The United States is often considered among the best countries to go road tripping, each state offering its own unique experience. With beauties dotting the country, such as Glacier, Yosemite, Zion and Great Smoky Mountains national parks, the 50 states each offer something different to attract visitors.
And according to a new WalletHub study, Utah is the second-best state in the nation in which to pack up the car and drive.
“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,” according to 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.”
Why Utah is ranked so high
Coming in as the top road-tripping state is Minnesota, due to its relatively cheap cost and its high spending on parks and recreation. But Utah comes in second for its “breathtaking scenery, outdoor recreation and safe driving conditions,” according to WalletHub.
While Utah ranks 34th in the country in terms of costs, the state makes up for it in road safety. Utah ranks in the top 10 for least amount of car thefts per capita and is fourth in fewest fatalities per 100 million miles driven.
Cumulatively, Utah is the sixth safest state to road-trip in.
Also boosting its rating is its amusement parks, where Utah ranks seventh.
The top five states for road trips include:
- Minnesota
- Utah
- Louisiana
- New York
- Florida
The bottom five round out to:
- Maryland
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Rhode Island
The ‘Mighty Five’ and Utahraptor State Park
If you come for activities like amusement parks and zoos, Utah has you covered with Lagoon and Utah’s Hogle Zoo, accompanied by a plethora of water parks. However, Utah is perhaps best known for its stunning natural formations.
Boasting the second most national parks in the mainland U.S., only behind California’s nine, Utah’s five national parks make for a no-brainer trek. Starting at Canyonlands National Park, you can hit Arches National Park and Utah’s newest park, Utahraptor State Park, in a matter of 35 miles, give or take.
From Utahraptor State Park, another two hours will take you to Capitol Reef National Park, two more hours brings you to Bryce Canyon National Park and another two will land you in the second most visited national park in the country, Zion National Park.
In roughly seven hours of driving, travelers can cross five national parks off their bucket list while witnessing the scenic stretch from eastern Utah to the southwest part.
Utah also has the second-highest spending per capita on parks and recreation, and there are plenty of state parks to check out while in the desert state.
Utahraptor State Park
If you are a dinosaur enthusiast, Utahraptor State Park is a great place to stop. Officially opened to the public in May 2025, the park features one of the largest bone beds with over 5,500 fossils discovered representing more than 10 different species at Dalton Wells Dinosaur Quarry.
Among the species is the Utahraptor, which spans 20 feet long and stands 5 feet tall, estimated to weigh 1,000 pounds.
The park also features various sites where you can see ancient tracks embedded in the sandstone, made by theropods, sauropods, ornithopods and even prehistoric crocodiles.
You can discover more at the park website.
Road trip tips
As the U.S. experiences brutal prices at the pump, which are also affecting the prices of other various services like food, it is even more important to plan ahead.
“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,” Lynn University associate professor Andrew Burnstine told WalletHub.
Here are some tips experts gave:
- Plan ahead
- Look for local deals
- Bring snacks from grocery stores
- Download apps to track down cheap fuel
- Bypass highway tourist traps
- Use campsites instead of hotels
- Check into hotels on outskirts if a bed is a must
- Keep tires inflated
- Keep trunk light
These are simple tips for making your trip financially less burdensome, but “even these small savings can make a visible difference by the end of a trip,” said Minnesota State University Moorhead professor Wooyang Kim, per WalletHub.