Map Options
North Dakota
1
Kansas
2
Nebraska
3
Oklahoma
4
Mississippi
5
Iowa
6
Alaska
7
Arkansas
8
Delaware
9
South Dakota
10
West Virginia
11
Minnesota
12
Vermont
13
Alabama
14
Rhode Island
15
Missouri
16
Idaho
17
Kentucky
18
Indiana
19
New Hampshire
20
Most Underrated States 2024
- Data shown focus upon the most underrated states in terms of tourism/visiting. Lists compiled by different sources using different methodology or a different area of focus would likely yield different results.
State | Overall Underratedness Rank | % of Tourists Surveyed Interested in Visiting | Annual Visitors | Reasons to Visit | Notable Attractions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 1 | 3.2% | 21 | 63 national wildlife refuges, 13 state parks, Teddy Roosevelt National Park, albino buffalo, Dakota Thunder at National Buffalo Museum | Fargo (food scene, brewing community, music scene, Empire Tavern, Wild Terra, wood chipper from Fargo movie at visitor center) |
| Kansas | 2 | 3.7% | 31.4 | Stunning rural areas, Lucas (Grassroots Art Capital), fishing lakes, migratory bird marshes, Wichita (breweries, art galleries, food trucks, botanical gardens), state government will pay income taxes for five years for people willing to relocate to rural areas | Lucas, Wichita (breweries, art galleries, food trucks, botanical gardens) |
| Nebraska | 3 | 3.7% | 20 | Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff National Monument, sandhill crane migration, tanking, quail and pheasant hunting, One Box Hunt, Carhenge | Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Broken Bow (One Box Hunt), Carhenge |
| Oklahoma | 4 | 4.4% | 21.5 | Tulsa (philharmonic, ballet, art museums, Brady Arts District), Oklahoma City (booming culinary scene, Route 66) | Tulsa, Oklahoma City (Route 66, Blue Whale of Catoosa) |
| Mississippi | 5 | 4.8% | 23.4 | Birthplace of American music, rich musical heritage, Americana Music Triangle, pristine beaches | Tupelo (music trails), Biloxi and Gulfport (casinos), Ocean Springs (Walter Anderson Art Museum) |
| Iowa | 6 | 4.9% | 16 | Skiing at Sundown Mountain, lake party scene at Coralville Lake, Devonian Fossil Gorge, RAGBRAI cycling event | Dubuque (Sundown Mountain), Iowa City (Coralville Lake, Devonian Fossil Gorge), Missouri River, Mississippi River |
| Alaska | 7 | 5% | 2.4 | Majestic wilderness, wildlife, fjords, blue glaciers, exploration by car, plane, train, snowmobile, dog sled | Juneau (food scene), Anchorage (Alaska Zoo) |
| Arkansas | 8 | 5% | 41 | Historic sites (Helena, Little Rock High School), complex history, Hot Springs National Park, Bathhouse Row, Buffalo National River, Devil’s Den, Blanchard Springs, mountain biking in Bentonville | Helena, Little Rock, Hot Springs, Bentonville |
| Delaware | 9 | 5.2% | 9.2 | Tax-free shopping, excellent beaches, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Seashore State Park, historical sites, sports events (University of Delaware football, NASCAR at Dover) | Old New Castle, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Dover |
| South Dakota | 10 | 5.2% | 13.5 | Needles Highway, Badlands, Custer State Park (Buffalo Roundup), quirky roadside attractions, Sioux Falls | Sturgis, Custer, Mitchell, Sioux Falls |
| West Virginia | 11 | 5.8% | 15.9 | Outdoor attractions (North Fork Mountain Trail, Gauley River), water sports, Mountaineer Field football games | Seneca Rocks, Morgantown (Mountaineer Field) |
| Minnesota | 12 | 6.5% | 40 | Lakes (including Lake Superior and 10,000 others), nature along Highway 61, breweries in harbor towns, Twin Cities culture | Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth, Lake Itasca, Walker Art Center |
| Vermont | 13 | 6.5% | 13 | Artisan culture, craft beer scene, general stores, covered bridges, ski towns, vibrant fall foliage | Burlington, The Alchemist, Hill Farmstead, Von Trapp Family Lodge |
| Alabama | 14 | 6.9% | 28.7 | Flora-Bama bar, Gulf Shores, Hangout Music Festival, Civil Rights landmarks, Rickwood Field, U.S. Space & Rocket Center (including space camp) | Orange Beach, Birmingham, Gulf Shores, Selma, Huntsville |
| Rhode Island | 15 | 7% | 26.2 | Newport cliff walk, historic mansions, polo matches, coastline, Second Beach, Pawtucket Red Sox, breweries, restaurants in Providence, Del’s Lemonade | Newport, Pawtucket, Providence |
| Missouri | 16 | 7.3% | 36.3 | St. Louis culture (jazz/blues joints, Gateway Arch), Route 66, state parks, barbecue, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, dining scene | St. Louis, Route 66, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Vicia |
| Idaho | 17 | 7.5% | 378 | Scenic beauty (Redfish Lake, Sawtooth Mountains), outdoor recreation, small resort towns, brewery-packed Boise | Redfish Lake, Sawtooth Mountains, Driggs, Victor, Stanley, Coeur d’Alene, Boise |
| Kentucky | 18 | 7.5% | 70.5 | Breathtaking mountain vistas, urban centers, college bars, late-night dives, sports teams, music festivals, culinary heritage, Louisville's food scene, Whiskey Row, NuLu, Butchertown, Lexington, Bardstown, Bowling Green | Louisville, Lexington, Bardstown, Bowling Green |
| Indiana | 19 | 7.9% | 66.7 | Bloomington's music scene, Indianapolis's craft booze industry, sports events, Indiana Dunes National Park, culinary scene, breweries, distilleries, Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, Newfields | Bloomington, Indianapolis, Indiana Dunes National Park |
| New Hampshire | 20 | 7.9% | 12.8 | Historic river valleys, highest peaks in Northeast, New England villages, outdoor adventures, White Mountains, covered bridges, Cog Railway | Rye, White Mountains, Covered bridges |