go.

5. Entertainment: Once you’re off the road, you must have got something to do in the way of hiking, campgrounds, or nightlife—whatever your pleasure once you’ve arrived.

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Taking those five factors into account and weighing them, here’s what we found:

Head Out West For All That California Has To Offer

Could any other state have been at the top of this list? It’s the third largest state, it’s got the third most coastline (second if you don’t include Alaska), it has an insane variety of rural and urban options, the weather is nearly perfect, and there are a whopping 15 professional teams from the Big 4 sports leagues for our fans.

California ranked first in scenic beauty, third in weather & climate, second in inconvenience, and first in recreation & entertainment. It still topped our list by a considerable margin despite ranking second to last (behind Hawaii) in affordability. If you can stomach the cost, there’s everything from Yosemite National Park to Disneyland—and so much more in between.

The even better news with a road trip to California is that you’re not too far away from some of the other top states on this list. If you’re traveling to the North, you can head into No. 14 Oregon. From the South? No. 19 Arizona. No. 26 Nevada also borders California, and we can guess where you’re headed if you travel that way.

Don’t Sleep In The Midwest (Minnesota Is Also Cheap)

I’m from the Midwest, so I won’t hear any slander about how the two coasts have more to offer from a road trip perspective. And the numbers agree. The Midwest picked up seven of the top 24 spots on the list, with:

• Minnesota (4^th)
• Michigan (5^th)
• Iowa (12^th)
• Wisconsin (13^th)
• Missouri (16^th)
• Illinois (22^nd)
• Indiana (24^th)

All in the top half. In fact, you could make this road trip without entering any other states.

Hawaii Might Be Great For Vacations—But Stay Out Of The Car

I love our data team. They do an excellent job putting together these numbers—and those never lie—but I do have an issue with Hawaii being last on this list. True, it’s the only state you can’t drive to so it doesn’t do much if you’re looking to make it a long drive and makes accessibility an issue. It’s also not super cheap (gas has to cross the Pacific Ocean). And yes, there is more rain in Hawaii than in any other state. 

But, if you can look past that (and get there), the scenery is second to none. Also, the Road to Hana is a once-in-a-lifetime trip (I did it on my honeymoon) and arguably the best road trip you can take anywhere in the world. So while it may not pass this rankings test, I’ve got a soft spot for The Aloha State.

Pick Your Spots Carefully In The Northeast

We didn’t see such a wide range of outcomes anywhere like we did in the Northeast. It didn’t surprise us that Pennsylvania (8^th) and New York (16^th) ranked so highly thanks to their accessibility and entertainment—but it was a bit bleaker in the smaller surrounding states. New Jersey, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Delaware all finished in the bottom 10, and Maryland wasn’t far behind at 39^th. Even Connecticut and Massachusetts were in the bottom half of the rankings. The good news for people in those states is they aren’t too far from Pennsylvania or New York to enjoy themselves.

Methodology

1. Scenic Beauty & Natural Attractions (Total Weight: 30%)

• National Parks & Forests: Count of parks and forests per state. (15%)
• State Parks: Count of state parks. (10%)
• Scenic Byways: Number of designated scenic byways. (5%)

Sources: AAA, AmericasStateParks.com, Scenic.org

2. Affordability (Total Weight: 20%)

• Gas Prices: Average gas prices per state. (10%)
• Accommodation Costs: Average nightly rates for 3-star hotels in each state. (5%)
• Dining Costs: Average Restaurant Spending by State. (5%)

Sources: AAA, BudgetYourTrip.com, USA Today.

3. Weather & Climate (Total Weight: 20%)

• Average Temperatures: Average temperature from June – August 2023 and the deviation from the ideal temperature of 70°F. (10%)
• Precipitation: Total amount of Rainfall from June – August 2023. (10%)

Sources: NOAA

4. Accessibility & Convenience (Total Weight: 15%)

• Rest Stops & Visitor Centers: Count of rest areas and visitor centers per State. (5%)
• Charging Stations: Count of electric vehicle charging stations per State. (5%)
• Service Stations: Number of gas stations per state. (5%)

Sources: InterstateRestAreas.com, DOE, US Census

5. Activities & Entertainment (Total Weight: 15%)

• Campgrounds: Number of public campgrounds. (5%)
• Hiking Trails Distance: Total distance of hiking trails by mile (5%)
• Nightlife: Number of Bars/Drinking establishments. (5%)

Sources: Camping-USA.com, Trailforks.com, RentechDigital.com