The Sunshine State turned out to be the second-most “fun” state in the nation, according to WalletHub’s most recent ranking.
But one other state managed to come out on top: California.
WHAT DOES “FUN” MEAN?
WalletHub compared all 50 states using 26 indicators related to entertainment, recreation and affordability, including:
- Restaurants, amusement parks and arcades per capita
- Music festivals and nightlife options
- Marinas and shoreline access
- Movie theaters and fitness centers
- Access to national parks
- State and local spending on parks and recreation
- Variety of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments
WHY DID FLORIDA RANK SO HIGH?
Florida ranked first nationally for the number of restaurants, amusement parks, arcades and music festivals per capita. It also ranked fourth for total attractions and seventh for the variety of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments.
The state’s outdoor amenities helped strengthen its overall ranking. Florida has more marinas per capita than any other state and ranks second for shoreline mileage, giving residents and visitors numerous opportunities for boating, fishing and other water-based activities.
Florida also ranked 12th for overall weather, despite its hot summers. State government spending on parks and recreation ranked 18th nationally, while the average Floridian spends nearly $2,300 per year on recreation—also 18th-highest in the country.
CALIFORNIA TAKES NO. 1
California took the top spot overall, while Illinois, Nevada and New York rounded out the top five.
“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).“
WalletHub, “Most Fun States in America (2026)”
FULL RANKING
| 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 |
| 11 | Oregon | 47.45 | 12 | 15 |
| 12 | Louisiana | 47.24 | 18 | 6 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 47.22 | 14 | 11 |
| 14 | North Carolina | 46.67 | 11 | 19 |
| 15 | Ohio | 46.50 | 16 | 13 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 45.49 | 23 | 5 |
| 17 | Missouri | 44.42 | 22 | 14 |
| 18 | Maryland | 43.24 | 13 | 30 |
| 19 | Michigan | 43.18 | 21 | 17 |
| 20 | Georgia | 42.31 | 15 | 37 |
| 21 | South Carolina | 41.82 | 17 | 32 |
| 22 | Hawaii | 39.65 | 19 | 44 |
| 23 | Tennessee | 39.48 | 27 | 22 |
| 24 | New Mexico | 39.37 | 24 | 29 |
| 25 | Utah | 38.44 | 20 | 48 |
| 26 | Virginia | 38.24 | 25 | 39 |
| 27 | South Dakota | 37.52 | 29 | 20 |
| 28 | Montana | 37.30 | 32 | 16 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | 37.23 | 28 | 27 |
| 30 | Idaho | 37.12 | 26 | 40 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | 36.88 | 30 | 23 |
| 32 | Iowa | 34.41 | 36 | 18 |
| 33 | Wyoming | 33.42 | 31 | 42 |
| 34 | Nebraska | 33.22 | 34 | 28 |
| 35 | Alaska | 32.92 | 33 | 41 |
| 36 | Indiana | 31.76 | 39 | 25 |
| 37 | New Jersey | 31.58 | 35 | 38 |
| 38 | Kentucky | 30.08 | 38 | 33 |
| 39 | Kansas | 29.93 | 40 | 34 |
| 40 | North Dakota | 28.91 | 42 | 31 |
| 41 | Maine | 28.87 | 37 | 45 |
| 42 | Alabama | 28.13 | 42 | 34 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | 27.33 | 41 | 47 |
| 44 | Connecticut | 26.67 | 43 | 49 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 24.79 | 48 | 26 |
| 46 | Delaware | 24.57 | 45 | 50 |
| 47 | Arkansas | 24.00 | 46 | 46 |
| 48 | Vermont | 23.97 | 47 | 36 |
| 49 | Mississippi | 21.62 | 50 | 24 |
| 50 | West Virginia | 20.57 | 49 | 43 |