Oklahoma an average road trip destination

In WalletHub’s “2019’s Best and Worst States for Summer Road Trips,” Oklahoma, which has historic Route 66 running through Tulsa and Oklahoma City, was rated No. 26th best.

In terms of low costs, Oklahoma was No. in the nation.  In the safety category, it was No. 34 and in “activities,” Oklahoma was No. 36.

In the category of “lowest percentage of total area designated as National Parkland,” Oklahoma was No. 45 – just above Kansas, Iowa and Illinois. Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii and Washington were tied for the top spot in that category.

In Oklahoma, travelers can visit the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur. In Oklahoma City, the National Memorial at the former site of the Alfred P. Murrah Building is a tourist attraction. The Santa Fe Trail runs through parts of Oklahoma, as does the infamous Trail of Tears. And the Washita Battlefield – where Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer made a surprise attack on a Cheyenne village led by Peace Chief Black Kettle – is in Cheyenne, Oklahoma.

In terms of the “most scenic byways,” California, North Carolina, Oregon and Utah are tied for the top spot. Connecticut and Delaware are tied at the bottom for the fewest scenic byways.

Alabama has the lowest average gas prices while California was even worse than Hawaii at Nos. 50 and 49, respectively.

Michigan has the lowest average costs for auto repairs while Georgia had the highest costs.

The lowest costs for camping are in Wyoming while Arkansas and California are tied for the highest camping costs.

The report warns of higher gasoline prices this summer. Americans spend $751 billion a year on leisure activities. In fact, 53 percent of families traveling this summer still plan to take road trips, according to AAA.

The WalletHub study looked at gas prices, toll costs, cost of car repairs, prices of three-star hotels, costs of camping, safety on highways, driving laws, quality of roads, number of uninsured drivers, crime, number of parks, amusement parks, fairs and festivals, shoreline, nightlife, weather and others.

“One of the few elements of the American Living that lingers around for decades is the collective longing for road trips,” said Babu George, associate professor at Fort Hays University. “With the popularity of more fuel efficient/electric/smart cars, road travel has become even more fun. However, no significant surge in road trips over the previous few years is expected.”

George said travelers should arrange some dependable roadside assistance coverage. The should have their vehicle checked out for maintenance issues before driving .

“If your car needs a lot of repairs, don’t risk it,” George said. “Look around, you may get some amazing deals on rental cars! If you have several options regarding the choice of a vehicle, make a decision that factors in fuel efficiency, space, and driving comfort.”

Travelers should check to see if their cellphone has data roaming at their destinations. Internet access to smart phones can save money when they are used for last-minute hotel booking, finding the best roads, free parking spots and the cheapest gas, George said.

“I heard people suggesting that road trippers buy several chain restaurant gift cards in advance, if they are available on deals,” George said. “Personally, I consider myself a road travel enthusiast; yet, I would not do this. First, these gift cards will unnecessarily increase the rigidity of your itinerary. More importantly, part of a road trip is to try local cuisine.”

George suggests carrying essential gadgets and perishable supplies.

“You may not have a Walmart near where you want to camp (recently, I had to buy a USB-C cable from a hotel front desk shop for $15),” he said. “At the same time, don’t overfill your wagon. Think of the key locations you will travel to and list the stuff you would need specific to those locations.”

Carry an ATM/Debit card that can be used to withdraw cash without paying a hefty transaction fee or service charge, he suggested.

“Of course you have a driver license in your home state,” George said. “Yet, it does not hurt to read the traffic rules in the other states that you are about to drive through. In states such as New York and California, a right turn is prohibited with a red arrow. In the New York City, right turns on red light are strictly prohibited. You might save several hundreds of dollars by learning these quirks – and also save lives.”

Tyra Warner Hilliard, associate professor at College of Coastal Georgia, said there are ways to economize on road trips.

“Plan a menu of do-it-yourself snack and meal options you can store and make in the car,” Hilliard said. “Make room for a cooler and plan to purchase ice or find ways to refreeze ice packs along the way. Food is one of the biggest expenses of a road trip – both in terms of money and the cost to your waistline and health. Your wallet and your body will thank you for that deli sandwich and fruit versus stopping for fast food.”

She said road trips are a nice way to connect families, even in an age when children are tied to technology.

“Even younger travelers are getting in on trends like RV rentals,” Hilliard said. “As airline travel becomes less and less pleasant (my personal opinion as a frequent business traveler), we may see an uptick in road trips as an option for personal travel.”

She suggests looking for destinations where the locals like having tourists. Poor condition of the roads in a state could discourage some travelers.

“A good state for summer road trips will have accommodations for every budget and style, from campgrounds, to RV parks, to bed and breakfasts, to 5-star hotels,” Hilliard said.

For more information, go to www.wallethub.com.