Most Fun States in America (2026)

Everyone defines “fun” a little differently, and ideally the place we live should match our personal interests and favorite ways to spend free time. That’s not always the case, though, which is why many people end up looking for a new place to call home.

Some states make entertainment a central part of everyday life. Whether you enjoy outdoor adventures, sports, live music, nightlife, movies or family-friendly attractions, these states offer a wide range of activities that appeal to many different tastes.

With fun and affordability in mind, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 26 key indicators of enjoyable experiences that won’t break the bank. These range from movie costs to accessibility of national parks to nightlife options per capita.

For a closer look at the best places to have fun at the local level, check out WalletHub’s Most Fun Cities in America ranking.

Main Findings

Most Fun States to Visit in America

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

In-Depth Look at the Most Fun States

California

California is the most fun state in 2026, with an especially large number of restaurants, amusement parks, movie theaters, and fitness centers per capita. It also boasts the second-most attractions per capita overall.

For those who enjoy nightlife, the Golden State has a very high number of performing-arts establishments and music festivals per capita, along with the ninth-best access to bars. And even though California is one of the most expensive states for beer, it’s the least expensive for wine – likely due to the abundance produced locally.

When it comes to the outdoors, California has the most scenic byways per capita and the sixth-longest ones in the country. It also has the best beach access in the country and the fourth-best weather (at least, when it’s not too hot to go out).

Florida

Florida is the second-most fun state in 2026, leading the country when it comes to the number of restaurants, amusement parks, arcades and music festivals per capita. But even if those particular activities aren’t of interest to you, Florida has the fourth-most attractions per capita, and the seventh-best variety of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments.

In addition, Florida is a great state for people who like to be outside. Although it does have very hot summers, the state has the 12th-best weather overall. It also has the most marinas per capita and the second-most miles of shoreline.

Finally, the Florida government spends a lot on parks and recreation, the 18th-most per capita. The average Floridian also spends nearly $2,300 per year on recreation expenses, the 18th-most in the country.

Illinois

Illinois is the third-most fun state in the country, due in large part to its nightlife. It has the fourth-most nightlife activities per capita, including a very high number of music festivals and fifth-highest number of restaurants. Additionally, the state has the 10th-lowest average wine price.

But having fun in Illinois isn’t all about partying. The Prairie State also spends more money per capita on parks and recreation than any other state except seven states, and it has the ninth-most public golf courses. It also has the seventh-most movie theater establishment in the U.S., too.

Finally, Illinois has the sixth-most attractions per capita, and the eighth-best variety of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments.

The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.