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The Best States for Outdoor Access (2026)
Access to parks, public land, and recreation facilities is a key quality-of-life factor. Our outdoor access score combines recreation facilities per capita from Census County Business Patterns (40%), percentage of state area that is public land from USGS PAD-US (35%), and national park acreage per capita from the National Park Service (25%). Outdoor access carries a 6% weight in the composite. Western states with vast public lands and national parks dominate this category, while densely populated Eastern states with fewer public lands score lower despite often having more recreation facilities per capita.
Outdoor Access Score by State
Key Takeaways
- 1Alaska leads the nation in outdoor access with a score of 100.0, 4.3 points ahead of #2 Wyoming. The top 3 is rounded out by Montana at 71.7.
- 2The West dominates: 7 of the top 10 states are in the West. Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico lead the way for the region.
- 3The 95.3-point gap between #1 Alaska and #50 Texas is one of the widest spreads across all categories. The median state scores 23.9, meaning half of all states fall below this threshold.
- 4The bottom 5 — Georgia, Alabama, New Jersey, Illinois, Texas — are concentrated in the South, with 3 of 5 from that region. Texas ranks last with a score of 4.7, signaling persistent challenges in outdoor access.
- 5Despite ranking #1 in outdoor access, Alaska sits at #41 overall — a notable divergence that shows category leadership doesn't always translate to top composite scores. This gap suggests Alaska has room to improve in other areas to climb the overall rankings.
Related Analysis
Best States for Outdoor Enthusiasts 2026: All 50 Ranked
Rankings weighted toward outdoor access (parks, public land, recreation), environmental quality, safety, health infrastructure, and affordable housing — for those who prioritize access to nature and an active lifestyle.
Read the full analysis →The best state for outdoor access in 2026 is Alaska with an outdoor score of 100.0/100, followed by Wyoming (95.7) and Montana (71.7). See the full rankings below.
| Rank | State | Grade | Outdoor Access Score | Overall Score | Key Metrics | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | A+ | 100.0 | 42.1 | 61.8% public land · 6.82 rec facilities/10K · 74.54 park acres/capita | West |
| 2 | Wyoming | A+ | 95.7 | 69.4 | 48.2% public land · 7.19 rec facilities/10K · 4.13 park acres/capita | West |
| 3 | Montana | A+ | 71.7 | 71.1 | 29.9% public land · 6.8 rec facilities/10K · 1.12 park acres/capita | West |
| 4 | Vermont | A+ | 55.6 | 79.6 | 17.9% public land · 8.65 rec facilities/10K · 0.04 park acres/capita | Northeast |
| 5 | Oregon | A+ | 53.4 | 58.1 | 52.6% public land · 3.43 rec facilities/10K · 0.05 park acres/capita | West |
| 6 | Idaho | A | 50.2 | 70.7 | 62.5% public land · 2.85 rec facilities/10K · 0.4 park acres/capita | West |
| 7 | South Dakota | A | 45.8 | 81.8 | 5.4% public land · 6.96 rec facilities/10K · 0.3 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 8 | Maine | A | 45.0 | 77.3 | 5.8% public land · 9.53 rec facilities/10K · 0.07 park acres/capita | Northeast |
| 9 | Colorado | A | 44.5 | 66.2 | 36.2% public land · 2.74 rec facilities/10K · 0.12 park acres/capita | West |
| 10 | New Mexico | A | 44.3 | 33.1 | 34.7% public land · 2.83 rec facilities/10K · 0.19 park acres/capita | West |
| 11 | New Hampshire | B+ | 43.0 | 87.8 | 13.5% public land · 4.99 rec facilities/10K · 0.01 park acres/capita | Northeast |
| 12 | California | B+ | 40.8 | 42.9 | 45.8% public land · 1.86 rec facilities/10K · 0.2 park acres/capita | West |
| 13 | Nevada | B+ | 39.3 | 40.3 | 84.9% public land · 1.66 rec facilities/10K · 0.24 park acres/capita | West |
| 14 | North Dakota | B+ | 39.1 | 76.6 | 3.9% public land · 5.49 rec facilities/10K · 0.09 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 15 | Utah | B+ | 38.3 | 79.3 | 64.9% public land · 1.32 rec facilities/10K · 0.63 park acres/capita | West |
| 16 | Arizona | B+ | 37.7 | 44.7 | 38.6% public land · 1.55 rec facilities/10K · 0.37 park acres/capita | West |
| 17 | Rhode Island | B+ | 37.4 | 69.8 | 4.4% public land · 5.29 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | Northeast |
| 18 | Hawaii | B+ | 36.3 | 63.2 | 15.1% public land · 3.9 rec facilities/10K · 0.25 park acres/capita | West |
| 19 | Washington | B | 35.4 | 61.4 | 28.5% public land · 2.39 rec facilities/10K · 0.26 park acres/capita | West |
| 20 | Massachusetts | B | 32.0 | 72.8 | 7.7% public land · 4.3 rec facilities/10K · 0.01 park acres/capita | Northeast |
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| 21 | Minnesota | B | 30.7 | 76.7 | 10.9% public land · 3.8 rec facilities/10K · 0.05 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 22 | Kansas | B | 30.4 | 59.3 | 0.6% public land · 4.86 rec facilities/10K · 0.01 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 23 | New York | B | 30.2 | 58.4 | 15.1% public land · 3.33 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | Northeast |
| 24 | Florida | B | 27.8 | 52.8 | 26.3% public land · 1.82 rec facilities/10K · 0.11 park acres/capita | South |
| 25 | Wisconsin | B | 23.9 | 65.2 | 5.8% public land · 3.55 rec facilities/10K · 0.01 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 26 | Delaware | B | 23.9 | 52.3 | 2.7% public land · 3.88 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | Northeast |
| 27 | Connecticut | C+ | 23.8 | 73.5 | 0.9% public land · 4.06 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | Northeast |
| 28 | Iowa | C+ | 22.4 | 69.5 | 1.1% public land · 3.87 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 29 | Nebraska | C+ | 22.0 | 74.9 | 1.4% public land · 3.79 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 30 | Virginia | C+ | 20.1 | 74.9 | 10.5% public land · 2.59 rec facilities/10K · 0.05 park acres/capita | South |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | C+ | 19.8 | 60.3 | 5.6% public land · 3.09 rec facilities/10K · 0.01 park acres/capita | Northeast |
| 32 | Michigan | C+ | 17.8 | 47.7 | 13.4% public land · 2.01 rec facilities/10K · 0.07 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 33 | West Virginia | C+ | 16.7 | 34.4 | 12% public land · 2.03 rec facilities/10K · 0.05 park acres/capita | South |
| 34 | Missouri | C+ | 15.0 | 49.3 | 5.4% public land · 2.55 rec facilities/10K · 0.01 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 35 | Mississippi | C | 14.7 | 31.5 | 6.5% public land · 2.38 rec facilities/10K · 0.04 park acres/capita | South |
| 36 | Arkansas | C | 14.7 | 30.9 | 10.5% public land · 1.96 rec facilities/10K · 0.04 park acres/capita | South |
| 37 | North Carolina | C | 13.5 | 53.7 | 9.3% public land · 1.95 rec facilities/10K · 0.04 park acres/capita | South |
| 38 | Tennessee | C | 13.3 | 46.8 | 7.2% public land · 2.13 rec facilities/10K · 0.06 park acres/capita | South |
| 39 | Oklahoma | C | 12.7 | 41.5 | 2.2% public land · 2.61 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | South |
| 40 | Maryland | C | 11.8 | 67.7 | 7.9% public land · 1.91 rec facilities/10K · 0.01 park acres/capita | Northeast |
| 41 | Louisiana | C | 10.3 | 25.9 | 4.2% public land · 2.12 rec facilities/10K · 0.01 park acres/capita | South |
| 42 | Ohio | C | 10.0 | 49.1 | 1.5% public land · 2.37 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 43 | Kentucky | D | 9.9 | 38.4 | 5.4% public land · 1.94 rec facilities/10K · 0.02 park acres/capita | South |
| 44 | Indiana | D | 9.8 | 50.7 | 2.1% public land · 2.29 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 45 | South Carolina | D | 8.9 | 44.0 | 6% public land · 1.77 rec facilities/10K · 0.01 park acres/capita | South |
| 46 | Georgia | D | 7.6 | 51.5 | 6.1% public land · 1.61 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | South |
| 47 | Alabama | D | 6.6 | 38.9 | 3.7% public land · 1.74 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | South |
| 48 | New Jersey | D | 6.5 | 65.9 | 7.3% public land · 1.35 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | Northeast |
| 49 | Illinois | F | 5.8 | 52.0 | 2.4% public land · 1.78 rec facilities/10K · 0 park acres/capita | Midwest |
| 50 | Texas | F | 4.7 | 45.8 | 1.8% public land · 1.69 rec facilities/10K · 0.04 park acres/capita | South |
Top 10 States for Outdoor Access
Bottom 10 States for Outdoor Access
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best state for outdoor access in 2026?
Alaska ranks #1 for outdoor access in 2026, followed by Wyoming and Montana, based on recreation facilities, public land, and national park acreage per capita.
Which states have the least outdoor access?
The states with the lowest outdoor access scores in 2026 are Texas, Illinois, and New Jersey, due to limited public land and fewer recreation facilities per capita.
How is the outdoor access score calculated?
The outdoor access score combines Census CBP recreation facilities per capita (40%), USGS PAD-US public land percentage (35%), and NPS national park acreage per capita (25%). It carries a 6% weight in the composite.
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Data Sources
📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024📎FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024📎America's Health Rankings, 2025📎WalletHub/NAEP, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024📎Cook Political Report, PVI 2024📎Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025📎ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025📎WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025📎BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023📎EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024📎FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025📎National Park Service API, 2024📎USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)📎FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024📎DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023📎BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023📎NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24📎EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22📎NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23📎BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023📎NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023📎Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022📎Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023📎Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022📎S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)📎IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022