TORRINGTON – Wyoming’s wide-open spaces are ideal for a long, summer drive, according to personal-finance website WalletHub. Analysts listed the state No. 1 nationally in a recent road trip report, including first for the lowest price of camping, and above average (ranking higher than 25th) in the following categories: 10th, car thefts per capita; 19th, average gas prices; 20th, access to scenic byways; and 22nd, lowest price of three-star hotel room. The state also sits at 26th for fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

“Wyoming is filled with expansive landscapes, scenic roads and a rich history that all beg to be explored,” the Wyoming Office of Tourism states on its website (www.travelwyoming.com). “Wyoming is where the untamed spirit of the West and majestic natural beauty open your mind and invigorate your senses to release your own inner freedom and sense of adventure. For some, adventure may mean taking the kids camping in Yellowstone National Park or visiting a rodeo for the first time. For others, it could be conquering one of the most difficult mountain climbs in the West. It’s a place where your own true grit is matched by all that surrounds you. Because some things can’t be explained, only experienced.”

In addition to the U.S.’s first national park, monument and forest, Yellowstone, Devils Tower and Shoshone, respectively, Wyoming is also home to 25 national historic landmarks and 11 nationally recognized areas, trails and monuments.

“Individuals are choosing travel opportunities where they can engage in the tour destination and experience it rather than just ‘visit’ it,” Dr. Susan Roe, assistant professor at San Francisco State University, said. “Many travelers are seeking destinations that offer authentic and experiential opportunities like local festivals, restaurant tastings, or interactive tours. Many tourists don’t just want to see a destination, they want to experience it.”

The Wyoming Office of Tourism recommends a variety of outdoor, warm-weather activities, including offroading, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, float trips and rafting, golf, hiking, horseback riding, visiting hot springs, hunting, mountain biking, rock climbing and attending rodeos.

WalletHub ranked North Carolina, Minnesota, Texas and Florida in the top five below Wyoming, and New Mexico, Hawaii, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island rounded out the least road trip-friendly states in the U.S.

To view the full report, visit https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-for-summer-road-trips/4648/.