Map Shows Most—and Least—Fun States
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
New data released by the personal finance company WalletHub has revealed which states are the most—and least—fun to live in.
California was deemed the most fun state in America, according to WalletHub's data, based on its high number of restaurants, amusement parks, movie theaters and fitness centers, as well as having the second-most attractions per capita overall.
The rankings were based on a number of metrics, looking broadly at entertainment and recreation opportunities and nightlife.
Why It Matters
Living in states with more attractions, activities, restaurants and nightlife is thought to have a positive impact on mental well-being by improving quality of life and increasing social interaction.
States with more entertainment opportunities are also likely to have higher levels of tourism, boosting local economies.
Although, because of inflation and high costs of accommodation, dining and fuel, experts have predicted that Americans may opt to limit costs, such as by finding recreation activities closer to home or by seeking low-cost alternatives to visiting major attraction and entertainment sites.
What To Know
Florida and Nevada were also ranked as the top three most fun states, while Rhode Island, Mississippi and West Virginia were ranked as the least fun states.
California was ranked top for entertainment and recreation, and third for its nightlife, with Nevada taking the top spot there, followed by Illinois.
While the Golden State has a high number of performing-arts establishments, music festivals and bars, Nevada has the most nightlife activities per capita, with high numbers of music festivals and casinos. Bars in Nevada may stay open 24/7 while offering low beer and wine prices.
Florida ranked second for entertainment and recreation and lower for nightlife. It also has good weather for those who like to be outside, ranking 12th for weather, taking into consideration its very hot summers.
At the bottom end of the rankings, West Virginia was lowest for entertainment and recreation but a little higher for nightlife. This was likely due to its limited variety of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments and low personal expenditures on recreation services per capita.
Mississippi and Rhode Island also ranked at the bottom for entertainment and recreation while scoring significantly better for nightlife.
The rankings were calculated through evaluation of 26 relevant metrics under the main two categories—entertainment and recreation, and nightlife—which were given different weights in the total score.
Entertainment and recreation had a much higher weighting than nightlife, totaling 80 points of the overall score, with number of attractions and variety of entertainment choices having the biggest weight.
Nightlife options per capita had the largest weighting among the various metrics used to calculate the nightlife ranking.
What People Are Saying
Robby Lybrand, chef instructor at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of South Carolina, told WalletHub: "Inflation continues to shape how Americans travel and spend on tourism in 2025. As costs for lodging, dining, and fuel remain elevated, many travelers are adjusting by choosing shorter trips, traveling closer to home, and seeking lower-cost activities. While inflation may reduce the frequency or duration of travel for some households, it's also driving the rise of 'staycations' and regional travel, providing new opportunities for local destinations to highlight free and low-cost fun. Despite financial pressure, demand for experiences remains strong, and travel continues to be a top priority for many households, even if they scale back how far or how extravagantly they go."
What Happens Next
Inflation and high costs of entertainment, nightlife and travel will continue to shape the way Americans choose to have fun.
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