As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary in 2026, families take to the road to explore historic sites, national parks, small towns and classic American attractions. But the best states for a family road trip may not be the ones travelers expect.

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer travel, and people are looking for some downtime. Relaxation is now the top reason Americans travel, and about 82% say they are looking to balance activity with downtime while away.