Texas Named 4th Best State For Road Trips In Study

The summer season officially starts on June 21, which means road trip season is in full swing. And if gas prices haven't discouraged you, you're hopefully planning a trip while the skies are blue and the weather is hot.

If you are, you're not alone. In fact, according to a recent WalletHub story, Texas is a hotbed for road-trippers. And it's easy to understand why. Texas is known for its sprawling landscape, open sky, numerous attractions and big cities.

According to 2016 data from TxDOT, the most recent numbers available, some 84,000 miles of roads are up for grabs this summer.

If you're hitting the road, here's what you should know.

Due to a rise in oil costs, gas prices are 31 percent higher on average than they were a year ago. Luckily, Texas was named the number nine-best state for gas prices. Be thankful you aren't road tripping through Hawaii, which has average road trip price.

And while expense and hassle tend to discourage some Americans from traveling, 64 percent of the population still plans to take a summer road trip in 2018, AAA reports.

All 50 U.S. states were ranked across 31 key metrics of road trip friendliness. While Texas was ranked fourth overall, here's how it stacked up in seven significant categories, with one being the best and 50 being the worst.

• 15 – Number of Attractions
• 6 – Lowest Price of Three-Star Hotel Room
• 9– Avg. Gas Prices
• 8 – Nightlife Options per Capita
• 14 – Vehicle Miles Traveled per Capita
• 9 – Access to Scenic Byways
• 7 – Driving Laws Rating

WalletHub expert Jeffrey C. Kreeger, a Director of Tourism & Hospitality Studies at Central Connecticut State University, recommends that road trippers pinch pennies by exploring their own back yards. Instead of traveling hundreds of miles to a new city, treat your own city as a tourist destination, he recommends.

Travelers on a budget can also save money by opting to explore state parks, which often cost only a few dollars to enter.

>>> See the full study and methodology on WalletHub.