What Makes Minnesota The Best State In The Country For A Road Trip?

When it comes to road trips, a drive through The Land of 10,000 Lakes can't be beat. Honestly, what's better than heading up Highway 10 on a beautiful summer day heading toward the cabin or campsite?

I didn't realize we could statistically quantify the quality of road trips based on state but, luckily, WalletHub did. In their study, they came to the same conclusion that I did in my first paragraph: a road trip through Minnesota can't be beat.

Did you forget that I had said that already?

The WalletHub study found Minnesota to be the safest state for a summer road trip, with the third fewest fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled and the ninth-lowest prevalence of speeding. In addition, Minnesota's bridges are the fourth-safest.

On top of the state's safety features, Minnesota has plenty to see, and do, on its roads. The WalletHub study found the state to have the third-most fairs and festivals per capita while also noting it spends the fourth-most per capita on parks and recreation.

Minnesota road trips were found to be cost-friendly as well, with the 12th lowest camping costs, 15th lowest 3-star hotel cost during the summer months and the 13th-lowest car repair costs.

“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," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "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.”

For what it's worth, Delaware was ranked as the 'worst' state for a road trip, with Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont and Montana also finishing at the bottom of the list.