With the school year winding down, many families are getting ready to hit the road.
Seventy-two percent of Americans plan to take at least one trip between June and September, according to Generali Global Assistance’s 2026 Holiday Barometer.
While gas prices remain higher than before the Iran war, many Americans are still expected to take part in the time-honored tradition of a family road trip. But which destinations should travelers choose — and which should they avoid?
The top three worst states for roadtrippers to visit this summer all sit along the East Coast, according to a list curated by WalletHub.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island is the worst state to travel to, according to their list. The Ocean State ranked 48th for affordability and fun activities. It also ranked lower than other states on road safety at 19th place.
WalletHub compared all 50 states across 32 key metrics to determine the best vacation destinations based on cost, safety and available activities.
Delaware
Delaware was ranked 49th overall. It’s not as expensive as Rhode Island, placing 33rd for affordability, but it ranked last in the nation for activities. The First State also ranked very low in terms of safety, coming in 40th.
When ranking states based on activities, WalletHub looked at national parkland, festivals, nightlife and more.
Connecticut
Connecticut is the third-worst state to visit this summer, according to the analysis. The state placed 46th for affordability and 43rd for activities. The Constitution State, however, fared better than Delaware in terms of safety.
Analysts looked at average gas prices, the cost of car repairs, along with the prices of three-star hotels and camping facilities when comparing states’ affordability.
The top three best states to visit are scattered throughout the country, making it easier for travelers to find a great place to spend a day, or more. They are as follows:
Minnesota
Minnesota was ranked number one overall on WalletHub’s list, placing 16th for affordability, third for safety and 20th for activities.
If you love the great outdoors, Minnesota is the place for you. It has the fourth-highest spending per capita on parks and recreation and the 12th-lowest camping costs.
Minnesota roads are also very safe, with the second-fewest vehicle fatalities per million miles traveled.
Utah
If you’re looking for a destination on the West Coast, Utah ranked second-best among the 50 states in the list.
Utah is pricer than Minnesota, ranking 34th in affordability. But it surpassed the Midwest state in terms of activities, ranking 8th.
There are tons to do in Utah, with the state ranking third for access to scenic byways. It also has the seventh-largest number of amusement and theme parks per capita.
Roads in Utah are also relatively safe, earning a sixth-place ranking.
Louisiana
Roadtrippers will have to go down South to experience the third-best state on the list — Louisiana.
Louisiana is the cheapest state to visit, and it ranks 10th for activities. It has the second-highest number of nightlife activities and ranks eighth for access to scenic byways.
The state does, however, have a low ranking when it comes to road safety, placing 42nd out of 50.
