For those with a hankering for road trips, there's nothing quite like the freedom of wide open highways and byways. Road trippers accounted for roughly 48 million Americans over the July Fourth holiday, AAA reported, despite the 42% of Americans who said rising gas prices impacted their summer travel plans. "Earlier this year, we started seeing the demand for travel increase and it's not tapering off," Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel, said in a June 2022 press release. "People are ready for a break and despite things costing more, they are finding ways to still take that much needed vacation." Like any travel experience, road trips can be unpredictable. Accidents and mechanical problems loom large among the risks associated with traveling over land. It follows that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recommends that anyone who embarks on a road trip make sure the following supplies are stocked for their adventure:

• Cell phone and charger
• First aid kit
• Flashlight
• Flares and a white flag
• Jumper cables
• Tire pressure gauge
• Jack (and ground mat) for changing a tire
• Work gloves and a change of clothes
• Basic repair tools and some duct tape (for temporarily repairing a hose leak)
• Water and paper towels for cleaning up
• Nonperishable food, drinking water, and medicines
• Extra windshield washer fluid
• Maps
• Emergency blankets, towels and coats

One strategy for cutting down on the risks associated with road trips is to travel to and through states with abundant amenities. To that end, WalletHub recently ranked the 50 states in the U.S. for how inviting they are to driving travelers based on available accommodations, activities, dining options, travel costs and a host of other metrics. The slideshow above illustrates the worst states in the U.S. for road trips, according to WalletHub. See also:

• Top-rated travel insurance companies
• Top cancel for any reason travel plans for 2022
• 2022 outlook for insurance rates, claims for hotels