By admin 
Considering a road trip this summer? A new national study ranks California poorly for the annual tradition.
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The study, released Monday, June 22 by WalletHub, ranks the Golden State 47th out of 50 states for summer road trips in 2026.
In other words, California came in as the fourth-worst state in which to take a summer road trip this year, at least according to this report.
The analysis ranked all 50 states on affordability for gas, camping and hotels. Other criteria included vehicle thefts per capita and fatal automobile accidents.
It also looked at the number of attractions in each state.
“Travel costs are absolutely brutal right now, with everything from gas to hotels eating through your savings before you even pack a bag,” said Andrew Burnstine, an associate professor at Lynn University in Florida. “If you want to make your money stretch, you have to ditch the luxury mindset and channel your inner 19-year-old on a broke, wild mission.”
But Burnstine said he also expects summer road trips to be more popular this summer because of high airfares and chaotic flight schedules.
“Even with gas prices fluctuating, driving gives you total control over your budget that airlines never will,” Burnstine said.
Here’s what to know about summer road trips:
Why does California rank poorly for summer road trips?
The state came it at 50th for average gas prices, 46th for car thefts and 48th for lowest price of camping, WalletHub said. California ranked 23rd for lowest hotel prices and 28th for fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
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Which states ranked highly for summer road trips?
Minnesota topped the WalletHub list of best states for summer road trips.
“Minnesota is the best state for summer road trips, and it’s great for people who want to be outdoors because it has the fourth-highest spending per capita on parks and recreation,” analyst Chip Lupo said. “In addition, Minnesota has the fourth-most fairs and festivals per capita during the summer, so there’s always something unique to check out.”
Rounding out the top 10 are Utah, Louisiana, New York, Florida, Texas, Maine, Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio.
Which other states ranked poorly for summer road trips?
New Hampshire, Montana, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island joined California in the bottom 10, with Rhode Island coming in last.
How can you save money on summer road trips?
“Generally speaking, I recommend that travelers plan ahead and search for local deals before starting a trip,” advised Wooyang Kim, a professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
“It is also helpful to bring snacks and drinks purchased from grocery stores, as well as to refuel at lower-cost stations along the route,” Kim said. “Even these small savings can make a visible difference by the end of a trip.”
Burnstine suggested bypassing highway tourist traps and downloading tracking apps to hunt down cheap fuel.
“Turn your backseat into a rolling pantry by raiding grocery stores for snacks and sandwich supplies, cutting out the wallet-drain of overpriced roadside diners,” he said. “For sleeping and exploring, skip the commercial theme parks and pricey resorts in favor of free public land, state parks, and campsites.”
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