The 10 most boring states in America, according to a new study

WalletHub ranked all 50 states using 26 measures of entertainment, recreation, and nightlife.

A few days ago, I looked at WalletHub’s ranking of the most fun states in America, but the states at the opposite end of the list are just as interesting.

WalletHub compared all 50 states using 26 metrics split between entertainment and recreation, which accounted for 80% of the score, and nightlife, which made up the remaining 20%. The study considered attractions, restaurants, amusement parks, beaches, national park access, music festivals, bars, casinos, movie costs, and plenty more.

Of course, landing near the bottom doesn’t mean there’s nothing worth doing in a state. It just means that, based on the particular mix of activities, access, and costs WalletHub measured, these states didn’t have as many options as the competition.

10. Maine

Maine landed at No. 41 overall with a score of 28.87. It ranked 37th for entertainment and recreation and 45th for nightlife.

That nightlife score does a lot to explain why Maine ends up this low. A state known for its rocky coastline, small towns, and outdoor trips may still make for a great vacation, but those strengths don’t necessarily translate well to a ranking that also rewards bars, music festivals, casinos, theaters, and other entertainment options.

9. Alabama

Alabama came in at No. 42 overall, ranking 42nd for entertainment and recreation and 34th for nightlife.

Unlike some states farther down this list, Alabama’s scores were fairly similar across the two categories. Its nightlife ranking is actually a little stronger than its entertainment and recreation score, but neither was enough to push the state out of the bottom 10.

8. New Hampshire

New Hampshire finished No. 43 overall with a score of 27.33. It ranked 41st for entertainment and recreation and 47th for nightlife.

That makes New Hampshire one of the lowest-ranked states in the country for nightlife. Its mountains, lakes, and outdoor recreation may be a big draw for visitors, but this study gives points for a much broader range of ways to spend your free time. (That said, it recently was named one of the best states to live in .)

7. Connecticut

Connecticut ranked No. 44 overall, and nightlife was its weakest area by far. The state came in 43rd for entertainment and recreation and 49th for nightlife.

Only one state ranked lower for nightlife. That’s a rough showing in a study that considers factors such as access to bars, music festivals, performing-arts theaters, casinos, and last-call times.

6. Rhode Island

Rhode Island finished No. 45 overall, but its two category rankings were surprisingly different.

It came in 48th for entertainment and recreation but a much more respectable 26th for nightlife. WalletHub also found that Rhode Island has the fewest movie theaters per capita in the country, which certainly doesn’t help its recreation score.

5. Delaware

Delaware ranked No. 46 overall with a score of 24.57. Its entertainment and recreation ranking was 45th, while nightlife came in dead last at No. 50.

It also has the second-fewest movie theaters per capita, ahead of only Rhode Island.

For a small state with beaches and coastal towns, Delaware certainly has reasons to visit. This particular ranking, though, heavily rewards the quantity and variety of entertainment available, and that’s where it struggled.

4. Arkansas

Arkansas came in at No. 47 overall, with nearly identical results in WalletHub’s two main categories. It ranked 46th for entertainment and recreation and 46th for nightlife.

There isn’t one category dramatically pulling Arkansas down here. Instead, it simply placed near the bottom in both sides of the study, giving it an overall score of 24.00.

3. Vermont

Vermont was named the third-least-fun state in America, landing at No. 48 overall.

Its nightlife ranking of 36th was actually better than several states above it, but Vermont came in 47th for entertainment and recreation. It also had one of the lowest numbers of restaurants per capita, ranking 46th on that particular metric.

That doesn’t mean a fall road trip, ski weekend, or small-town getaway in Vermont is suddenly boring. It does show the limitations of defining “fun” using a national set of metrics. If your idea of a good weekend involves hiking and getting away from crowds, you may see this ranking very differently.

2. Mississippi

Mississippi came extremely close to taking the bottom spot. It ranked No. 49 overall with a score of 21.62.

Interestingly, nightlife isn’t where Mississippi struggled the most. It ranked 24th for nightlife, putting it near the middle of the country, but finished last in the nation for entertainment and recreation.

Mississippi also ranked 48th for movie theaters per capita. Its relatively decent nightlife score just wasn’t enough to overcome that No. 50 recreation ranking.

1. West Virginia

According to WalletHub, West Virginia is the least fun state in America for 2026.

It earned an overall score of just 20.57, ranking 49th for entertainment and recreation and 43rd for nightlife.

West Virginia is another good example of why I wouldn’t take the word “fun” too literally here. The study measures the number and variety of things like attractions, restaurants, amusement parks, theaters, fitness centers, festivals, bars, and other organized entertainment. A state can have fantastic scenery and outdoor recreation and still struggle against places with a much larger concentration of entertainment options.

I wouldn’t write off a trip to any of these states because of one ranking. What the study really shows is how differently “fun” can be measured. Someone who wants restaurants, concerts, amusement parks, and nightlife is going to have very different priorities than someone planning a quiet hiking trip or weekend on the coast.

And if you’d rather see which states dominated those metrics, I also broke down the 10 most fun states in America.

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