America's 'Worst City For Recreation' In 2026 Is A Popular Destination On The East Coast
Opportunities for recreation are some of the most important things travelers search for while planning a vacation. If you're someone who prioritizes living an active lifestyle, and you love to go out and participate in leisure activities, you probably don't want to sacrifice that just because you're going on a trip. Throughout the United States there are so many wonderful cities that offer exciting opportunities for recreation. Still, there are a few destinations that might leave travelers disappointed if they're looking for fun things to do either outside or indoors. A July 2026 study by WalletHub claims that Jersey City in New Jersey — the state Samantha Brown called the perfect destination for a spring road trip — is the worst city in the country when it comes to recreation.
The study compared 100 of the largest cities in the United States and looked at indoor and outdoor recreation options for each. Cost and availability were two of the major factors analyzed. Based on all of the metrics considered, WalletHub ranked many popular cities, like New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Memphis, pretty low in its ranking (numbers 51, 68, 77, and 89 respectively), and it named Jersey City as the worst place to go if you're looking for leisure activities and things to do.
Jersey City is a popular tourist destination, so WalletHub's findings may come as a surprise to travelers and locals alike. The city's prime location along the Hudson River makes it convenient for tourists who wish to explore New York City attractions without breaking the bank — but that isn't the only thing worthwhile there. Visitors can enjoy museums, cultural events, and a thriving arts scene while they're in town. There are plenty of fun things to do in Jersey City, as long as you know where to look.
Jersey City's low rankings, according to WalletHub
Recreation can be basically any activity that people do for fun, from outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, cycling, or rock climbing to indoor activities like seeing a movie, visiting a museum, or going out to eat. WalletHub's study considered many types of recreation opportunities using 47 key metrics, focusing primarily on four main criteria: entertainment and recreational facilities, costs, quality of parks, and weather. While the article spoke a lot about the importance of neighborhood parks, it also mentioned the need for "recreation opportunities that don't require good weather," like movie theaters, music venues, and coffee shops.
New Jersey often gets a bad rep (perhaps thanks to a certain reality show?), so perhaps it's not surprising that WalletHub ranked Jersey City last, at number 100, on its list. In fact, the only other city in the state listed was Newark, at number 99. Jersey City offers travelers and locals plenty of things to do, but it received poor rankings in WalletHub's main categories. In the entertainment, recreation, and facilities metric, Jersey City was ranked number 81. For the cost category, Jersey City was in 93rd place. In the quality of parks category, Jersey City ranked 58th — despite having 108 parks, and 100% of its residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park. Finally, in the weather category it was ranked number 55. In order to determine the final ranking, WalletHub weighed each city's average across all metrics and then calculated the overall score for each. Jersey City's low collective score of 34.94 put it in the 100th place (the top score, for Las Vegas, was only 67.12).
Jersey City ranked last for recreation, but there are still plenty of fun things to do
If you're looking to plan a fun vacation that is jam packed with recreation, you may feel inclined to skip Jersey City based on WalletHub's recent study. Don't be so quick to write it off. Jersey City is a great budget-friendly home base if you're planning on visiting New York City, but it also offers plenty of attractions on its own. Jersey City's Liberty State Park is the state's most visited park, with nearly 4.5 million annual visitors, and it provides beautiful views of the New York City Skyline and the Statue of Liberty. During the summer it's a great place to catch live musical performances and film screenings. Take a scenic drive on the Palisades Scenic Byway and enjoy some of the most beautiful views on the East Coast. The Liberty Science Center, an interactive science museum, is also worth checking out.
Public art displays created by renowned international and local artists are abundant. Make sure to check out Water's Soul, a 60-foot tall sculpture on the shores of the Hudson River. Plus, the Jersey City Mural Arts Program has helped bedeck the city with around 200 murals by 138 different artists. Download the map of all the murals on the Jersey City Mural Arts Program website, and take yourself on a free walking tour during your visit. Continue your celebration of the arts with a guided tour of Mana Contemporary, a creative arts hub located in an old tobacco warehouse that is home to both artist studios and art exhibitions. When you're done, grab a delicious meal in Little India, one of the must-visit ethnic neighborhoods for culture seekers in the U.S. With its convenient location about 10 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport, Jersey City can be reached by car or taxi in about 20 minutes.