Friendliest States 2026

Tourist Feedback and Social Media Survey Rank

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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.