Personal Finance Site Says Illinois Is The 4th “Most Fun” State

When you hear someone say that they think that a state is a "fun state," you might wonder what they mean by that. After all, we're all different people, and one person's idea of fun may be the exact opposite of what someone else is thinking is fun.

Usually, when the topic of the most fun states in the nation comes up, "fun" means several different things:

• Nightlife & Entertainment
• Outdoor & Adventure Activities
• Culture & Attractions
• The Food & Drink Scene
• Sports & Events

WalletHub.com, an outstanding personal-finance website, just released their list of the Most Fun States In America 2025, and here's what they looked at to come up with their rankings:

There are certain states where fun is not just an option but also a way of life. These states offer such a variety of activities that everyone will be able to find something that excites them, from people who crave the outdoors and athletics to those who would rather sit down for a film.

With pure enjoyment in mind, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 26 key indicators of a jolly good time that won’t break the bank. They range from movie costs to accessibility of national parks to nightlife options per capita.

I've already told you that Illinois is ranked #4 in the nation, so let's see why we received that number, and which 3 states are more fun than the Land of Lincoln.

The WalletHub.com Study Shows That Even Though A State Can Have Numerous Problems, It Can Still Be Fun, Too

So, which states are more fun than ours? Here are numbers 1-3, according to WalletHub.com:

At number one in the country, it's California with a score of 66.89 out of 100. Then comes Florida at number-two, with a score of 63.86. At number three in the US, we've got Nevada. Nevada's score is 58.17, and their number-one ranking for nightlife shouldn't really surprise anyone.

The least-fun states according to this list are:

West Virginia is ranked 50th, with a score of 19.18. At 49th, we've got Mississippi and a score of 21.05. In 48th place, it's Rhode Island's score of 23.74.

As for Illinois...

Here Are Illinois' Numbers Than Landed Us In 4th Place

WalletHub.com:

Fun in Illinois (1=Most Fun; 25=Avg.):

• Overall Rank: 4^th
• 5^th – Restaurants per Capita
• 7^th – Movie Theaters per Capita
• 9^th – Golf Courses & Country Clubs per Capita
• 11^th – Amusement Parks per Capita
• 4^th – Performing-Arts Theaters per Capita
• 7^th – Fitness Centers per Capita
• 25^th – Casinos per Capita
• 8^th – Variety of Arts, Entertainment & Recreation Establishments

Read the entire list of rankings and numbers by clicking here.