Two years after Texas accelerated to the No. 1 spot as the highest state for summer time highway journeys, it is now dropping some steam.
The Lone Star State has ranked eighth on WalletHub’s 2025 checklist of “Finest & Worst States for Summer season Street Journeys,” with Minnesota climbing via the ranks to say the No. 1 spot this yr.
The autumn in rankings is probably going not welcome information to Metropolis of San Antonio officers. Town depends on the lodge occupancy tax to fund arts and tradition, historic preservation efforts, and advocacy group Go to SA. In keeping with lodge information agency Supply Methods, San Antonio tourism has not fully rebounded from pre-pandemic ranges.
Annually, the report compares all 50 states to determine that are probably the most wallet-friendly, secure locations to journey with loads of enjoyable actions for all. The report analyzes elements that highway trippers prioritize for his or her journey plans, akin to the common fuel costs in every state, the kind of sights in every state, and extra.
Regardless of Texas’ total drop within the nationwide rating, the state nonetheless carried out notably properly within the class of “sights,” rating No. 4 nationwide. WalletHub has beforehand praised Texas’ family-friendly actions akin to zoos and amusement parks, whereas the seashore stays a well-liked selection for vacationers that want a coastal getaway.
Texans love the seashore. Photograph courtesy of Sunflower Seashore
There’s additionally loads of issues to do close to San Antonio on a fast day journey, akin to visiting fashionable Hill Nation hotspots like Gruene, Seguin, Castroville, and extra. And, after all, San Antonio has its personal sights like SeaWorld, Fiesta Texas, the Alamo, and the River Stroll.
Texas additionally earned a excessive rank – No. 10 – for its numerous trip prices, with the report particularly calling out excessive fuel costs and inflation charges as main issues for vacationers this summer time.
“[Gas prices have] remained excessive this yr, with the nationwide common at over $3.130 per gallon now,” the report’s writer wrote. “On high of that, [travelers will] want to contemplate lodging, actions and eating, all of which proceed to be impacted by inflation.”
Texas did not do practically as properly in relation to security, rating thirty ninth for the second yr in a row (although the report did not clarify why). Components included the highway high quality in every state, the variety of automobile thefts per 1,000 residents, the variety of uninsured drivers, and the speed of violent crimes per 1,000 residents.
Regardless of Texas’ comparatively low security rating, WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo says states like Texas have been dubbed the most effective locations for highway journeys as a result of they “preserve prices low whereas offering the most effective driving expertise and most enjoyable actions.”
The highest 10 greatest states for summer time highway journeys in 2025 are:
No. 1 – MinnesotaNo. 2 – New YorkNo. 3 – OhioNo. 4 – UtahNo. 5 – LouisianaNo. 6 – FloridaNo. 7 – IdahoNo. 8 – TexasNo. 9 – North CarolinaNo. 10 – Pennsylvania
