More than 72 million Americans travel for the Fourth of July holiday, according to AAA, and WalletHub released a list of the best and worst places to travel to celebrate America’s birthday. It looked at the top 100 cities when it comes to population in a quest to discover “the best and cheapest places to celebrate this star-spangled occasion.“
What factors did they consider?
There were five key factors including, fourth of July celebrations, affordability, attractions and activities, safety and accessibility and the weather forecast for the holiday weekend.
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“The 4th of July is one of the most beloved holidays in America, allowing many of us to not only celebrate our independence but also get a day off of work and gather together with family and friends,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. “The best cities for the holiday help you make the most of your day, with affordable food options, good weather, fun recreation choices and long, spectacular fireworks shows.“
Which cities have the best 4th of July experience?
WalletHub determined that Las Vegas, Nevada, has the best Fourth of July experience in the entire country. It says there is no shortage of things to do, and the city has the best entertainment and recreation facilities. WalletHub also found that people tend to stay safe, even after a night of partying.
New York City came in at number two. The research noted its affordable restaurants, high-quality parks, as well as some of the best entertainment and recreation facilities.
On the other side of the country, Los Angeles came in at number three. WalletHub cited how excited people get about the holiday itself, as well as a vast number of party supply stores. In addition, Los Angeles will likely have good weather for the fourth, with little chance of precipitation.
The Twin Cities in Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul, round out the top five. Both scored well in safety and affordability.
Which cities scored poorly?
At the bottom of the list is Newark, New Jersey, which scored poorly on affordability and activities.
Aurora, Colorado scored second lowest, with WalletHub finding its attractions and activities are lacking. The city also scored poorly for safety and accessibility.
Laredo, Texas came in at 98; ranking lower for attractions, weather, affordability and safety.
Cleveland, Ohio and Jersey City, New Jersey round out the bottom five on the list.
What other cities did well?
It’s worth noting that some cities did extremely well in individual categories without landing in the top five. For instance, Orlando, Florida came in at number one in the category for Fourth of July celebrations.
San Francisco topped the list for attractions and activities, tying New York City, while Jersey City, despite a low overall rating, scored at the top when it came to safety and accessibility.
WalletHub notes that its sample only considers the city proper when calculating its rankings and excludes the surrounding metropolitan areas.
