Wellness isn’t just a trending hashtag anymore. It’s become a lifestyle priority for millions of Americans. With stress levels rising, chronic illness on the rise, and the cost of healthcare pushing people toward prevention, more residents are turning to yoga studios, healthy food options, mental-wellness practices, and outdoor activities to stay balanced.
A recent Gallup poll shows Americans are spending more time and money on activities tied to longevity and self-care, from morning Pilates classes to weekend hiking trips. Wellness has quietly become part of the national culture.
But not every place in the US makes living this way equally easy. Some states are packed with hiking trails, healthy restaurants, spas, and meditation spaces, while others offer only limited access to these amenities.
To understand where wellness truly thrives, Infinity Laser Spa analyzed all 50 states using a weighted index that included yoga and Pilates centers, spas, healthy food availability, hiking trails, and online wellness interest.
California tops the list with a score of 62.4, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why. The state is famous for its sunshine-driven, health-conscious culture, but the numbers really seal the deal. California has 15,181 hiking trails, by far the highest in the nation, offering residents unprecedented access to outdoor activity. It also leads the country in wellness interest, with 6.5 percent of online searches related to wellness topics.
While the state ranks surprisingly low for healthy food availability (48th), its strong presence of yoga and Pilates options (9th) and spas (17th) still keeps it at number one. And the cultural emphasis on mindful living, from LA’s yoga scene to Northern California’s outdoor lifestyle, helps explain why residents embrace wellness even when access to healthier food is limited.
Scoring 60.3, Colorado takes second place thanks to its nearly perfect mix of wellness infrastructure and outdoor activity. It ranks 4th for yoga and Pilates access, 2nd for spas, and 2nd for hiking trails, boasting 5,797 places to hit the mountains. That level of outdoor access is something only a handful of states can match.
Colorado also shows strong national interest in wellness topics (6 percent), suggesting that Coloradans don’t just enjoy nature, but actively seek out healthier living. The state’s year-round adventure culture is clearly driving its wellness performance, from skiing in winter to high-altitude hiking in summer.
Utah lands at number three with a score of 60.0, just a fraction below Colorado. What truly sets Utah apart is its nation-leading access to yoga and Pilates studios, with 97.2 centers per 100,000 residents, far outpacing any other state. Its spa scene is also robust, ranking 4th nationwide, and its 3,560 hiking trails give residents more than enough ways to get outdoors.
The state does score lower on healthy food availability (36th), but that hasn’t stopped Utahns from engaging with wellness. With 5.2 percent of online interest dedicated to wellness searches, the state’s residents appear increasingly committed to healthier, more mindful living.
Delaware takes 4th place overall with a score of 49.5, carried by its high access to healthy food (2nd nationally) and a strong ranking for yoga and Pilates (2nd). Its lower hiking-trail availability (48th) limits its outdoor capacity, but residents still maintain high engagement with wellness practices.
Connecticut follows in 5th place with a score of 49.1, thanks to its balance of wellness centers (5th) and healthy food availability (16th). With over 2,321 hiking trails, it blends New England greenery with a strong wellness culture.
New York ranks 6th overall, and despite having fewer yoga and Pilates centers (33rd), it is 3rd for spas, 4th for hiking trails, and tied for 2nd in wellness interest. The state’s rural and suburban regions help offset the dense urban areas where healthy food access can be limited.
Florida finishes 7th, offering a high number of spas (7th) and strong yoga/Pilates access (11th). Even though it ranks 45th for healthy food availability, the state’s warm climate and outdoor culture help keep it wellness-friendly, with nearly 3,000 hiking trails supporting healthy living.
Vermont takes 8th place, driven by the highest healthy-food availability in the US — 28.4 locations per 100K. Its wellness interest score is also strong at 5.2 percent. While Vermont’s spa and yoga access fall mid-range, its clean-living culture and slower pace clearly support wellness.
Massachusetts ranks 9th overall and shines with 4,189 hiking trails, one of the highest in the nation. It also ranks highly for spas (13th) and wellness interest (2nd). Access to healthy food is lower (37th), but Massachusetts still outperforms most states on overall wellness.
Oregon completes the top 10 with 41.7 points, bolstered by its spa access (8th) and 3,615 hiking trails, which help maintain one of the strongest outdoors-driven wellness cultures in the Pacific Northwest.
Methodology The study measured wellness across all 50 states using five key metrics: Yoga and Pilates Centers, Spas and Wellness Centers, Healthy Food Access, Hiking Trails, and Wellness Search Interest. Each metric was first indexed to create a comparable scale, with the highest-performing state in each category set as a reference point. To calculate an overall wellness score, the metrics were weighted according to their relative importance: Yoga and Pilates Centers (20%), Spas and Wellness Centers (15%), Healthy Food Access (25%), Hiking Trails (15%), and Wellness Search Interest (25%). The weighted scores were combined to produce a total wellness index for each state, allowing for direct comparison and ranking of states based on access, infrastructure, and public engagement in wellness. Sources include US Census Bureau, Google Maps, Google Trends.
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