North Carolina was ranked as the #3 overall state for a summer road trip!
Read the full story:
WalletHub: 2023’s Best & Worst States for Summer Road Trips
News & Observer: NC identified as a top summer road trip destination. What makes the state special?
You can enjoy a summer road trip without breaking the bank or compromising your safety. For advice, we asked a panel of experts to share their travel wisdom. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:
Ph.D., PE – Associate Director, Institute for Transportation Research and Education; Adjunct Assistant Professor; Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering – North Carolina State University
Do you have any budget-saving tips for those looking to hit the open road?
First, make sure your vehicle is in proper working order (tires inflated, recently serviced, etc.) – this will help optimize your fuel efficiency. Furthermore, excessive speeding also worsens your fuel economy, so make sure to obey all speed limits. You should also plan an efficient route that minimizes extra miles and think about the time of day and the day of the week you will be traveling through popular or congested areas (if you are sitting still in traffic, you are getting 0 miles per gallon). Another great budget tip is to try to minimize the miles you need to drive – can you do a walking tour of the area you are visiting or maybe there is free or low-cost public transportation available in that location? Along those same lines, make sure you are realistic about how far you can drive in the amount of time you have available – you do not want to spend all of your time in the vehicle when you should be enjoying the sites you went to visit.
Do you think more people will take road trips this summer than in previous years?
Yes, I think road trips will continue to be a popular, cost-effective option for travelers. As a North Carolinian, we have an abundance of options to suit many interests. On the eastern side of the state, NC12 traverses the coast and outer banks with fantastic views of the coastline and access to beaches and lighthouses, among other amenities. On the western side of the state, the Cherohala Skyway features amazing views of the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests (each lends part of their name to the name of the road) which is flanked by scenic overlooks and access to hiking trails. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a world-famous scenic mountain parkway that ties 469 miles through North Carolina and Virginia. And, in between, there are many scenic drives which include natural areas, small towns, pottery, wine, and more. US64 gives us one of our favorite slogans if you want to talk about covering the whole state from west to east or vice versa – “from Murphy to Manteo” – which connects travelers to many destinations throughout the state, including the world’s largest natural habitat zoo in Asheboro.
In evaluating the best states for summer road trips, which are the top 5 factors?
Several factors are specific to your family or group’s interests and preferences, but here are some of the things that I think about:
How can local officials enhance safety and promote tourism during the busy summer road trip season?
Information! Information is critical for travelers. I often end up reading comment sections and searching endlessly for various important pieces of information, such as where to park, what time something opens/closes, any special activities, what is the cost, what is the best time to visit, etc. Local officials can help by having this important information easily accessible online and on-site. For instance, when you search for the most popular tourist activities/destinations, are the hours of operation available and accurate? Who can I contact for more information?