With summer just around the corner and 85% of Americans planning to take a summer trip, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Most Fun States in America, as well as expert commentary.
To determine the states offering the greatest variety and most cost-effective options for enjoyment, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 26 key metrics. The data set ranges from movie costs to accessibility of national parks to nightlife options per capita.
| Top 20 Most Fun States in America | |
| 1. California | 11. Arizona |
| 2. Florida | 12. Oregon |
| 3. Nevada | 13. Ohio |
| 4. New York | 14. Pennsylvania |
| 5. Illinois | 15. North Carolina |
| 6. Colorado | 16. Missouri |
| 7. Texas | 17. Wisconsin |
| 8. Washington | 18. Maryland |
| 9. Minnesota | 19. South Carolina |
| 10. Louisiana | 20. Alaska |
Key Stats
- California has the most movie theaters (per square root of population), 0.081193, which is 5.7 times more than in Delaware, the state with the fewest at 0.014129.
- California has the most restaurants (per square root of population), 4.869654, which is 7.9 times more than in Alaska, the state with the fewest at 0.615474.
- Texas has the most amusement parks (per square root of population), 0.013216, which is 15.9 times more than in Hawaii, the state with the fewest at 0.000829.
- Alaska has the highest personal spending on recreation services per capita, $2,268, which is 2.6 times higher than in Mississippi, the state with the lowest at $875.
