Skip to main content

Summer Vacation Ideas: A Ranking of America’s Most Fun Cities and States

With warm weather and longer days, summertime means fun time for most people. Since these sunny days last but a few months a year, most people try to pack as much excitement as possible into their summer. To determine the best destinations for revelry, WalletHub conducted full studies on The Most Fun States and The Most Fun Cities in America. Check out the breakdown below to see where you should spend your summer vacation for peak pleasure.

10 Most Fun States

Kammock California State Flag Hammock
Kammock/Instagram

If you can explore one state this summer, make sure it’s one of these:

  1. California
  2. New York
  3. Nevada
  4. Florida
  5. Illinois
  6. Washington
  7. Texas
  8. Colorado
  9. Pennsylvania
  10. Minnesota
Recommended Videos

Top Spots for Entertainment and Recreation

new york city brooklyn bridge park
Image used with permission by copyright holder

WalletHub compares states and cities in two key categories: “Entertainment and Recreation” and “Nightlife.: Considerations for Entertainment and Recreation include number and variety of entertainment establishments, weather conditions, restaurants, amusement parks, golf courses, movie theaters, arcades, fitness centers, marinas, shoreline mileage, beach quality, state fairs and events, access to National Parks, personal spending on recreation per capita, and state and local spending on parks and recreation per capita.

10 Best States for Entertainment and Recreation:

  1. California
  2. New York
  3. Florida
  4. Illinois
  5. Nevada
  6. Texas
  7. Washington
  8. Colorado
  9. Pennsylvania
  10. Minnesota

States with the Highest Variety of Entertainment Establishments:

  1. Maine
  2. Vermont
  3. Nevada
  4. Minnesota
  5. Tennessee

States with the Best Access to National Parks:

  1. Alaska
  2. Wyoming
  3. Montana
  4. South Dakota
  5. New Mexico

Cities with the Most Restaurants per Capita:

  1. New York, New York
  2. Orlando, Florida
  3. Las Vegas, Nevada
  4. Houston, Texas
  5. Atlanta, Georgia

Cities with the Lowest Movie Costs:

  1. Port St. Lucie, Florida
  2. Corpus Christi, Texas
  3. Montgomery, Alabama
  4. Bakersfield, California
  5. Springfield, Missouri

Top Spots for Nightlife

las vegas nevada sunrise
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Considerations for Nightlife include average beer & wine prices, movie costs, nightlife options per Capita, access to bar, time of last call, music festival, performing-arts theaters, and casinos. WalletHub also ranked America’s Most Fun Cities in similar categories.

Top 10 States for Nightlife:

  1. Nevada
  2. Wisconsin
  3. Illinois
  4. New York
  5. Louisiana
  6. Ohio
  7. California
  8. Washington
  9. Pennsylvania
  10. Colorado

States with the Most Performing Arts Theaters per Capita:

  1. New York
  2. California
  3. Illinois
  4. Minnesota
  5. Massachusetts

Cities with the Most Accessible Bars per Capita:

  1. New York, New York
  2. Las Vegas, Nevada
  3. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  4. Portland, Oregon
  5. Washington, D.C.

Cities with the Most Dance Clubs per Capita:

  1. San Francisco, California
  2. Las Vegas, Nevada
  3. Atlanta, Georgia
  4. Los Angeles, California
  5. Orlando, Florida

Cities with the Lowest Average Beer Cost:

  1. Albuquerque, New Mexico
  2. Laredo, Texas
  3. Birmingham, Alabama
  4. Cleveland, Ohio
  5. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

If you’re still drafting your perfect summer plan, check out WalletHub’s full list of fun states and fun cities to help you get the most bang for your buck and squeeze in as much entertainment as you can before the autumn chill begins to creep back in. Both reports also include interviews with experts who weigh in on topics like how to have fun on a budget, drinking in public, and the pros and cons of marijuana legalization when it comes to tourism.

LeeAnn Whittemore
Former Digital Trends Contributor
LeeAnn Whittemore is a writer, artist, and graphic designer who grew up in the Midwest before moving to the Gulf Coast. As a…
This Patagonia hotel is giving volunteers a free trip to Chile
Apply by February 19 for a chance to win
Reserva Las Torres Patagonia

A luxury hotel in the heart of Chilean Patagonia is offering adventurers the ultimate opportunity: a free trip in exchange for helping to protect one of the region’s most famous trails. Las Torres Patagonia, a high-end eco-lodge inside Torres del Paine National Park, is selecting 10 volunteers for an all-expenses-paid stay while they assist in building a sustainable path to Base Torres, the stunning viewpoint of the park’s iconic granite peaks.
10 Volunteers for 10 Days

The social media campaign, 10 Volunteers for 10 Days, marks the second time Las Torres Patagonia has invited travelers to exchange their time and effort for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Read more
You can now take a train between these two European capitals
After 9 months of restoration work, these two capitals are connected again
Train

Traveling between London and Amsterdam just got easier. Eurostar has resumed its direct train service between the two capitals, eliminating the need for a transfer in Brussels. With the opening of the new UK Terminal at Amsterdam Central Station, passengers can once again enjoy a seamless journey between the Netherlands and the UK.

After a nearly nine-month pause, the direct route is back, offering a faster and more convenient alternative to flights. The restored service is expected to make cross-border travel more efficient for both tourists and business travelers alike.
New and improved service

Read more
Hawaiian Airlines closes this flagship lounge
Hawaiian Airlines will close its Apartment 1929 lounge
Apartment 1929 lounge

Hawaiian Airlines will close its Apartment 1929 lounge barely a year after its opening. The Honolulu-based airline will also wind down its premium airport VIP service. The closure occurs on March 14, barely a year past the lounge’s opening.

Hawaiian Airlines unveiled the VIP service and lounge in February 2024. The service didn’t require elite status, a special credit card, or a business or first-class ticket. Hawaiian passengers simply needed to pay for the service. But a year in, the tides changed, and both will be discontinued.
Hawaiian Airlines changes its strategy for premium experiences
Apartment 1929 lounge Hawaiian Airlines

Read more