Summer is travel season, and Texans looking for a getaway may not have to travel far.
The Lone Star State topped a ranking of the “best and worst states for summer road trips,” according to a recent analysis by personal finance company WalletHub. Texas just barely edged out Minnesota with a score of 58.59 out of 100, with New York, Louisiana and Florida rounding out the top five.
Texas’s high ranking is due in large part to its affordable prices and abundance of activities, ranging from bucket-list outdoor destinations to theme parks and vibrant nightlife.
“Summer road trips can be a really exciting way to experience new places, but with gasoline, food and lodging prices heavily impacted by inflation, people will want to stay in states that make this type of vacation affordable,” WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said in a press release.
“Safe roads are important, but so are plenty of roadside attractions worth stopping at. So the best states for a summer road trip are those that offer the best driving experiences and the most fun activities while keeping costs down.”
WalletHub’s analysis considered 32 factors across three categories for each state, which were weighted, averaged and ranked. Despite being the 39th safest state, Texas was the 11th cheapest and had the fifth highest activity score, behind only California, Florida, New York and Alaska.
Texas’ landscape diversity received strong recognition and praise: The state was recognized for its 9,500 miles of scenic roads, including those in the Hill Country and West Texas mountains (three times more important than most other tourist attractions), and Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park also received slight boosts.
The number of attractions around the state’s metropolitan areas also helps: Austin’s bustling honky-tonks, D-FW’s entertainment venues and theme parks, San Antonio’s wealth of historical sites, and Houston’s diverse culinary scene all earn high marks for their variety of activities.
“Texas is a great state for a summer road trip, leading the nation in terms of the number of attractions it has, including zoos, botanical gardens and amusement parks,” WalletHub said. “There are plenty of places to stop for a day, or even just a few hours, on your road trip.”
Texas remains fairly affordable, despite the long distances travelers travel. Gasoline averages just over $3 a gallon, nearly 50 cents lower than the national average. The analysis also found that the state had the cheapest average price for a three-star hotel within 10 miles of a city center in mid-July, and the most lodging and restaurants per capita in the nation.
Earlier this year, WalletHub ranked Texas the 8th best state for driving, citing stable weather conditions and low gas and maintenance costs. This marks the second year in a row that Texas has topped the company’s road trip rankings.
