If you're looking to hit the road with the family this summer, you might not have to go too far as New York was named the second-best state for summer road trips by WalletHub.
Almost 75% of American adults are planning to take a road trip this summer, according to WalletHub, so the personal finance company compared 50 U.S. states across over 30 metrics, ranging from the number of attractions a state has to road conditions.
"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," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. "The best states for summer road trips therefore are those that keep costs low while providing the best driving experience and most fun activities."
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R14e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R24e4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeHere's what to know about New York's ranking.
Why is New York one of the best states for summer road trips?
The Empire State is "at the top of the country" for accommodations and restaurants per capita as it was ranked No. 3 for its activities and received an overall score of 59.66. New York also has the second-most National Historic Landmarks per capita, according to WalletHub.
The state was also recognized as having safe drivers as New York has the 15th-lowest share of uninsured motorists, third-most protective driving laws and fourth-lowest prevalence of using a phone while driving.
WalletHub's top 10 U.S. states for summer road trips
Wanting to travel outside of New York this summer? Here are several other states that might be ideal for a road trip, according to WalletHub:
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1be4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2be4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeMinnesota
New York
Ohio
Utah
Louisiana
Florida
Idaho
Texas
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
See the list: 7 natural swimming spots in NY worth the summer road trip
How did WalletHub assess states' summer road trip-worthiness?
WalletHub compared 50 states across three key categories — costs, safety and activities — and 32 key metrics. Thecostscategory took a look at these aspects:
Average gas prices
Average cost of car repairs
Lowest price of a three-star hotel room
Lowest price of camping
Vacation rentals per capita
Cost of living index
Thesafetycategory analyzed these components:
Vehicle miles traveled per capita
Population density
Share of urban interstates congested during peak hours
Increase in vehicle travel on roads
Driving laws score
Traffic indiscipline
Quality of roads
Quality of bridges
Traffic-related fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled
Share of uninsured drivers
Car thefts per 1,000 residents
Rate of larceny
Violent crimes per 1,000 residents
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1je4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2je4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeHundreds of NY bridges are in disrepair: Here’s why fixing them is so hard
And the activitiescategory took into account these factors:
Share of total area designated as national park land
National parks recreation visitors per capita
Zoos and botanical gardens per capita
Amusement and theme parks per capita
Fairs and festivals per capita over summertime
Number of attractions
Nightlife options per capita
Access to scenic byways
Historical sites per capita
Miles of shoreline
Idealness of summer weather
Accommodation and food service establishments per capita
State and local direct general expenditures on parks and recreation per capita
Data used to create the ranking was collected as of May 26, 2025 and the information was sourced from multiple entities, such as the American Automobile Association, National Park Service, TripAdvisor and WalletHub research.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1pe4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2pe4kr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeEmily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and [email protected] in touch [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY named among top states for summer road trips: Here's why
