These 5 Vacation Destinations Will Optimize Your Road Trip Experience — Here’s Why
Written by
Peter Burns
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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If you’ve got the time, there’s nothing like packing up your car and hitting the road for a new adventure. Road trips are vacations that give you the flexibility to go anywhere you want, stop at quirky roadside attractions and take in astonishing views from around the country — usually on a smaller budget than when you fly.
However, not every state is the same when it comes to road trips. Here are five states that make it easy to roll on through.
Texas
Texas, the second-largest state in the U.S., is a prime location for road trips. With forests, deserts, coastlines and grassy plains, there is no shortage of stunning views and landscapes to take in throughout your journey. This state has almost 314,000 miles of roads and highways, which means you can drive more here than in any other state. It also has 76 safety rest areas that are open 24/7, most of which have attendants available at all hours. Texas is also known as an affordable state with it’s cost of living being 7% lower than the national average.
California
While smaller than Texas, California is still enormous and boasts a variety of terrains to drive through. There’s no shortage of attractions to visit, from Yosemite National Park to Disneyland to the start of Route 66. California is especially good for electric vehicle (EV) owners. It’s got 14,040 public charging stations, which is the most in the U.S. and 25.5% of the nation’s total stations. With this large network, EV drivers won’t ever be too far away from a charging station, even in remote areas.
Mississippi
If you don’t drive an EV, you’ll likely want to know the best gas prices to save money on your trip. As of April 2025, Mississippi has the lowest average gas price of all 50 states. You’ll pay around $2.71 a gallon throughout your road trip, well under the national average of $3.17 per gallon (as of April 15). This means you can enjoy a trip through the Gulf Coast with less stress and have more cash to enjoy the food and culture of the Deep South.
Florida
Having the Sunshine State on a list of road trip destinations shouldn’t come as a surprise. Florida is almost synonymous with the word “vacation” and enjoys some of the best year-round weather in the U.S. You can drive down U.S. Route 1 over the impressive infrastructure of the Overseas Highway, a 113-mile stretch that connects the Florida Keys until you reach Mile Marker 0 in Key West. Here, you’ll be a few blocks from the Southernmost Point Buoy, which is as far south as you can go in the U.S. The cost of living is 2% lower than the national average so you should find some decent prices along your trip.
Ohio
Looking for a nice and easy ride through the Midwest? Ohio has some great advantages for road-trippers. It offers a different take on the U.S. with Lake Erie, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This largely flat state offers a peaceful ride with major interstates, I-70, I-75, I-90 and I-71, that make it easy to get through the state. While the Ohio Turnpike is a toll road, many other roads and interstates are free to use in Ohio. And since the cost of living is 7% lower than the national average, you should be able to stay on budget.
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