New England State Ranks Among The Best For A Road Trip

According to WalletHub, New England is one of the best places in the country for a road trip. Of course, that has a lot to do with our miles of coastline and exciting places to go, but the summer months also allow more flexibility on timing.

Perhaps it's all about the kids. They are off of school, and many companies offer the benefit of summer Fridays giving families the opportunity to leverage the time to fully explore. Sure, part of the thrill of a road trip is the drive, what you see along the way, and where you stop for snacks. However, you want allow ample time to enjoy the destination you are heading to.

"This summer, 75% of American adults plan to take some sort of road trip, with around 33% planning to travel more than 250 miles from home," WalletHub explained.

Considering all the elements that factor into a proper road trip, WalletHub studied three specific categories. They were the cost, activities, and safety that each state aligns to. Then, within that 32 different key metrics were analyzed. Ultimately, this generated a score for each state allowing an official compilation.

"The best states for summer road trips therefore are those that keep costs low while providing the best driving experience and most fun activities,” WalletHub Analyst Cassandra Happe said.

Finishing just behind Wyoming, is the great state of Maine finished ninth overall (but first in safety) for a road trip this summer.

Having done a few car rides through Maine, I can attest, it's much bigger state then you realize. What's great about Maine is that many of the tourist attraction points are in different areas. For example, heading to Portland for a weekend is a manageable two-plus hour drive from the greater Boston area. The same holds true for going to the popular beach spots in Kennebunkport. However, if you want go up further north to Acadia National Park, you will need to plan for about five hours.

The best part about taking a summer road trip through Maine is that regardless of where you are, you are bound to come across a great spot for fresh lobster rolls.

If you are wondering how the rest of New England fared in WalletHub's road trip report, the answer is - not great. New Hampshire was the second-best state, but that ranking was 35th overall. Massachusetts was 37th. Then, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island were all in the bottom five.

As much as I love my south shore area of the Northeast, sometimes there is nothing better than a quick pause. We are fortunate in New England that there are so many great options that are a short drive away. It's not hard to embark on that perfect weekend getaway escape.

With summer coming to a close and the hustle and bustle of all the fall activities kicking into overdrive, here I will look at some of the best places for a weekend getaway in New England based upon all of those I have visited.

Many factors can be considered when nailing down that perfect two-day plan. We, of course, are graced with all four seasons of the year, so depending upon when you are traveling, different activities may be available to you. Then again, perhaps you don't want any activities at all.

Food options are important to me. However, I don't make trip plans based around what place has the best restaurants. I tend to lean towards exploring the local area in hopes of tripping across a local gem.

Driving distance is another thing I heavily weigh. Although I don't mind the occasional long road trip, my preference is to maximize my time on a weekend adventure. Therefore, time in the car is ideally under four hours. Cost is always a factor.

Lastly, I must preface this list by stating I am an outdoorsman. A good book or movie can certainly do the trick. I always opt for great ocean waves, a rope swing, or mountain over an extra hour of sleep.

In recent years, I have been to each of the places on this list over various months of the year. They each have their own unique characteristics. Their common bond is that they are all great destinations for a New England weekend getaway.

Cape Cod is an obvious location. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend, there is perhaps no place that is more popular in Massachusetts. To me, it's about finding that specific corner of Cape Cod that is right for you. You can camp or find cottages along Cahoon Hallow Road that will enable amazing trips to the beach. Trekking those sand dunes, hitting the three-foot waves (yes, sometimes there are shark warnings), and then getting food at the Beachcomber while listening to the great live music, is my perfect day.

There is never a bad time to visit this charming town. You can ski Cranmore in the winter. Hike, hit the waterfalls, or visit Storyland in the summer. Either way, you will be graced with some amazing local restaurants. In fact, North Conway flies under the radar as one of the best pizza towns in New England. The hotels like Eastern Slope in accommodate any season, and are right in the middle of town where all the bars, restaurants and stores are. This weekend getaway is probably the least "quiet" but has the most amount of options at your fingertips.

The river that runs through Woodstock has a way of speaking to you. It's serene but can also provide a thrill of pushing you down stream. It's calming to provide that fresh water cleanse to rid yourself of all that comes with the lights on the city. Lastly, the various rope swings scattered around the town provide a liberating rush. From the climb up the rocks to the swing, to the plunge, you focus on nothing but the joy of that ride. Ramunto's Brick Oven and Brews is also an essential stop upon each visit.

Lake life just hits differently. Depending upon where you go around Lake Sebago you get the feeling that nowhere else on the planet exists while you there. Frye Island has the magic of no public cars, local watering holes, and the ability to bike incredible dirt roads. There's a history there to learn about and local taps to enjoy. It's common to see jet skiing or pontoon boating anywhere you look within the glistening waters. Furthermore, certain towns offer that one and only general store that has everything you can imagine, from household cleaning supplies to steaks to grill for dinner.