Minnesota Ranked Best State in the Nation for Road Trips

(KNSI) — Minnesota has been ranked the best state in the country for a summer road trip, according to a new study from the personal finance website WalletHub.

The ranking is based on 32 key metrics across three categories: costs, safety, and activities. Nearly 75% of us plan to take some kind of road trip this summer, with about a third planning to travel more than 250 miles from home.

WalletHub says Minnesota stands out for its investment in the outdoors, ranking fourth in the nation for state and local spending per capita on parks and recreation. Minnesota has more than 70 state parks and recreation areas, along with more than 10,000 lakes, giving outdoor enthusiasts more than enough options to choose from when it comes to playing outside.

The state also ranks third in the country for the number of fairs and festivals per capita during the summer months. The category that includes marquee events like the Minnesota State Fair. Just this week, St. Cloud is celebrating Granite City Days, while Sauk Rapids is hosting Rapids River Days.

Safety is another strong suit. Minnesota has the third-fewest vehicle fatalities per million miles traveled, the fourth-best bridge quality in the nation, and the ninth-lowest rate of speeding.

On the affordability side, the state ranks 12th-lowest for camping costs, and gas prices run below the national average. As of today, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.93, while the statewide average sits at $3.72. The state has the 11th-lowest 3-star hotel costs during mid-July. Car repair costs also rank as the 13th-lowest in the nation.

Central Minnesota offers plenty of road trip appeal of its own, from the lakes and trails of the St. Cloud area to the scenic drive north to Duluth along Lake Superior’s North Shore, which is consistently ranked among the most scenic routes in the Midwest.

___