How Did Utah Land In The Middle Of Fun State Rankings?

When it comes to fun, Utah has landed in an awkward spot — smack dab in the middle. According to a new report from WalletHub, Utah ranks 25th out of all 50 states in its 2025 Most Fun States in America list. Not thrilling, not terrible, just…average. Sounds about right.

Now, how people determine what is fun, and what is not, is a wide open spectrum. For my part, I find plenty of fun things to do in Utah. But my fun may be complete boredom to someone else. In fact it could be complete boredom to almost everyone else. But here's what WalletHub took into consideration.

The annual study evaluated states using 26 different metrics split between two categories: Entertainment & Recreation and Nightlife. Utah managed a respectable 18th place in Entertainment & Recreation, thanks to its abundance of outdoor activities, national parks, and scenic byways. Hiking, skiing, and exploring iconic landscapes like Arches and Zion certainly helped boost its score.

Utah Night Life? Not Much To Be Found

But then there’s nightlife — where Utah’s ranking plummeted to 48th place. Only two states fared worse. New Hampshire and Connecticut must all be in bed by 8:30. WalletHub considered factors like the number of bars, music festivals, performing arts theaters, and even beer and wine prices. While Utah might excel in powder skiing, it seems a late-night party scene isn’t quite its strength. With strict alcohol laws and bars that tend to close early, the Beehive State isn’t exactly competing with Nevada’s 24-hour casinos or New York’s Broadway lights.

For context, California took the top spot overall, with Florida and Nevada rounding out the top three. These states scored high thanks to their amusement parks, beaches, entertainment venues, and, in Nevada’s case, the ability to gamble and sip cocktails at just about any hour of the day.

Read More: We May Not Be Fun, But People Are Moving Here

Utah’s middle-of-the-pack performance may not be glamorous, but it does paint a picture of a state that offers plenty of wholesome fun — if you don’t mind calling it a night before midnight. Just give me a portion of green Jello and I'm good for the night. Remember, Utah’s natural playgrounds rival any in the nation, even if our nightlife scene is a little on the quiet side. The quieter the better as far as I'm concerned.

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The full rankings and methodology are available at WalletHub.com, where Utah proudly stands as the very definition of “moderately fun.”