Whether it is the height of summer, the end of fall, or the beginning of spring, for the thrill-seekers out there, there is always an exciting adventure to be had outdoors no matter the time of the year – especially in a country as big as America!
In fact, according to several studies, America might just be the thrill-seeking capital of the world, with data suggesting that the US was responsible for 14% of the globe’s total adventure tourism in 2019. A number which has likely only increased since then.
In other words, the US is currently the go-to destination out there for adrenaline junkies and outdoor enthusiasts alike, making it the perfect destination of choice for anyone currently planning their next adventure holiday before the end of the year!
Which leaves only one question – which US state is best suited to meet your thrill-seeking needs? To help you find out, the team at buycycle took it upon themselves to look at all 50 US states and rank them according to their thrill-seeking potential.
This included analyzing each state based on several core factors, including their total number of cycling routes, the number of mountain bike routes, the number of other outdoor activities they offer, and the total hiking trail length across the state, all to provide you with a definitive list of which states are most tailored to meet your specific adventure holiday criteria!
Which states are best for US thrill-seekers?
Having completed our examination of all nine factors used to provide each state with its thrill-seeking score, we can now reveal the top five outdoor adventure states in the US:
1. California.
If you regularly participate in any form of adventurous, outdoor activity, then you are probably not in the least bit surprised to learn that California came in first as the US state with the most potential for thrill-seeking escapades – and not just because it is home to some of the most spectacular views and stunning locations in the world!
With an impressive total score of 85.6 out of 100, California is simply a must-visit destination for anyone who enjoys getting a sweat on while trying new and exciting activities. For starters, anyone who enjoys cycling (we know there are a few of you reading) will be thrilled to hear that California boasts a staggering 83,109 different cycling routes.
Not only that, but 16,183 of these are specifically mountain bike trails, so you can enjoy a pleasant evening ride one day before gunning it down the side of a mountain the next. And, of course, if you want to step off the pedals and stretch your legs on foot, California has 18,467 miles of hiking trails for you to enjoy as well.
But the good news for adventure tourists does not stop there, because when it comes to outdoor activities, California has you covered with over 31,000 climbing routes (31,920 to be exact), 26 skydiving centers, three bungee jumping centers, 26 amusement parks, and 33 hot air ballooning stations – the most out of all our top five!
As it turns out, the only activity California failed to rank in the top five for was Kayaking (coming in seventh overall), but even then, it’s still home to 219 different canoeing routes, which essentially means that, if you want to experience every adrenaline hit that America has to offer in one location, California is the perfect destination!
2. Florida.
Next up, and trailing behind California by a sizable 32 points, we have Florida. Despite having plenty to offer anyone after a thrill-seeking vacation, the Sunshine State only scored 53.5 out of 100, though this in no way means it does not have something to offer every adrenaline enthusiast looking to drop by.
Case and point, Florida is still home to 36,043 cycling routes, which might be over 40,000 less than California, but it is still more than enough to offer any avid cyclist a fresh horizon every day. And mountain bike fans aren’t going to be missing out either, as Florida’s 2,637 mountain bike routes are there to ensure you never have to do the same route jump twice.
However, if kayaking and canoeing are your real outdoor passion, then Florida is the state for you. In fact, Florida had the most kayaking opportunities out of all 50 states, boasting a staggering 4,180 – that’s 3,632 more than North Carolina, which came second for this factor!
And the specialist outdoor activity news just keeps getting better for anyone visiting here as Florida came in second for the number of amusement parks (22), third for skydiving centers (22), and first for bungee locations (four). It even landed 13th for hot air ballooning opportunities (14), which still placed it in the top 20 states for this activity.
Even Florida’s 2,670 miles of hiking trails was enough to put in 19th for this factor. Sadly though, if climbing is more your thing, then Florida is going to be a little disappointing for you. With 17 climbing routes overall, Florida only just missed the bottom spot on our list for this factor, clawing ahead of four other states for the 46th position.
3. New York.
Dropping into our third-place state, we come to the home of the Big Apple and its many adventure tourism opportunities. Although not coming out on top for any one factor, the state of New York scored well across the board in all areas, giving it a total rating of 41.8 out of 100.
Starting with the essentials, New York’s 43,143 cycling routes and 6,048 mountain bike routes are going to be music to the ears of any cyclist seeking to change up the scenery each time their rubber hits the road, and that’s before we even mention the respectable 4,447 miles of hiking trails available for those who like to take things on foot.
And for anyone wanting to get their hands dirty, New York also has 5,276 different climbing routes dotted throughout the state for you to try, alongside 26 hot air balloon locations for those after a bird’s eye view of this state’s gorgeous landscapes.
Plus, anyone looking to take things easy for a day will have their pick of 18 different amusement parks (the third highest number on our list), as well as 12 skydiving centers, 362 kayaking trails, and two bungee jumping centers, should you want to mix things up.
Simply put, if you want access to one of the world’s most famous cityscapes while also leaving plenty of room for you to satisfy your adrenaline needs, then you can’t do much better than New York!
4. Colorado.
Situated slap-bang in the middle of the US, Colorado comes swinging into fourth place with a well-earned score of 40.5 out of 100. And to be clear, although Colorado is not brimming with thrill-seeking opportunities in all areas, where it does have them, it absolutely delivers some of the best experiences throughout the whole of the US.
For one thing, and likely no shock to any experienced climbers and hikers out there, Colorado placed second overall for both of these factors, offering a massive 27,776 climbing routes, and 11,516 miles of hiking trails respectively – and this is before we even touch on cycle routes.
While not as high as the top three states on our list, Colorado is still home to a modest selection of 16,239 cycle routes and 7,583 mountain bike routes, placing it seventh and fifth in both of these areas. And with 18 different locations to try out hot air ballooning, you’ll have plenty of unique ways to view the mountains of America’s Centennial State.
Unfortunately, however, Colorado does fall short in a few areas. For one thing, Colorado only features eight canoe trails, despite being home to several impressive rivers, as well as just two bungee jumping centers. And while it did come middle of our list for skydiving centers (nine) and amusement parks (four), there are certainly other states out there better suited to these activities.
5. Washington.
Last, but certainly not least, the final spot in our top five was claimed by Washington State – a worthy contender when it comes to many of the most active thrill-seeking factors we chose to focus on, all of which helped to deliver its satisfactory score of 35 out of 100.
Sticking with our focus on cycle routes first, Washington placed fourth overall when looking at mountain bike routes (8,535), and eighth for standard cycle routes (15,788), which is not surprising when you consider just how incredibly varied Washington’s landscape is.
And speaking of varied landscape, Washington’s naturally mountainous terrain lends itself well to hiking, hence why this state has 10,590 miles of hiking routes marked and laid out for you to enjoy at your leisure, alongside 7,215 climbing routes should you want to get a little close to the state’s many mountain peaks.
Washington even placed well when it comes to kayak routes, with 137, though its overall score is let down slightly by its lower ranking in our remaining factors. For example, Washington placed outside the top 10 for both skydiving centers (ten) and hot air balloon opportunities (15).
Interestingly, however, Washington did place fourth for bungee jumping (3), though it came in the bottom 20 states for amusement parks with just two. Regardless of this factor, however, assuming you can get past the lack of rollercoasters and drop towers, then Washington is an excellent state for any adventure tourist to visit!
Which other US states are good for adventure cycling?
While all our top five states are great choices if you specifically want an adventurous cycling holiday with varying scenery, that’s not to say they were the only states on our list with plenty of cycle route options.
As it turns out, Texas, Illinois, and Massachusetts are all fantastic options for anyone wanting multiple cycle route options in varying locales. Texas, for example, is home to 31,698 standard cycle routes, while Illinois and Massachusetts have respectable totals of 20,196 and 17,944 routes respectively.
And for the intrepid mountain bike riders out there, both Massachusetts and Illinois are solid options for this sort of activity too. Despite not making our top five, Massachusetts came in top for mountain bike routes with 17,317, while Illinois came third with 11,790.
Even other mid-tier states like Utah and Arizona did well for mountain biking, with Utah being sixth best for mountain bike routes (6,712), and Arizona placing eighth (5,720), which makes sense given that they are Colorado’s closest neighbors and goes to show that even the quieter states have something going on for everyone.
Finally, having touched on all the best places to visit in America to get your adventure hotspot fix it is still worth touching on a few safety tips to bear in mind while you are hurtling down the occasional hill or two at high speeds.
Our top tips for staying safe when adventure cycling.
As with all things involving a little risk, taking safety precautions now can save you pain in the future, and we would strongly recommend doing the following when participating in any adventure cycling activities:
- Wear a helmet – safety first is the name of the game when it comes to adventure cycling, and nowhere is this truer than with helmet safety. No matter what anyone says, always wear a helmet when doing any form of mountain biking or road cycling. It might not always be the most stylish piece of attire, but this bit of cushioned plastic will be there to protect your head should you accidentally come off.
- Invest in protective gear – while not as essential as a helmet, investing in the right cycling gear can prevent unforeseen injuries that could put a downer on your holiday. Body armor, for example, could turn a heavy knock into a light bruise, whereas goggles are a must to prevent dirt and grit from getting in your eyes mid-cycle. You also want to avoid wearing any loose clothing that could get caught, lest you want to be yanked off your seat unexpectedly.
- Take a first aid kit – injuries of any kind are always a potential risk with adventure sports, which is why it always pays to take a well-stocked first aid kit with you on any trip. From sling material and painkillers to gauze and plasters, make sure your first aid kit is topped up for any eventuality you might face.
- Pack a tool kit – in the same way that you could get hurt while out on the track, the same is true for your bike as well, particularly on harder routes where the ground is that much rockier. Therefore, just like a first aid kit, it’s vital that you bring a tool and repair kit along with you, just in case. That way, if your bike is damaged or a tyre is punctured, you can fix it temporarily before finding a bike repair shop.
- Plan your route – needless to say, if you’ve never been to a particular cycling area before, it’s essential that you plan your route beforehand to avoid getting lost. And even then, should you deviate from your route, there’s a good chance you won’t have any phone signal, making a GPS an invaluable piece of kit to have with you in order to navigate back home.
- Bring plenty of food and water – finally, getting out and about on your bike is tiring work, so be sure to bring plenty of food and fluids with you to keep your energy levels up.
Choose buycycle for your next bike.
And there you have it! Those are the top states in the US for those thrill-seekers after an engaging and excitement-filled holiday. Of course, such a vacation does run the risk of damaging your main bike by accident either in transit or once you arrive, which is why you might want to browse the range of refurbished bikes we have on offer at buycycle!
Whether you want to buy a high-quality, pre-owned bike that you don’t mind getting roughed up, or you are looking to sell your old bike for a more advanced model at a great price, we’re your one-stop shop for all your bike-related needs.
Take a look at all the different brands and models we have in our collection before making your decision, and don’t forget to visit our cycling blog as well for more detailed adventure pieces like this one.
Methodology.
This dataset ranks all 50 US states, based on how good they are for thrillseakers. To do this, nine different factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given.
The normalised values were then summed and multiplied by 11.1, to give each location a total score out of 100. The locations were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores.
The factors used are as follows:
- Cycling Routes – The number of cycling routes in each state, according to bikemap.
- Mountain Bike Routes – The number of mountain bike routes in each state, according to Trailforks.
- Hiking Trail Length – The total length of all hiking trails in each state, according to destinationhikers in miles.
- Climbing Routes – The number of climbing routes in each state, according to thecrag.
- Amusement Parks – The number of amusement parks in each state, according to Coasterpedia.
- Skydiving Centers – The number of skydiving centers in each state, according to dropzone.
- Canoe/Kayak Trails – The number of canoe and kayak trails in each state, according to wikiloc.
- Bungee Jumping Centers – The number of results on Google Maps for the prompt "bungee jumping centers in X", where X is the state. Results were further filtered for the business category containing "bungee_jumping".
- Hot Air Balloon Locations – The number of results on Google Maps for the prompt "hot air balloon ride in X", where X is the state. Results were further filtered for the business category containing "balloon".
The factors were indexed as follows:
- All Factors – High values get a high score. Low values get a low score.
All data is correct as of 09/08/24. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regard to the sources provided.