Arizona is the 10th-most fun state, according to a new WalletHub study that compared all 50 states across 26 key metrics. The analysis considered factors ranging from movie costs to the accessibility of national parks to nightlife options per capita.
“Living in one of the most fun states can boost your mental, physical and emotional health by giving you a wide range of activities to choose from, both indoor and outdoor, at a reasonable cost,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “These states help residents stay active and socialize. They're also ideal for travelers who want to make the most out of the limited amount of time and money that they have for exploring.”
In-Depth Look at Arizona
Arizona has the eighth-most attractions per capita and the fifth-cheapest movie tickets in the country. It also has the third-best weather, at least for those who can stand the summer heat, and it offers more acres of national parkland per capita than all but five other states.
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However, Arizona has room for improvement in other areas. For example, the state has the seventh-most expensive beer prices in the country. It also has the 18th-lowest state and local spending on parks and recreation per capita.
In the study's two main categories, Arizona ranks ninth for Entertainment & Recreation and 21st for Nightlife. This puts Arizona in 10th place out of the 50 states.
Most Fun States in America
Overall Rank | State | Total Score | Entertainment & Recreation Rank | Nightlife Rank |
1 | California | 67.35 | 1 | 4 |
2 | Florida | 64.14 | 2 | 7 |
3 | Illinois | 59.87 | 3 | 2 |
4 | Nevada | 58.76 | 7 | 1 |
5 | New York | 58.40 | 4 | 3 |
6 | Colorado | 56.15 | 5 | 10 |
7 | Washington | 55.75 | 6 | 8 |
8 | Texas | 53.67 | 8 | 12 |
9 | Minnesota | 49.48 | 10 | 9 |
10 | Arizona | 48.01 | 9 | 21 |
The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.

