What Are the Best States for Outdoor Enthusiasts in 2026? All 50 Ranked
Wyoming is the best state for outdoor enthusiasts in 2026 with a weighted score of 69.7/100, followed by Vermont (67.4) and Montana (63.8). Custom rankings weight outdoor access, environment, safety based on what this group cares about most.
Top 10 states for outdoor enthusiasts
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.
Wyoming leads the outdoor enthusiasts rankings with a persona-weighted score of 69.7/100. Vermont (67.4) and Montana (63.8) round out the top three.
The gap between #1 and #10 is 15.6 points. What separates these states from the rest is consistent strength across the categories that matter most for outdoor enthusiasts: outdoor access, environment, safety.
| Rank | State | Outdoor Enthusiasts Score | Outdoor Access | Environment | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wyoming | 69.7 | 95.7 | 46.6 | 79.8 |
| #2 | Vermont | 67.4 | 55.6 | 76.3 | 83.3 |
| #3 | Montana | 63.8 | 71.7 | 62.9 | 50.9 |
| #4 | Maine | 63.4 | 45.0 | 77.1 | 89.6 |
| #5 | Idaho | 61.3 | 50.2 | 70.0 | 80.5 |
| #6 | New Hampshire | 61.0 | 43.0 | 45.2 | 93.5 |
| #7 | South Dakota | 57.6 | 45.8 | 53.3 | 66.9 |
| #8 | Alaska | 57.5 | 100.0 | 49.5 | 16.7 |
| #9 | Rhode Island | 54.4 | 37.4 | 53.4 | 83.8 |
| #10 | Oregon | 54.1 | 53.4 | 64.2 | 50.5 |
#1: Wyoming
Wyoming leads the outdoor enthusiasts rankings with a weighted score of 69.7/100. The state scores 95.7 in outdoor access, 46.6 in environment, 79.8 in safety. Overall rank: #16 (69.4/100, B+ grade). Median income: $71,847. Cost of living: 91.
Wyoming's weakest area for this ranking is education at 36.7, but the weights for outdoor enthusiasts put less emphasis on that category. Unemployment: 3.5%. Violent crime: 203/100K. Life expectancy: 77.5 years.
#2: Vermont
Vermont scores 67.4/100 for outdoor enthusiasts, with strength in outdoor access (55.6) and environment (76.3). The state ranks #3 overall and offers a cost of living index of 97 with $388,000 median homes.
Vermont's weakest area for this ranking is growth at 30.2, but the weights for outdoor enthusiasts put less emphasis on that category. Unemployment: 2.7%. Violent crime: 208/100K. Life expectancy: 79.4 years.
#3: Montana
Montana scores 63.8/100 for outdoor enthusiasts, with strength in outdoor access (71.7) and environment (62.9). The state ranks #12 overall and offers a cost of living index of 90 with $523,000 median homes.
Montana's weakest area for this ranking is economy at 46.1, but the weights for outdoor enthusiasts put less emphasis on that category. Unemployment: 3.7%. Violent crime: 377/100K. Life expectancy: 77.8 years.
#4: Maine
At #4, Maine scores 63.4/100. Outdoor Access: 45.0. Environment: 77.1. Safety: 89.6. Overall rank: #5. The state's safety score of 89.6 is a standout.
Maine's weakest area for this ranking is outdoor access at 45.0, but the weights for outdoor enthusiasts put less emphasis on that category. Unemployment: 3.2%. Violent crime: 100/100K. Life expectancy: 78.7 years.
#5: Idaho
At #5, Idaho scores 61.3/100. Outdoor Access: 50.2. Environment: 70.0. Safety: 80.5. Overall rank: #13. The state's safety score of 80.5 is a standout.
Idaho's weakest area for this ranking is education at 40.8, but the weights for outdoor enthusiasts put less emphasis on that category. Unemployment: 3.2%. Violent crime: 214/100K. Life expectancy: 78.5 years.
How these rankings differ from overall rankings
Our overall state rankings weight all categories equally. Outdoor Enthusiasts rankings shift the emphasis to what this group cares about most: outdoor access (30%), environment (15%), safety (15%). Categories like fiscal health and education carry zero weight.
This means a state can rank poorly overall but well for outdoor enthusiasts if its strengths align with the weighted categories. Wyoming ranks #16 overall but #1 for outdoor enthusiasts, because its outdoor access and environment scores outweigh weaker areas.
States to avoid for outdoor enthusiasts
The bottom of the outdoor enthusiasts rankings: Louisiana (24.4), Arkansas (27.8), Alabama (28.6). Lower scores in outdoor access and environment are the primary reasons.
Louisiana scores 24.4/100 with outdoor access at 10.3, environment at 16.0, safety at 34.9. These aren't necessarily bad states — they just don't align well with what outdoor enthusiasts prioritize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:What is the best state for outdoor enthusiasts in 2026?
Wyoming ranks #1 for outdoor enthusiasts in 2026 with a weighted score of 69.7/100, followed by Vermont (67.4) and Montana (63.8). The ranking weights categories that matter most to outdoor enthusiasts: outdoor access (30%), environment (15%), safety (15%). Wyoming scores 95.7 in outdoor access, 46.6 in environment, 79.8 in safety. The gap between #1 and #10 is 15.6 points, showing meaningful differences in how well states serve this lifestyle.
Q:What categories matter most for outdoor enthusiasts?
The top-weighted categories for outdoor enthusiasts are outdoor access (30%), environment (15%), safety (15%). Categories like fiscal health and education carry zero weight because they are less relevant to this specific lifestyle profile. This means a state can rank poorly overall but well for outdoor enthusiasts if its strengths align with the weighted categories. The weighting reflects real-world priorities — different life stages and lifestyles genuinely value different things, and a one-size-fits-all ranking can miss important nuances.
Q:How do outdoor enthusiasts rankings differ from overall rankings?
Our overall state rankings use a standard weighting across all 11 categories. Outdoor Enthusiasts rankings shift the emphasis to what this group cares about most: outdoor access (30%), environment (15%), safety (15%). This means a state that ranks #1 overall might rank significantly lower for outdoor enthusiasts if its strengths don't align with the weighted categories, and vice versa. Wyoming ranks #16 overall but #1 for outdoor enthusiasts, because its strength in outdoor access and environment outweighs weaker areas that matter less for this lifestyle.
Q:Which state ranks worst for outdoor enthusiasts?
Louisiana ranks last for outdoor enthusiasts with a score of 24.4/100, primarily due to low outdoor access (10.3) and environment (16.0) scores. Arkansas (27.8) and Alabama (28.6) also rank near the bottom. These aren't necessarily bad states overall — they just don't align well with what outdoor enthusiasts prioritize. A state that ranks poorly for one lifestyle may rank well for another, depending on which categories are weighted.
Q:Can I customize these rankings for my own priorities?
Our outdoor enthusiasts rankings use a specific weighting that reflects typical priorities for this lifestyle. While we don't offer fully customizable weights on the site, you can use our state comparison tool at /compare to evaluate any two states side by side across all 11 categories. For a more tailored analysis, look at individual category rankings at /rankings — if you care most about safety and education, compare those specific rankings. Our city-level data at /cities also provides more granular information for the 1,000 largest cities. For households focused on finances, the affordability calculator at /affordability lets you model costs for specific income levels.