CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A new study has identified the best destinations for a budget-friendly road trip and North Carolina is near the top.
Read the full report HERE from Dunhill Travel Deals.
Summer is peak road trip season in the United States, offering travelers a chance to explore new landscapes, visit national parks, and enjoy local culture — all at their own pace. But with inflation still lingering and consumer sentiment low, many Americans are looking for ways to stretch their vacation budgets without sacrificing experience.
To help travelers get the most out of their vacation dollars, researchers at Dunhill Travel Deals — a leading source for travel deal discovery—analyzed the lower 48 states to find the best destinations for a budget-friendly road trip in 2025. The ranking combines travel affordability metrics—like gas prices, hotel rates, and the cost of everyday expenses—with access to recreation and culture, including National Park Service (NPS) visits, the number of NPS sites, arts and entertainment business density, and road quality.
The result is a data-driven guide to states that not only offer great value but also provide a rich road trip experience. First, we break down where the road is cheapest and where it’s most rewarding—before we identify the top states that deliver the best of both.
Where the Road Is Cheapest: Road Trip Costs by State
Sources: U.S. Government Accountability Office, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and AAA
When it comes to keeping costs low on a road trip, states in the South and Midwest clearly lead the way. Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma rank as the most affordable states overall, offering travelers significant savings on hotel stays, gas, and day-to-day expenses. Arkansas boasts the lowest average hotel rate in the country at just $114 per night, paired with everyday living costs sitting at 13.5% below the national average. Mississippi combines the lowest gas prices at $2.64 per gallon with similarly low everyday costs, while Oklahoma offers both the second-cheapest lodging and fourth-lowest everyday expenses.
Beyond these top performers, states like Louisiana, Iowa, Alabama, and Kansas also report below-average prices across all three categories—making the central and southern U.S. particularly appealing for budget-conscious travelers. On the other end of the spectrum, several coastal and western states come with steeper price tags. California, for example, has the highest gas prices in the nation at $4.92 per gallon, hotel rates nearing $200 per night, and a cost of living more than 12% above average. New York and Washington follow suit, underscoring a clear regional divide: the farther west or northeast you go, the more you’re likely to spend.
Of course, cost is only one piece of the puzzle. While saving money matters, so does what you get in return.
Where the Road Is Richest: Recreational Attractions & Popularity
Sources: U.S. Government Accountability Office, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and AAA
While affordability is key, a great road trip is also about what you find along the way. Some states offer an especially rich travel experience through their natural beauty, cultural landmarks, and recreational diversity—even if they tend to cost more. California draws more than 39 million visitors annually to its national parks alone. The next-closest states, Virginia (21 million visitors) and North Carolina (19 million), attract about half as many people. Out West, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado are also standouts, offering dramatic landscapes and adventure destinations that continue to bring in summer travelers in large numbers.
But it’s not just the parks. These popular states also feature a high density of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses, making it easy for travelers to find museums, music venues, cultural festivals, and other attractions. That concentration helps explain why these states remain perennial favorites, even when many have higher lodging, fuel, and everyday prices.
Still, travelers don’t necessarily need to choose between value and experience. In fact, some of the best road trip states offer a compelling mix of affordability and attractions—but are often overlooked when planning. The next section highlights the top 15 states that strike the best balance, making them ideal for an enjoyable yet budget-conscious summer trip.
Here is a summary of the data for North Carolina:
Composite score: 88.87
Average hotel nightly rate: $130
Average gas price: $2.89
Cost of everyday expenses (compared to average): -5.9%
Annual National Park Service visits: 18,796,184
Total National Park Service sites: 9
Arts, entertainment & recreation density: 4.2
Share of roads in good condition: 49.2%
Methodology
To determine the best states for an affordable road trip, researchers at Dunhill Travel Deals developed a composite index based on several economic and travel-related indicators. The analysis focused on the lower 48 U.S. states.
Each state was evaluated based on seven key metrics, weighted to reflect their importance:
- Average Nightly Hotel Rate (20%): This figure represents a population-weighted average of per diem lodging rates across top travel destinations within each state. Data was sourced from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. States with lower room rates scored higher, and states with insufficient data were assigned the national average rate when calculating the composite index.
- Average Gas Price (20%): Measured as the average price of regular gasoline in May 2025, according to AAA. States with lower fuel prices scored higher.
- Cost of Everyday Expenses (20%): Derived from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data, this metric compares states’ relative costs of consumer goods and services. Less expensive states scored higher.
- Annual National Park Service Visits (15%): Total visits to National Park Service (NPS) sites in 2024 served as a proxy for the popularity and appeal of each state’s natural attractions. Higher visitation numbers increased a state’s score.
- Total National Park Service Sites (10%): The number of NPS-managed locations in each state—including national parks, monuments, and historic sites, among others—reflects the availability of recreation areas and cultural landmarks. This figure only includes sites with reported visits in 2024. States with more sites received higher scores.
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Density (10%): This statistic, derived from U.S. Census Bureau data, measures the number of related businesses per 10,000 residents. Higher densities suggest a greater availability of activities and attractions for visitors, and thus, higher scores.
- Share of Roads in Good Condition (5%): Drawn from Construction Coverage, this statistic measures the quality of road infrastructure. States with a higher share of roads in good condition received a boost in their overall score.
