4 of the Top 5 “Most Fun Cities in America” Are in the South

Fun means something different to everyone. Some love exploring new restaurants, traveling, hitting up bars or clubs, or diving into outdoor sports. Others might prefer the thrill of roller coasters, a cozy movie night, or an intense video game session. But let’s face it—fun isn’t always cheap. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American shells out more than $3,600 a year on entertainment.

To help folks uncover cities packed with affordable, fun activities, WalletHub analyzed over 180 U.S. cities using 65 key metrics. These included everything from the number of fitness centers per capita to movie ticket prices and brewery hours.

“The most fun cities naturally include some of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S., like Las Vegas, Orlando and Miami, but these cities are far more than tourist traps.

“They provide a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities for all types of interests, from sports to theaters to arcades, and they have plenty of diverse restaurants to try.

“The top cities offer affordable options for year-round fun for their residents, which is good for residents’ wallets and their mental health,” says Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Top 20 Most Fun Cities in America
1. Las Vegas, NV	11. Fort Lauderdale, FL
2. Orlando, FL	12. St. Louis, MO
3. Miami, FL	13. Denver, CO
4. Atlanta, GA	14. Portland, OR
5. New Orleans, LA	15. Cincinnati, OH
6. Austin, TX	16. Honolulu, HI
7. San Francisco, CA	17. Tampa, FL
8. Chicago, IL	18. Los Angeles, CA
9. Houston, TX	19. Seattle, WA
10. New York, NY	20. Washington, DC

Curious how Atlanta ranked on these metrics?

• Overall rank for Atlanta: 4^th
• 7^th – Festivals per Capita
• 9^th – Restaurants per Capita
• 27^th – Playgrounds per Capita
• 48^th – Bar Accessibility
• 59^th – Parkland Acres per Capita
• 6^th – Fitness Centers per Capita
• 8^th – Dance Clubs per Capita
• 18^th – Number of Attractions
• 84^th – Avg. Beer Price

Here are some more fun facts from the study.

• Miami, Florida, has the most restaurants (per square root of population), which is 20.8 times more than in Pearl City, Hawaii, the city with the fewest.
   
• Boston has the highest share of the population with walkable park access, which is 3.1 times higher than in Indianapolis, the city with the lowest.
   
• Las Vegas has the most playgrounds (per square root of population), which is 22.2 times more than in Hialeah, Florida, the city with the fewest. 
   
• San Francisco has the most dance clubs (per square root of population), which is 77 times more than in Henderson, Nevada, the city with the fewest.
   
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has the lowest average beer price (per six-pack), which is 1.6 times lower than in Anchorage, Alaska, the city with the highest.
   
• Greensboro, North Carolina, has the lowest movie cost, which is three times lower than in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, the cities with the highest.