The Best of the Roads contest teams started in New York City and winded up in Los Angeles, exploring the best small towns in America along the way.

Nacogdoches made the list of friendliest towns, and finished as a runner-up along with Mount Airy, N.C., Lake Havasu City, AZ, Valdosta, GA and Woodward, OK. The winning town was Walla Walla, WA.

Other categories included best food, most beautiful, most patriotic and most fun.

Three weeks and 25,000 miles later, five teams competing in the Best of the Road contest — sponsored by Rand McNally in collaboration with USA TODAY — have turned in their maps and car keys, consulted with a panel of judges and come up with the winners: five towns full of friendly people, great scenery, terrific food, patriotic fervor and just plain fun.

Selected from 30 nominees (each team visited the six in their category), the winners were announced Thursday at the Destination Marketing Association International's annual meeting in New Orleans.

Other categories included best food, most beautiful, most patriotic and most fun.

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