Road Trips Study Does California No Favors

With nearly 72% of U.S. adults planning to take some kind of road trip this summer, the personal-finance company WalletHub has released its report on 2026’s Best & Worst States for Summer Road Trips,

To help travelers plan an enjoyable and budget-friendly getaway, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 32 key metrics. The analysis considered factors ranging from the number of attractions and road quality to travel-related costs.

WalletHub’s road trip report found that California ranks 47th nationally for summer driving, and you can find out why below.

Road Tripping in California (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

  • 23rd – Lowest Price of Three-Star Hotel Room
  • 50th – Avg. Gas Prices
  • 46th – Car Thefts per Capita
  • 48th – Lowest Price of Camping
  • 28th – Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled

“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,” according to Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “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.”

Minnesota is the best state for summer road trips, and it’s great for people who want to be outdoors because it has the fourth-highest spending per capita on parks and recreation. In addition, Lupo writes in the report, “Minnesota has the fourth-most fairs and festivals per capita during the summer, so there’s always something unique to check out. Driving in Minnesota is very safe, too. The state has the second-fewest vehicle fatalities per million miles traveled, along with the fourth-best bridge quality in the country and the ninth-lowest prevalence of speeding.”

To view the full report, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-for-summer-road-trips/4648

 

 

 

Image Sources

  • Day trip in California: Shutterstock