Solo travel has gained significant popularity in recent years. What was once considered a crazy idea is now viewed as liberating and a must-do experience. On all my social media pages, I see more and more people, particularly women, joining the ranks of solo travelers. While I can appreciate the call of wanderlust and the incredible sense of independence, I must also acknowledge that solo travel comes with certain risks that group travel does not. Recently, a study revealed the worst U.S. states for solo travelers.
Worst U.S. States For Solo Travelers
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The NY Post shared some of the lows and the highs of solo traveling. While it can boost a sense of independence, it also presents numerous vulnerabilities. If something were to arise, such as an accident, you would have no support. Additionally, solo travelers tend to be targeted more often for crimes than couples or groups. However, with the ever-growing digital era and remote work boom, the number of solo travelers is steadily increasing. If you are planning a solo trip to the States this year, here are the worst U.S. states for solo travel.
Silver Law Firm released a new study showing the worst U.S. states for solo travel, and the results may surprise you. New Mexico took the number one spot. This study didn't just take travelers' opinions into account either. The Post shared that the study used "data from the FBI, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and other official sources." Additionally, the lawyers conducting the study "looked at crime rates, road safety, emergency access, and transport infrastructure." Then, they used all that data to assign a solo travel safety score to each state. The scores were out of 100.
Unfortunatley for New Mexico, it scored " a dismal safety score of 0.00" out of 100 - not very comforting. The vast rural areas and long areas without cell service were among the main reasons why this state scored so low. Those areas provided ample opportunity for solo travelers to get lost without supplies. Not to mention, the state also has high rates of crime and vehicle accidents.
Also on the list of the worst U.S. states for solo travelers were Arkansas, with a score of 10.39, and Tennessee, with a score of 13.68.
Best U.S. States For Solo Travelers
If the worst U.S. states for solo travelers surprised you, then the best states might as well. Surprisingly, New York ranked as one of the highest states for solo travelers in the U.S. It was the fourth safest state for solo travel in America, mainly due to its robust emergency access and transportation infrastructure. Taking the first, second, and third spots were New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. As a New Jersey native, I must admit that I was surprised. While I knew we had some nice wineries and great pizza, I would not think we were one of the friendliest or safest spots - alas, I was wrong.
Massachusetts landed in the number one spot as the best U.S. state for solo travel, earning a perfect score of 100.00. That is due to its low violent crime and property crime rates. Additionally, it has excellent road infrastructure and a dense population, meaning tourists have easy access to help if needed. So in summary, if you are planning a solo trip to the States, avoid New Mexico and head over to Massachusetts.
