topic Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips in Community Chat

2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

Pliqueajour — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 10:18:15 GMT

The 10 Best and Worst States For Road Trips

http://mentalfloss.com/article/82003/10-best-and-worst-states-road-trips

"A road trip can be a great adventure or an expensive pain in the neck, depending on which route you choose.

If you’re planning on touring America by car this summer but haven’t yet decided which corner of the country to explore, WalletHub has some useful information for you.

The website recently compared all 50 states to find the best and worst road trip locations, using 21 criteria to determine their rankings.

WalletHub developed a comprehensive list of criteria, ranging from factors like gas prices and road quality to nightlife attractions and National Park units.

The website weighted their 21 factors and divided them into three main categories: Driving & Lodging Costs, Road Conditions & Safety, and Fun & Scenic Attractions.

They gave each state a ranking for each category, and then derived overall rankings by taking the average of all three.

For example, Arizona was ranked third for Driving & Lodging Costs, but 17th for Fun & Scenic Attractions and 35th for Road Conditions & Safety, giving it an overall ranking of 12th best road trip state.

WalletHub’s full methodology and ranking system can be viewed here:

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-for-summer-road-trips/4648/

So, where should you plan your next road trip?

According to WalletHub, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah are the best places to hit the road, while Connecticut, Alaska, and Mississippi are the worst for a driving vacation.

Check out the interactive map (at http://mentalfloss.com/article/82003/10-best-and-worst-states-road-trips) and the list below to see the full rankings.

BEST
1. Oregon (ranking #1 out of 50 states)
2. Nevada
3. Utah
4. North Carolina
5. Minnesota
6. Washington
7. Idaho
8. Colorado
9. Louisiana
10. Vermont

WORST
1. Connecticut (ranking #50 out of 50 states)
2. Alaska
3. Mississippi
4. North Dakota
5. Michigan
6. Delaware
7. Arkansas
8. Kansas
9. Tennessee
10. Oklahoma"

GO HERE FOR DETAILS — https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-for-summer-road-trips/4648/

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

Pliqueajour — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 10:17:38 GMT

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

AngusandBuddhasMom — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:22:54 GMT

Their methods of ranking are ridiculous but I say good stay out of my state and off our roads!

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

wildcat fan — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:40:18 GMT

I'd put West Virginia on the worst list. When are they ever going to remove the toll booths along I-77? Not many food choices in some areas and some really slow moving vehicles in left lane as you ascend the mountains...

I disagree with their putting Tennessee on the worst list. I love traveling in that state. Variety of places to eat, beautiful scenery, ....roads are pretty good too. Construction has slowed traffic over the years, but at least they're making improvements.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

wildcat fan — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:43:27 GMT

I disagree with North Carolina on the best list. It may be scenic, but heavy traffic makes it 2-3 times longer to get to destination. My idea of a fun road trip is not sitting in traffic.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

silkyk — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:49:44 GMT

If doing Highway 1 in California isn't on the list it's not much of a list. A must do road trip!

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

Kachina624 — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:57:37 GMT

I've driven across Texas a few times and it's got to be #1 for lack of scenery and boring.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 14:57:17 GMT

I'll vouch for Minnesota, a lovely state with friendly people.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

tansy — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 15:39:32 GMT

I never get tired of that route, @silkyk.

Washington is a beautiful state with lots of variety.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

Sooner — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 15:48:41 GMT

Well, we make a LOT of road trips all over the U.S. I would disagree because parts of Mississippi are beautiful and the roads are not too bad; Arkansas has wonderful scenery, excellent prices and lots of places to stay in the western half; Oklahoma has some neat things but I knew we'd be last or nearly last; and Tennessee? It is a beautiful state with lots of things to see, places to go, and decent lodging. And the same for Connecticut!

Maybe because we don't camp would skew what I think, but wow, I disagree with a LOT of this list.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

software — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 15:53:48 GMT

@wildcat fan wrote:
I'd put West Virginia on the worst list. When are they ever going to remove the toll booths along I-77? Not many food choices in some areas and some really slow moving vehicles in left lane as you ascend the mountains...

I disagree with their putting Tennessee on the worst list. I love traveling in that state. Variety of places to eat, beautiful scenery, ....roads are pretty good too. Construction has slowed traffic over the years, but at least they're making improvements.

I agree with you on TN, one of my most favorite states to visit. I love it all but the eastern part of the state is beautiful. Lots of places to visit, awesome scenery, friendly people. I wouldn't live there but visit every chance I get.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

DiAnne — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 16:01:41 GMT

@silkyk

Many years ago my best friend and I ran away from home (lol) and drove from San Diego to Victoria BC. We made so many stops on the way it took us a over a week to get to Seattle. We had so much fun. It was a precursor for my move to the Seattle area a few years later. Highly recommend that drive and the Oregon Coast is beautiful also.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

AuberriJean — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 19:35:30 GMT

@silkyk wrote:
If doing Highway 1 in California isn't on the list it's not much of a list. A must do road trip!

@silkyk That's on our to-do list!

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

songbird — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 23:13:44 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I've driven across Texas a few times and it's got to be #1 for lack of scenery and boring.

I agree! Depressingly boring. The whole state is like that. There's a movement by the way to make Texas a separate country....again. I say they're welcome to it.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

RedTop — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 23:56:44 GMT

@software,

Having lived in WV my entire life, my expectations are that the tolls will never be removed. The amount of traffic on I-77 and I-64 is staggering, and the revenue from the tolls is a huge benefit for the state. This state has lost our coal mines and hundreds of thousands of jobs related to that industry. Tourism, local businesses, and healthcare are pretty much all that's left to support the families who live here.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

ZoetheCat — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 01:12:14 GMT

@DiAnne wrote:
@silkyk

Many years ago my best friend and I ran away from home (lol) and drove from San Diego to Victoria BC. We made so many stops on the way it took us a over a week to get to Seattle. We had so much fun. It was a precursor for my move to the Seattle area a few years later. Highly recommend that drive and the Oregon Coast is beautiful also.

Have to agree that the Oregon Coast is absolutely beautiful. And I say that as someone who lives in New England, just a few miles from the ocean. I particularly loved Astoria, Oregon. So pretty!

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

chrystaltree — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 01:15:44 GMT

Looks like a few people sat around a conference table and just made it all up...lol

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

Puzzle Piece — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 01:18:28 GMT

Really??? I think my common sense and what I desire to pay along the way are my guide. Not some dullards idea of being a cheapskate.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

KALLIE — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 02:50:01 GMT

@songbird wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
I've driven across Texas a few times and it's got to be #1 for lack of scenery and boring.
I agree! Depressingly boring. The whole state is like that. There's a movement by the way to make Texas a separate country....again. I say they're welcome to it.

Can't imagine living in TEXAS*.

Re: 2016 10 BEST and WORST States For Road Trips

RazorSharp — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 02:57:41 GMT

I agree with most places on the "worst" list. As far as the "best" list goes, I was always under the impression that a road trip actually leads somewhere and has good places to stop along the way, not just pretty scenery (even then, the "best" list is dismal). I would rank California up high as best as well as the New England states in the fall for a road trip.