Spend the extra day at the destination
A three-day weekend can tempt you to choose somewhere much farther away. Before doing that, compare the amount of usable time each option leaves. Count the journey from your actual starting point to the room, including stops and likely arrival logistics. An extra day can be more valuable as a full day in a nearby place than as permission for two longer drives.
Write down what you would do with the middle day at each destination. If both plans offer an activity you want, the shorter journey may win even when the farther place sounds more impressive. The purpose of the comparison is to protect time you can spend outside the vehicle.
Reduce transitions after arrival
Choose a base where meals and at least one activity are close together. A town with a walkable center can let the car stay parked for part of the trip. A secluded property may suit a quiet stay, but only if you are happy to spend time there rather than repeatedly driving out for food and entertainment.
Keep the same room for the whole break unless changing bases solves a clear route problem. Packing, checkout and checking in again can consume the flexibility the extra day was meant to provide. A day trip from one base is not always the shortest drive, but it can be the simpler overall schedule.
Leave a real return margin
Do not put a tightly timed attraction at the far end of the departure day. Choose something near the room or on the route home, and be willing to omit it. Check the relevant state traffic information before leaving, while recognizing that a live estimate is not a guarantee for the whole journey.
If reservations are essential, book the one activity that would disappoint you most to miss and leave the rest lighter. Holiday demand can affect restaurants, parking and lodging together. A plan with fewer fixed points is easier to enjoy when a meal takes longer or the road is slower than expected. The extra day should make the trip feel more spacious, not merely longer on a map.
