Latest news with #DunhillTravelDeals
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-driving-along-the-mississippi--STATEROADTRIP0525-0f7fade4bd3849a3a4df1aaec7fa9289.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
a day ago
- Travel + Leisure
This Southern State Just Ranked No. 1 for Affordable Road Trips
Summer is coming, and that means it's the perfect time to take a road trip. And there are literally hundreds of options out there—but one unexpected destination was just named the best. Travel deal publisher Dunhill Travel Deals recently conducted a study to find the best and most affordable road trips throughout the continental U.S. For its analysis, it considered several affordability metrics, such as hotel rates, gas prices, the cost of everyday expenses, as well as access to things like national parks, arts and culture attractions, and other kinds of entertainment businesses. It sourced its data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. Census Bureau, Construction Coverage (a construction insurance firm), and more. After looking at all the factors, it found that Mississippi was the best and most affordable place to take a road trip in the U.S. "Ranked as the best overall state for a budget-friendly road trip, Mississippi combines low travel costs with rich cultural and natural attractions," Dunhill Travels Deals wrote in its report. The company also noted that in Mississippi, travelers can explore parts of the Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile historic corridor once used by Native Americans that runs through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Alternatively, drivers could take a trip on the Great River Road, an official National Scenic Byway which follows the Mississippi River. The Magnolia State is also known for its deep music history, and visitors can check out places like Tupelo (the birthplace of Elvis) as well as the Delta, the birthplace of the blues. Driving through Natchez Trace Parkway through affordable destinations include Arkansas and Oklahoma, places that let road warriors to save on gas and lodgings. Generally, states in the center and south of the country ranked among the highest for affordability, while coastal and western states tended to be more expensive overall. California (perhaps unsurprisingly) has the highest gas prices in the country, along with a high cost of living that is 12 percent more than the average. However, California also has the highest number of visitors to its National Parks, as well as a high density of arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses. After Mississippi, the top five best and most affordable road trip destinations round out with Arkansas at No. 2, followed respectively by North Carolina, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. For the full list and analysis, visit
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
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@ 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
