Friendliest States 2026
Tourist Feedback and Social Media Survey Rank
State | Tourist Feedback and Social Media Survey Rank 2024↑ | Voted by Tourists 2023 | Average Tip 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Minnesota | 1st | 1st | 19.2% |
 | Tennessee | 2nd | 2nd | 19.5% |
 | South Carolina | 3rd | 3rd | 20.4% |
 | Texas | 4th | 4th | 18.9% |
 | Wyoming | 5th | 5th | 20.8% |
 | Indiana | 6th | 6th | 20.8% |
 | Colorado | 7th | 7th | 19.9% |
 | Kansas | 8th | 8th | 19.9% |
 | Oklahoma | 9th | 9th | 19.2% |
 | Hawaii | 10th | 10th | 18.7% |
 | Rhode Island | 41st | 41st | 20.1% |
 | Florida | 42nd | 42nd | 18.3% |
 | Nevada | 43rd | 43rd | 18.4% |
 | New Hampshire | 44th | 44th | 20.6% |
 | Washington | 45th | 45th | 18.2% |
 | New Jersey | 46th | 46th | 19% |
 | Massachusetts | 47th | 47th | 19.4% |
 | Delaware | 48th | 48th | 21.8% |
 | Arkansas | 49th | 49th | 19% |
 | New York | 50th | 50th | 18.7% |
 | Alabama | 21st | 19.4% | |
 | Alaska | 37th | 19.6% | |
 | Arizona | 39th | 19.3% | |
 | California | 40th | 18.2% | |
 | Connecticut | 38th | 19.3% | |
 | Georgia | 16th | 19.3% | |
 | Idaho | 15th | 19.6% | |
 | Illinois | 14th | 19.3% | |
 | Iowa | 29th | 20% | |
 | Kentucky | 19th | 20.7% | |
 | Louisiana | 12th | 18.8% | |
 | Maine | 31st | 20.3% | |
 | Maryland | 27th | 19.7% | |
 | Michigan | 28th | 20.2% | |
 | Mississippi | 23rd | 19.1% | |
 | Missouri | 22nd | 20.1% | |
 | Montana | 36th | 20.1% | |
 | Nebraska | 13th | 19.9% | |
 | New Mexico | 17th | 18.9% | |
 | North Carolina | 33rd | 19.6% | |
 | North Dakota | 25th | 19.7% | |
 | Ohio | 11th | 20.6% | |
 | Oregon | 24th | 19.4% | |
 | Pennsylvania | 18th | 20.3% | |
 | South Dakota | 20th | 19.4% | |
 | Utah | 32nd | 19.2% | |
 | Vermont | 34th | 19.5% | |
 | Virginia | 35th | 19.5% | |
 | West Virginia | 30th | 20.6% | |
 | Wisconsin | 26th | 20.3% |
- Comparisons of state-level friendliness tend to be anecdotal and unscientific. As such, they vary significantly from one source to another and should be viewed more as educated opinions rather than data-backed scientific or statistical conclusions.
- The Friendliest States as Voted by Tourists are presented in ranked order, with 1 being the friendliest to tourists and 50 being the least friendly.
Visiting or moving to another state can sometimes be stressful. This stress can be easily alleviated by a welcoming, friendly population that welcomes newcomers and out-of-towners. Despite being the same country, cultures vary greatly between states. One state to the next can have completely different cultural norms.
Luckily, there are states in the U.S. where the people are generally nicer. When it comes to friendliness, not all states are created equal. Which states are the friendliest?
We looked at two categories of data to determine this. One was personal experience. Big 7 Travel asked 2.5 million of their social media followers to vote on which states are the friendliest. So that ranking is below.
State Highlights
Minnesota
The term “Minnesota nice” lives up to its name. Minnesota residents are known for being extra polite, even during the state’s cold, bitter winters. The Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, are popular tourist destinations known for their residents who go the extra mile to welcome visitors.
Tennessee
Tennessee is full of the famous southern charm and hospitality. Residents are proud and eager to make friends with visitors and show them all that their state has to offer.
South Carolina
South Carolina is another southern state upholding the Southern hospitality reputation. Cities like Charleston offer both beautiful beaches and friendly locals that make vacationing there time well spent.
Texas
Texas, another southern state, is full of enthusiastic and friendly locals willing to show you Texas’s unique culture. Despite the large size of its cities, residents will still get a small-town feel because of the friendliness of the locals.
Wyoming
Wyoming is a rather quiet state with the smallest population in the country. However, its small population is one of the friendliest in the U.S. It is said that you can leave your keys in the ignition, and your car will remain untouched.
Indiana
Indiana residents pride themselves on “Hoosier hospitality.” The state is known for both its hospitality and its good sense of humor. Despite its label as a “flyover” state, the people make it worth visiting.
Colorado
Colorado is full of friendly residents with inclusive, progressive mindsets. Both the cities and mountains are family-friendly and full of activities and art. It will be hard for you not to talk about how friendly everyone is after visiting.
Kansas
Kansas’s openness is coupled with its residents’ openheartedness. Kansas locals tend to strike up conversations with anyone about everything, so be prepared if you plan on visiting.
Oklahoma
People in Oklahoma are amicable and always look after their communities (and visitors). Oklahoma City is even nicknamed “The Big Friendly” because of its kind residents.
Hawaii
Hawaii is known for its tourism and “Aloha Spirit,” so you can expect the locals to be friendly to both their community and visitors. Living in paradise must have something to do with it.
The Friendliest States By Ranking
In addition to Big 7 Travel’s survey, we also took a look at Zippia’s list of each state’s average tipping rate to give some more insight into who the most friendly states are. For the following table, you can change the ranking based on the best tippers and the survey, to compare and formulate your own opinion on the subject.
