From Wyoming to Rhode Island, Here Are The Worst (And The Best) States For Summer Road Trips, 2018

If you are planning a summer road trip? One ranking seems to be discouraging travelers from visiting Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Delaware. The Ocean State, Rhode Island finishes dead in a new report by Wallethub.

How and why did Rhode Island do so poorly on the ranking?

Rhode Island scored 48th for cost (associated with road trips), 6th for safety, and 49th for activities available for visitors. The other U.S. states that were in the bottom 10 were Alabama, Kansas, Alaska, Kentucky, Indiana, New Mexico, Hawaii, Delaware, and Connecticut.

To find the most fun, scenic, and wallet-friendly road-trip destinations, analysts compared all 50 states based on 31 metrics across 3 dimensions — cost, safety, and activities offered. Minnesota, Texas, and Florida rounds out the top five.

As for the best U.S. state to road trip to this summer, that distinction went to Wyoming. North Carolina is ranked second overall and received high marks for its scenic byways.

Here are the worst (and best) states for summer road trips:

1. Wyoming
Costs score: 1
Safety score: 19
Activities score: 22

2. North Carolina
Costs score: 11
Safety score: 28
Activities score: 7

3. Minnesota
Costs score: 31
Safety score: 1
Activities score: 19

4. Texas
Costs score: 15
Safety score: 34
Activities score: 6

5. Florida
Costs score: 20
Safety score: 48
Activities score: 2

6. Louisiana
Costs score: 10
Safety score: 37
Activities score: 10

7. Washington
Costs score: 43
Safety score: 18
Activities score: 4

8. New York
Costs score: 49
Safety score: 4
Activities score: 3

9. Utah
Costs score: 34
Safety score: 8
Activities score: 14

10. Colorado
Costs score: 17
Safety score: 27
Activities score: 18

11. Oregon
Costs score: 40
Safety score: 12
Activities score: 8

12. California
Costs score: 47
Safety score: 41
Activities score: 1

13. Illinois
Costs score: 33
Safety score: 11
Activities score: 21

14. Virginia
Costs score: 35
Safety score: 15
Activities score: 16

15. South Dakota
Costs score: 6
Safety score: 22
Activities score: 33

16. Maine
Costs score: 32
Safety score: 2
Activities score: 32

17. Nebraska
Costs score: 9
Safety score: 10
Activities score: 39

18. Georgia
Costs score: 7
Safety score: 36
Activities score: 27

19. Michigan
Costs score: 21
Safety score: 24
Activities score: 26

20. Nevada
Costs score: 30
Safety score: 29
Activities score: 12

21. Arizona
Costs score: 14
Safety score: 45
Activities score: 13

22. Wisconsin
Costs score: 26
Safety score: 9
Activities score: 31

23. Ohio
Costs score: 38
Safety score: 25
Activities score: 15

24. New Hampshire
Costs score: 22
Safety score: 5
Activities score: 37

25. Massachusetts
Costs score: 41
Safety score: 13
Activities score: 20

26. Pennsylvania
Costs score: 44
Safety score: 17
Activities score: 9

27. Idaho
Costs score: 39
Safety score: 16
Activities score: 25

28. Tennessee
Costs score: 18
Safety score: 35
Activities score: 30

29. South Carolina
Costs score: 5
Safety score: 50
Activities score: 24

30. New Jersey
Costs score: 37
Safety score: 23
Activities score: 28

31. North Dakota
Costs score: 16
Safety score: 7
Activities score: 45

32. Vermont
Costs score: 28
Safety score: 3
Activities score: 50

33. Maryland
Costs score: 42
Safety score: 31
Activities score: 11

34. Missouri
Costs score: 12
Safety score: 46
Activities score: 29

35. Iowa
Costs score: 27
Safety score: 14
Activities score: 38

36. West Virginia
Costs score: 8
Safety score: 30
Activities score: 47

7. Oklahoma
Costs score: 13
Safety score: 42
Activities score: 36

38. Mississippi
Costs score: 2
Safety score: 38
Activities score: 44

39. Montana
Costs score: 19
Safety score: 40
Activities score: 34

40. Arkansas
Costs score: 3
Safety score: 44
Activities score: 41

41. Alabama
Costs score: 4
Safety score: 43
Activities score: 40

42. Kansas
Costs score: 25
Safety score: 20
Activities score: 46

43. Alaska
Costs score: 45
Safety score: 47
Activities score: 5

44. Kentucky
Costs score: 24
Safety score: 32
Activities score: 35

45. Indiana
Costs score: 29
Safety score: 21
Activities score: 43

46. New Mexico
Costs score: 23
Safety score: 49
Activities score: 23

47. Hawaii
Costs score: 50
Safety score: 33
Activities score: 17

48. Delaware
Costs score: 36
Safety score: 39
Activities score: 48

49. Connecticut
Costs score: 46
Safety score: 26
Activities score: 42

50. Rhode Island
Costs score: 48
Safety score: 6
Activities score: 49