Alabama is one of the best places in the U.S. for a summer road trip, new study finds
The Yellowhammer state is one of the best states for a road trip, a new study shows.
Dunhill Travel Deals — an organization that provides free resources for travelers and information on travel deals, airfare, cruise, hotel, and vacation package discounts — commissioned a study that surveyed the contiguous United States on several factors to assess which states had the best opportunities for a summer road trip vacation.
Categories considered include average hotel nightly rate, average gas price, cost of everyday expenses, annual National Park Service visits and total National Park Service sites, arts, entertainment and recreation density, and share of roads in good condition.
Each category is weighed by importance, with average gas and hotel prices being the most influential in the composite scores.
Alabama overall ranked sixth out of the lower 48 states, earning a composite score of 84.81.
More: Buc-ee's in Alabama: Here's every location and what makes each one unique
Hotel nightly rates in Alabama average out to $132 and gas clocks in at an average of $2.74 per gallon. The Yellowhammer state has the 10th lowest nightly hotel rate in the country and the fifth lowest gas prices, as well as charges 10% less for everyday expenses.
As far as the experience of visiting Alabama goes, the state has several sites that are owned by the National Park Service, including Little River Canyon National Preserve, part of the Natchez Trace Parkway, Russell Cave National Monument, the Tuskegee Institute, the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, and more.
Additionally, the study said Alabama has 2.7 arts and recreation businesses per 10,000 residents, giving travelers and Alabamians a significant amount to do.
States ranking above Alabama in the top five include Mississippi, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee and Oklahoma. The study cited the reason for this is that prices are generally lower overall across the Southern and Central United States, as well as the existence of many activities — particularly in the form of arts and recreation businesses — outside of National Parks that attract visitors.
More: Southern Living says this is Alabama's prettiest town and you've probably driven right past it
Sarah Clifton covers business for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can reach her at sclifton@montgome.gannett.com or follow her on X @sarahgclifton.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: AL is one of the best states for a summer road trip, new study finds
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