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Best and worst states for road trips according to WalletHub

If you're ready for vacation and haven't yet decided where to go, personal finance site WalletHub has ranked the top states for road trips.
/ Source: TODAY

If you’re ready for a long and winding road trip this summer and haven’t decided “Where to?” yet, a new report from WalletHub may help you avoid any wrong turns. The personal finance website rated all 50 U.S. states in three main categories: driving and lodging costs, road conditions and safety, plus fun and scenic attractions.

And there are no subjective opinions or guessing here: The site weighed 21 “relevant metrics” and aggregated data from 14 additional sources including the National Park Service, FBI and TripAdvisor. Oregon nabbed first place with a score of 60.50 out of a lofty 100. Hawaii ranked 25th on the list — smack in the middle — at 47.21, while No. 50 on the roster, Connecticut, scored 35.89.

Columbia River Gorge in the Pacific Northwest
Oregon's Historic Columbia River Highway has majestic views of the Columbia River Gorge in the Pacific Northwest.Shutterstock

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At the Oregon Tourism Commission, also known as Travel Oregon, global communications director Linea Gagliano said she absolutely agrees with WalletHub’s assessment. “Oregon has so much to offer, from beautiful beaches to majestic mountain ranges, from lush valleys to sunlit high deserts,” she told TODAY via email. “Oregon is teeming with sights, bites and adventures that make for an epic summer excursion."

But Randy Fiveash, director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism, said he “respectfully” disagreed with the findings. “It favors states in which the majority of attractions are in just a few highly populated cities,” he wrote to TODAY in an email. “According to their raw data, Connecticut has only 38 attractions. The state’s small, but not THAT small. And it's densely packed with attractions that aren’t in major cities. Besides, aren’t road trips about getting OUT of a city?”

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Utah ranked third on the list. Here, a view of Capitol Reef National Park in the south-central region of the state.Shutterstock

Top 10 Best States for Road Trips

1. Oregon

2. Nevada

3. Utah

4. North Carolina

5. Minnesota

6. Washington

7. Idaho

8. Colorado

9. Louisiana

10. Vermont

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Bottom 10 States for Road Trips

40. South Dakota

41. Oklahoma

42. Tennessee

43. Kansas

44. Arkansas

45. Delaware

46. Michigan

47. North Dakota

48. Mississippi

49. Alaska

50. Connecticut

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Beyond the overall rankings, expect to pay the least for gas in South Carolina and the most in California, according to WalletHub’s breakout analysis. Pitching your tent for camping is least expensive in Nevada and priciest again in the Golden State. You’ll find the most scenic byways in California and the fewest in Delaware. The Aloha State of Hawaii does have the most national park units per square mile, while Wisconsin has the fewest. Finally, your car is least likely to be stolen in Vermont but you’ll want a LoJack in Washington.

Big Sur, California, Bixby Creek Bridge
California had the most scenic byways in the study, but also the highest fuel costs.Shutterstock

But no matter where you go, expect more company on the road. AAA predicted in April that more than one-third of Americans would take a family vacation of 50 miles or more in the next 12 months.

“Thanks to the lowest summertime gas prices in more than a decade, the great American road trip is back,” Julie Hall, AAA National Office public relations manager, told TODAY via email. “To make the most of it, AAA recommends travelers map out their routes ahead of time, make advance reservations for accommodations and activities, and ensure that their cars are road-trip ready before setting out on a drive.”