The Top 5 States for A Weed Road Trip

May 23, 2026
By Jessica Reilly-Chevalier

This article was first published in the Destinations Issue of Fat Nugs Magazine, published April 2025

I lived on the road for 18 months, and I’ve been to 36 states in my van. I’ve shopped every legal market on the East Coast and most on the West Coast too (someday I’ll make it to Washington). Legislation laws vary wildly, and some states are noticeably better than others in terms of options, flower quality, product information, and pricing. Here are my top five US states for a weed-friendly road trip

(This is your standard disclaimer that none of this is legal advice, and smoking in your car is illegal in most states. You, and you alone, are responsible for your behavior and knowing the law.)

Top 5 States for A Weed Road Trip in the USA

#5. California

It’s not a list about recreational cannabis states without the mecca of US weed. Here you can get weed like no other, grown from the Emerald Triangle by people who love and care for this plant with more tenderness and knowledge than you’ve ever dreamt. There’s the Cannabis Trail to take you through some of the best cultivators in the state, if not the country, and many farms even offer camping opportunities – what could be better than waking up next to weed plants?

But California comes in last on this list for a reason – it’s expensive, the market is riddled with bad players (looking @ you, brands named in the LA Times articles), and – despite weed being legal for over a decade – there are still counties that don’t allow retail sales. If you don’t plan well, you could easily find yourself on a Cali road trip with no bud – what a bummer.

#4. Vermont

The Green Mountain State is one of my favorite places to go for green. While Vermont led its recreational legalization process with home grow over dispensaries, retail locations began to open in 2022 and have since found their way across the state. The rural state doesn’t have dispos in every town, but you’ll find them in most places, especially in bigger cities like Burlington and Montpelier, and tourist towns like Stowe and Smuggler’s Notch, the ski area.

The product information can be great here: I bought eighths that displayed the terpene percentage, the aroma notes of the flower, and the CBD percentage. I also got to stay on a hemp farm and bought a half ounce of sungrown CBD flower for steal. No matter where you go for hiking, camping, or swimming, you’ll find good bud – and access is everything.

#3. Maine

Hundreds of miles of coastline, mountain trails, and lush greenery – Maine is an outdoor paradise. Here I found something incredible: affordable eighths and actual variation in the THC potency. Once, I bought an eighth of 12% THC for $25. I assumed I’d smoke it and get to work – only to find myself laid up and high as hell. Shout-out to a robust terpene profile and minor cannabinoids for showing off the best of the entourage effect and proving that potency isn’t everything.

This state would be higher on my list, but access can be limited. Outside of the larger areas like Portland, Bangor, and Bar Harbor, most of the dispensaries are still medical. If you’re headed somewhere like Baxter State Park or Rangeley Lakes, you’ll need to pick up weed in a surrounding town first. Plan accordingly during your trip, and you’ll be fine.

#2. Oregon

The cannabis market in Oregon is struggling with price compression and oversaturation, but from a consumer’s perspective, there’s no better place to get high-quality products for dirt cheap. Did I feel guilty paying just $20 for a ball of temple hash? Absolutely. Did I enjoy the hell out of it, and buy several more products during that dispo visit? You bet.

Oregon just may be the most beautiful place I’ve ever smoked; Crater Lake and Gold Beach are tied for prettiest smoking picture, and I simply can’t think of anything better than a hash-hole joint on the beach at sunset in August. There are dozens of locations to get cannabis across the state, so you’re never far from your next smoking sesh – even in the woods outside of Crater Lake.

#1. New Mexico

The Land of Enchantment is completely under the radar when it comes to the cannabis market. New Mexico legalized in 2021, just a month after New York, but the rollout has been a completely different world. There are more dispensaries per capita here than in Colorado, and you can’t swing a lighter without bumping into somewhere to buy weed. Whether you’re on the highway over the mesa, a ski town, or the capital, there are more dispensaries than anyone knows what to do with.

Prices are affordable for consumers (not so great for businesses) despite high taxes, and this state offers a robust selection of sungrown strains. If that’s surprising, consider that the elevation and arid climate of New Mexico are comparable to the mountains of Afghanistan, where Kush plants come from.

I’ll freely admit to being a little biased because I live here, but I’ve been to 36 states and seen dozens of legal markets – New Mexico’s product selection and pricing hold up against the best of them. While brands are not required to display much more than the THC percentages, some go above and beyond with minor cannabinoids and terpenes as well. And you don’t know relaxation until you’ve smoked a joint in a natural hot spring on the side of a river.

Honorable Mention: New York

I know rollout of legalization in the Empire State has been a hot mess, but the MRTA did something most legalization bills fail to do: made it legal to smoke weed anywhere you can smoke cigarettes. Granted, New York is not a smoke-friendly state, so legal options are limited, but they exist. Visitors to this state actually have options on where to light up and are not just confined to a 420-friendly rental or huddled around a corner somewhere out of sight. It felt fantastic when I legally lit up a joint at the State Fair – even if it was confined to the smoker’s section.

Dispensaries are finally coming to all corners of this state, so access is expanding. There are dozens of incredible farmers throughout the Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley growing great strains of cannabis and fine-tuning what works well for New York’s climate. I couldn’t leave this state off because I firmly believe in New Yorkers, and I know this market will be something amazing, even if it’s slow getting there.