Montana Is the 42nd-Best State for Summer Road Trips

Nearly 72% of American adults are planning some kind of road trip this year, with more than one-third expected to take more than one trip. However, choosing the right destination and staying within budget can be challenging. The national average for gas prices is still above $4.00 per gallon, and that's far from the only cost travelers have to consider.

“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,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Safe roads are also key, and so is having plenty of worthwhile attractions to stop at along the way. The best states for summer road trips keep costs low while providing the best driving experience and most fun activities.”

In-Depth Look at Montana

Montana displays some strengths for summer road trippers, including having the fewest speeding incidents and the overall best-behaved drivers in the country. It also has the third-lowest population density, offering wide-open roads with minimal congestion.

However, Montana has room for improvement in other areas. For example, the state has the third-most lenient driving laws and the 11th-most traffic fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, suggesting that fewer safety regulations may be contributing to more dangerous roads.

How Montana Ranks in Key Categories

• 30th for costs
• 33rd for safety
• 33rd for activities

This puts Montana in 42nd place out of the 50 states in WalletHub's study.

Best Summer Road-Trip Destinations

The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.