This Southern State Was Just Named the Most Fun State in the U.S. — Here's Why

WalletHub named Florida the most fun state in the nation.

"Fun" is a hard thing to measure, but WalletHub is giving it a try.

In August, the finance website revealed its list of the most fun states in the United States. To figure out which state is the funnest of them all, the team stated it compared all 50 states across 26 key indicators of "a jolly good time that won't break the bank." These metrics include the cost of a movie, the ease of access to national parks, and the number of nightlife options per capita.

Each metric was graded on a 1-100-point scale. It then took each state's weighted average to calculate its overall score.

"There are certain states where fun is not just an option but also a way of life," the team explained. "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."

After looking at all the data, WalletHub named Florida the most fun in the nation.
"Florida is the most fun state in 2024, leading the country when it comes to the number of restaurants, amusement parks, arcades, and music festivals per capita," WalletHub explained. "But even if those particular activities aren’t of interest to you, Florida has the third-most attractions per capita and the sixth-best variety of arts, entertainment, and recreation establishments."

Additionally, it stated that Florida is fantastic for nature lovers thanks to its fantastic year-round weather and the fact that it has the most marinas per capita and the second-most miles of shoreline in the country.

"Finally, the Florida government spends a lot on parks and recreation, the eighth-most per capita," it added. "The average Floridian also spends over $2,000 per year on recreation expenses, the 14th-most in the country."

Joining Florida at the top of the list is California in the second spot, followed by Nevada, New York, and Colorado rounding out the top five spots. But here's the good news: every state offers at least a little fun, making it possible to simply go down the block for a good time.

"I think just getting in your car and traveling to areas that are not too far away and that you would like to see and spend time, is so great," WalletHub expert Gemma Puglisi, who's also an assistant professor of public communications at American University, shared in the findings. "You could do small road trips getting together with friends and family you have not seen and just visiting places you've always wanted to go but never had time."

See the full results and all the expert tips for finding fun at wallethub.com.

Related: This Is Florida's Most Affordable Vacation Destination — How to Plan a Visit

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