These are the 10 most fun states in America, according to a new study

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

Some states are simply easier to have fun in than others, at least according to a new WalletHub study.

The ranking compared all 50 states across 26 factors, including attractions, restaurants, national park access, beaches, amusement parks, music festivals, and nightlife. Entertainment and recreation accounted for 80% of the final score, while nightlife made up the remaining 20%.

As someone who lives in Wisconsin, I was also amused to see my home state miss the top 10 overall, landing at No. 16, while ranking fifth in the country for nightlife. That part I can believe.

Here are the 10 states that came out on top.

10. Arizona

Arizona rounds out the top 10, ranking ninth for entertainment and recreation and 21st for nightlife.

There’s plenty to do beyond simply seeing the Grand Canyon. Sedona is one of the obvious stops for hiking and red-rock scenery, while northern Arizona has Antelope Canyon and stretches of historic Route 66. Phoenix and Scottsdale bring in restaurants, resorts, desert hikes, museums, and plenty to do when you want a more city-focused trip.

If Phoenix is where you’re starting, I have a 3-day Phoenix itinerary for first-time visitors that covers many of the highlights.

9. Minnesota

Minnesota came in ninth overall, ranking 10th for entertainment and recreation and ninth for nightlife.

Minneapolis and St. Paul have museums, restaurants, breweries, theaters, and major sporting events, while the rest of the state looks very different. The North Shore of Lake Superior is one of the prettiest road trips in the Midwest, and Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters are great options if canoeing, camping, and being on the water are more your speed. There are also a ton of fun Airbnbs in Minnesota.

8. Texas

Texas finished eighth overall, with an eighth-place ranking for entertainment and recreation and No. 12 for nightlife.

There’s enough variety here that two trips to Texas can feel completely different. Austin has live music, barbecue, and nightlife, San Antonio has the River Walk and historic sites, and Big Bend National Park is one of the best places in the state for hiking and desert scenery. You also have the Hill Country, Gulf Coast beaches, and major cities like Dallas and Houston.

7. Washington

Washington ranked sixth for entertainment and recreation and eighth for nightlife, putting it at No. 7 overall.

Seattle has Pike Place Market, museums, restaurants, and waterfront attractions, but some of my favorite parts of Washington are outside the city. Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, the Pacific Coast, and the Olympic Peninsula make this an especially good state for a road trip.

I have a Washington road trip itinerary that combines Seattle, Mount Rainier, and Olympic National Park if you’re trying to fit several of the state’s highlights into one trip.

6. Colorado

Colorado finished in sixth, ranking fifth for entertainment and recreation and 10th for nightlife.

The outdoor options are a big part of the appeal, with Rocky Mountain National Park, ski towns, scenic drives, and plenty of hiking. Denver adds restaurants, breweries, museums, professional sports, and Red Rocks Amphitheatre, so you don’t necessarily need to spend your entire trip in the mountains.

I have a 3-day Denver itinerary if you’re planning a shorter city break and want to work in some of the surrounding sights too.

5. New York

New York ranked fourth for entertainment and recreation and third for nightlife, putting it fifth overall.

New York City alone gives you Broadway, museums, Central Park, restaurants, shopping, and more neighborhoods than you could realistically cover in one trip. But the state also has Niagara Falls, the Finger Lakes, the Adirondacks, Lake Placid, and plenty of smaller towns if your idea of fun has nothing to do with Manhattan.

4. Nevada

No one is going to fall out of their chair over Nevada making this list. It ranked No. 1 in the country for nightlife and seventh for entertainment and recreation.

Las Vegas is clearly a big reason Nevada lands this high, with casinos, shows, restaurants, concerts, and nightlife packed into a relatively small area. Outside Vegas, you can hike at Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire, explore old mining towns, or head toward Lake Tahoe for hiking, beaches, boating, and skiing.

3. Illinois

Illinois took third place overall, and nightlife played a big role. The state ranked second for nightlife and third for entertainment and recreation. WalletHub also found that Illinois has a particularly high number of music festivals, restaurants, and attractions per capita.

Chicago is a huge part of the appeal too. You can take an architecture cruise on the river, visit the Art Institute, walk along the lakefront, catch a comedy show, see a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, or spend a good chunk of the trip eating.

I’ve visited Chicago quite a few times, and I have a full things-to-do guide for first-time visitors if you’re planning a trip.

2. Florida

Florida finished second with a score of 64.14, ranking second for entertainment and recreation and seventh for nightlife.

And no, this isn’t all because of Disney World. WalletHub found that Florida has the most restaurants, amusement parks, arcades, and music festivals per capita. It also has the most marinas per capita and the second-most shoreline mileage.

Theme parks are obviously part of the equation, but Florida has a lot more going on. You can snorkel with manatees in Crystal River, kayak through natural springs, explore the Everglades, drive through the Florida Keys, spend a weekend in Miami, or pick a beach town and do very little at all.

I have a much longer list of things to do in Florida if you want ideas beyond the theme parks.

1. California

California takes the top spot for 2026, ranking first for entertainment and recreation and fourth for nightlife.

WalletHub gave California particularly strong marks for its restaurants, amusement parks, movie theaters, and fitness centers. It also ranked first for beach access and has the most scenic byways per capita.

That leaves a pretty ridiculous number of ways to plan a trip. There’s Los Angeles, San Francisco, Yosemite, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, Joshua Tree, the Pacific Coast Highway, and hundreds of miles of coastline.

San Diego is another easy choice, especially for a first California trip. Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, La Jolla, Coronado, and the beaches can easily fill several days, and I have a full things-to-do guide for San Diego if you want more ideas.

“Fun” is obviously subjective, and not everyone is looking for the same thing in a trip. I do like that WalletHub gave far more weight to entertainment and recreation than nightlife, though. It means national parks, beaches, restaurants, outdoor activities, and attractions actually matter quite a bit in determining which states rise to the top.

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