According to a recent report from Journeyscape, searches for RV vacations have surged by more than 130% in the last three months, suggesting that U.S citizens are actively looking to plan for a memorable road trip in 2026.
With this in mind, travel experts at Journeyscape have analyzed various factors, including the number of RV parks, the number of campgrounds, average fuel price, total road length and social media popularity, to find the best RV road trips in the United States.
Texas came in first place with an RV road trip score of 9.80. The Lone Star State combines scenic drives and major city stop-offs with the country’s longest highway network — over 518,000 miles, nearly four times the U.S. average. One of these roads is a large stretch of Route 66. Affordable fuel prices ($2.69 per gallon) make it one of the most cost-effective states for long-distance travelers, Journeyscape said.
Iowa ranked second with a score of 8.45. In Iowa, the landlocked Midwestern state, there are plenty of things to do on a road trip. Iowa’s affordable fuel prices ($2.83 per gallon) and extensive road network make it a strong choice for road trippers seeking variety without breaking the budget.
Wisconsin took third place, with a score of 8.33. There are around 186,000 miles of highway in Wisconsin, which is one of the highest amounts in the country. Additionally, there are 15.2 campsites and 8.5 RV parks per 100,000 people. Among the things to do in Wisconsin on a road trip are to visit Devil’s Lake State Park or drive along the Great River Road following the Mississippi.
The research has also revealed the following about RV road trips in the United States:
- Wyoming has the most RV parks and campgrounds per 100,000 people, offering 29.3 RV parks per 100,000 people. With so many parks in demand, especially during peak seasons, there should be a place to park your RV in Wyoming!
- Oklahoma has the cheapest average fuel price, with the average gas price set at just $2.60 per gallon. Combined with its 185,000-mile road network, it’s a practical choice for long-distance journeys.
- On the other hand, Californians are having to pay the highest average fuel price at $4.66 per gallon, making a cost-effective road trip that little bit harder to complete — especially when the third-largest state stretches around 1,000 miles from north to south.
- California is the most popular U.S. road trip state on Instagram, with over 250,000 tagged posts — more than 150,000 ahead of Texas. This accounts for 40% of all road state trip-related posts on the social media platform, whilst Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador are only tagged in 10 posts by stark contrast.
View the full research here.
