People crunch various metrics when settling on a city to live in or visit. Some factors concern the cost of living, staying, or how easy it is to go around on foot or by public transit. Other considerations might be the architecture, culture, and history of a place. But for many people, there's one prevailing question: Is it any fun?
Answers to that question seem to be shifting in 2025. Las Vegas, commonly regarded as one of the most fun destinations in the U.S., is experiencing a significant tourism slump, with an over 11% decline in visitors in June 2025. International visitors in particular decreased by 13%. The reasons for this, however, might have less to do with the fun factor and more with widespread economic concerns, along with distaste for President Trump's policies and rhetoric. Those same causes have almost certainly contributed to the $4 billion loss in international tourism felt by New York City, another of the most fun U.S. destinations.
For those who still want to travel to these and other cities, though, looking at the attractions can make all the difference. At the same time, countless other variables can set a city apart, such as weather, neighborhoods, and regional traditions. So, how do you figure out where you can cut loose? To find out, and because "fun" can be defined differently by everyone, Stacker analyzed the 2025 report from WalletHub on the most fun cities in America, released in December 2024.
The site compared 182 cities—including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state—across three dimensions: entertainment and recreation, nightlife and parties, and cost. Next, the cities were evaluated according to 65 key metrics, which ranged from fitness centers per capita to movie costs to average open hours of breweries. Cities with something for everyone received the highest rankings, which didn't consider the more extreme versions of fun like adventure sports. WalletHub then determined each city's weighted average across all metrics to assign an overall fun score out of 100.
Whether you're seeking adventure, culture, a great meal, a great show, or a wild night of drinking and dancing, a trip to one of these cities that made the top 20 will surely delight. Keep reading to discover if your favorite metropolis made it into this gallery of the most fun cities in the United States.
