Summer is the season of travel, and Texans looking for a getaway may not have to go far.
In a recent analysis by personal finance company WalletHub, the Lone Star State finished on top in its “Best and Worst States for Summer Road Trips” ranking. Texas barely eked out Minnesota for the top spot with 58.59 out of a possible 100 points, with New York, Louisiana and Florida rounding out the top five.
The main drivers for Texas’ high placement were its affordability and expanse of activities, ranging from bucket-list outdoor destinations to theme parks and vibrant nightlife.
“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, a WalletHub analyst, said in a press release.
“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.”
WalletHub’s analysis took into consideration 32 factors across three categories — safety, cost and activities — for each state, which were then weighted, averaged and ranked. Despite being the 39th safest state, Texas was the 11th cheapest and had the fifth-best activities score, lagging only California, Florida, New York and Alaska.
Texas’s diversity of landscapes earned high marks and high praise. The state was rewarded for its 9,500 miles of scenic byways — weighted three times as important as most other attractions — including those in the Hill Country and mountainous West Texas, with smaller boosts from Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
The number of attractions around the state’s metro areas helped, too. Austin’s packed honky-tonks, D-FW’s entertainment venues and theme parks, San Antonio’s rich historical sites and Houston’s diverse food scene will have scored highly in various activity factors.
“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,” WalletHub said. “There are plenty of things to make stops at for a day or even just a few hours while taking a road trip.”
Texas is also fairly affordable despite the vast distances travelers may cover. The state’s average gas price sits just over $3 per gallon, nearly 50 cents below the national average. It also has the cheapest average price for 3-star hotels within 10 miles of city centers in mid-July and ranks first nationally in accommodations and restaurants per capita, according to the analysis.
Earlier this year, WalletHub also named Texas the eighth best state to drive in due to its stable weather conditions and low cost of gas and maintenance. This is the second year in a row that Texas placed first in the company’s road trip rankings.
