California is the second most fun state in the US, WalletHub says. What’s No. 1?
California may have sun, surf and celebrities, but it’s not the top state in the nation for fun, according to WalletHub.
According to the personal finance website, that title belongs to Florida.
WalletHub recently released its list of the Most Fun States to Visit in America in 2024, ranking all 50 states in the United States based on factors such as the number of restaurants, amusement parks and movie theaters per capita.
“There are certain states where fun is not just an option but also a way of life,” the site said. “These states offer such a variety of activities that everyone will be able to find something that excites them, from people who crave the outdoors and athletics to those who would rather sit down for a film.”
Florida was the No. 1 spot for having “a jolly good time that won’t break the bank,” WalletHub said, thanks to its high number of amusement parks, music festivals and miles of scoreline.
The Sunshine State earned an overall score of 65.51 out of 100.
California came in second place with a total score of 65.14, and Nevada was third with a score of 59.12,
Why is California one of the best states for fun in the nation?
California was No. 2 on WalletHub’s list of the most fun states to visit in the United States.
The Golden State boasts the most restaurants and movie theaters per capita in the nation, as well as the highest number of fitness centers per capita, the site said.
California also has an “especially large number” of amusement parks per capita, WalletHub said, as well as plenty of performing arts establishments and music festivals
“Even though California is one of the most expensive states for beer, it’s the sixth-least expensive for wine — likely due to the abundance produced locally,” WalletHub said, adding the state offers the ninth-best access to bars in the nation.
Love the great outdoors? California has the best beach access in the country and most scenic byways per capita, according to WalletHub.
The state has the fourth-best weather in the United States, the site said.
What are the top 10 US states for fun?
These are the top 10 states for fun in the United States, according to WalletHub:
- Florida
- California
- Nevada
- New York
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Texas
- Washington
- Minnesota
- Louisiana
Which US states rank the lowest for fun?
WalletHub ranked these U.S. states the lowest on its Most Fun States to Visit in America list:
- No. 41: North Dakota
- No. 42: Kentucky
- No. 43: New Hampshire
- No. 44: Connecticut
- No. 45: Vermont
- No. 46: Arkansas
- No. 47: Rhode Island
- No. 48: Delaware
- No. 49: Mississippi
- No. 50: West Virginia
How did WalletHub come up with its rankings?
To determine the most fun states in America, WalletHub compared all 50 states across two key categories, Entertainment & Recreation and Nightlife.
The site evaluated those categories using a total of 26 weighted metrics, including:
- Number of attractions
- Variety of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments
- Ideal weather
- Restaurants per capita
- Amusement parks per capita
- Golf courses and country clubs per capita
- Movie theaters per capita
- Arcades per capita
- Fitness centers per capita
- Beach quality
- Access to scenic byways
- Access to national parks
WalletHub then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score, and ranked them accordingly.
The website used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Park Service and Council for Community and Economic Research. American Gaming Association.
Information also came from the American Gaming Association, TripAdvisor, Beachapedia, America’s Scenic Byways, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Office for Coastal Management, CarnivalWarehouse.com, Music Festival Wizard and Discotech.
