Here are the best states for outdoor enthusiasts

By Daniel Miller
Published  October 15, 2024 11:54am EDT
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FILE-Two hikers walk together along a trail in California.  (Photo via Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

The Brief 

    • Montana ranks as the top state for outdoor enthusiasts, according to a SmileHub survey.
    • States were ranked based on several criteria, including environmental quality and outdoor activity access.

null - Outdoor activities can be fulfilling in many ways, whether people want to enjoy the natural beauty of nature or relax to take a break from the day-to-day routine. 

While there are plenty of spaces across the country that offer a number of activities for outdoor enthusiasts, these states stand out among others based on a survey from SmileHub.

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The nonprofit tech company created its list of best states for outdoor enthusiasts by comparing 50 states across three key dimensions: Environmental quality, outdoor activity access and economic impact and job opportunities. 

Researchers also ranked the states using 18 key metrics, including national parks per capita, share of land designated for parks and wildlife, and the share of adults reporting no physical activity in their free time.

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Here are the top states for outdoor activity.

Best states for outdoor enthusiasts

  1. Montana
  2. Alaska
  3. Colorado
  4. South Dakota
  5. Utah
  6. Vermont
  7. Washington
  8. Wyoming
  9. Maine
  10. Oregon
  11. Hawaii
  12. California
  13. Minnesota
  14. Idaho
  15. New Hampshire
  16. Pennsylvania
  17. Wisconsin
  18. Florida
  19. New York
  20. Arizona

To see the complete list of states in SmileHub’s ranking, click here. 

The Source

  • Information for this story was provided by a SmileHub report.  The team put their list of best states for outdoor enthusiasts, comparing the 50 states across three key areas. Researchers also evaluated those dimensions using 18 relevant metrics. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best conditions for outdoor enthusiasts. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.