Check out these top ten states seeking adventure in their state.
New research by student travel company Rustic Pathways has revealed the US states whose residents are most adventurous—the top 10 states seeking adventure in their state.
. The results showcase a unique work-life balance driven by the pursuit of outdoor activities.
Takeaways
- Colorado is the most adventurous state, with 97% more Google searches for outdoor activities than the national average.
- Residents in Colorado conduct 4,509 adventure-related searches per 100,000 people each month
- The most popular search term in the US is ‘camping’
Top 10 States Seeking Adventure
The study analyzed Google Keyword Planner data from the last 12 months related to adventurous pursuits like hiking, mountain climbing, backpacking, scuba diving, skydiving, camping, and various snow sports. The research looked at search volume for the activities themselves, the locations where they can be enjoyed, and even the equipment needed.
Notably, a recent survey from the Outdoor Industry Association found that 53% of Americans engaged in outdoor recreation in 2023, reflecting a growing trend toward prioritizing mental health and well-being through nature.
Colorado
Colorado has been crowned the state with the most avidly adventurous residents. Over the last 12 months, residents of the state searched for the analyzed terms over 250,000 times per month on average. This equates to 4,509 searches per 100,000 Coloradans each month, the highest rate nationwide and 97% more than the average search rate across US states.
As with most states, the most commonly searched term in Colorado was “camping,” with an average monthly search of over 46,000.
Oregon
Oregon has the second-most adventurous population. Over the past 12 months, the Beaver State has seen almost 185,000 searches per month for terms indicating adventurous intentions. This makes for a search rate 4,358 per 100,000 Oregonians, 90% above the US state average. Hiking proved a popular pastime in Oregon, with residents searching “hiking trails near me” almost 19,000 times, on average, each month.
Vermont
Third, Vermont’s relatively tiny population carried out close to 27,000 monthly searches for the terms, equating to 4,139 searches per 100,000 Vermonters. Residents of the state showed significant interest in “hiking” and “mountain biking,” which were some of the most searched in the state.
Utah
In Utah, an average of nearly 135,000 searches were carried out for the studied terms per month, 3,968 per 100,000 state residents. The state’s most searched activity was camping, which was searched close to 20,000 times on average by its residents each month.
Washington
The top five most adventurous states are rounded out by Washington, where residents searched the terms over 308,000 times a month at a rate of 3,947 per 100,000. “Hiking near me” was a trendy search in the Evergreen State, seeing over 30,000 monthly searches.
Top 10 States Seeking Adventure
The most adventurous states in America seek adventure in their state.
- Colorado
- Oregan
- Vermont
- Utah
- Washington
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- New Hampshire
- Maine
Source: Rustic Pathways,