Pennsylvania Ranked #1 Among the ‘Most All-American’ States

^{The Pennsylvania State Capitol in Fall. Photo: Governor Tom Wolf / Flickr.}

America is a country bursting with patriotism and pride, with six in 10 US citizens (65%) saying they’re extremely or very proud to be an American.

What it means to be “American” will vary across the nation, but many tourists around the globe are keen to visit the United States to experience its diverse landscapes, national park sites, and sports venues.

Whether it’s watching a baseball game, or taking a road trip along Route 66, America has seemingly unlimited experiences to offer for you to create lifelong memories. 

Travel experience experts at Viator was interested in uncovering the most “All-American” state by analyzing a range of factors that epitomize the essence of ‘Americanness’, including home ownership, number of national park sites and landmarks, total number of sports venues, number of fast-food restaurants, and number of RV parks and campgrounds.

Factors that Epitomize the Essence of ‘Americanness’

The travel experience experts created a points-based “All-American” index system analyzing several metrics that epitomize the essence of ‘Americanness’ to create an “All-American” score:

• Homeownership is considered a bedrock of the “American Dream.” The homeownership rate per state was analyzed from U.S. Census Bureau data.
• The United States is renowned for its natural diversity and beauty. To take this into account, the number of national park sites per state was sourced from the National Park Service website (nps.gov).
• Heritage and Culture are a big focus of American pride. To take this factor into account, the number of National Historical Landmarks was analyzed per state from listings on the National Park Service website.
• Sports are a way of American life. Leading the way with Football, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, and the growing Soccer scene, stadiums and arenas are found across the country. To analyze which state could boast the most sporting venues, the number of stadiums (football, soccer, baseball) was sourced as were indoor arenas (basketball and hockey). In addition to professional sports, college sports are widely attended and followed, hence these sports venues were also included.
• America changed the restaurant business forever with the invention of fast food. The number of fast-food restaurants and the number of employees per U.S. state was obtained for 2022 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• RV’s (Recreational Vehicles), campgrounds, and RV trips are considered a quintessentially American thing to do.

All this was calculated from a sum of weighted percent ranks across the factors to find the most “All-American” state, and ultimately uncover the top 10 most “All-American” states.

Key findings:

• Pennsylvania has been crowned the most “All-American” state, with an “All-American” score of 9.05/10
• California ranks second, with the most national park sites (28) and fast-food restaurants (32,424) of all US states
• New York is home to the most national landmarks in the US (275), with 25.6 per area, almost two-fifths more than neighboring Pennsylvania (15.8)
• Texas ranks first for the most sports venues (116) and the most RV parks and campgrounds (551)
• Southern regions make up 40% of the top 10 “All-American” states (Florida, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina),followed by Midwestern regions making it 3 times on the list (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana)

Top 10 Most “All-American” States Ranked

#1: Pennsylvania crowned the most “All-American” state.

The study reveals Pennsylvania is the most “All-American” state with an “All-American” score of 9.05/10. Pennsylvania is home to 19 national park sites (7 per area), including Presque Isle State Park.

The state has over double the number of national park sites than in the neighboring state of West Virginia, which has just 6. Pennsylvania also boasts 169 historical landmarks, among them the iconic Liberty Bell, a true symbol of American Independence - this is 12 times the amount of historic landmarks than in the bordering state of Delaware, which has 14. 

Pennsylvania is famous for its rich sports culture, hosting an impressive 36 sporting venues, including the Beaver Stadium — home to the Penn State Nittany Lions, with a capacity of 106,572. The idea of taking to the open road and exploring the various landscapes the country has to offer is deeply rooted inAmerican culture.

Pennsylvania is a go-to spot for camping as it offers 218 RV parks and campgrounds. This is 9 times more than the amount on offer in the neighboring state of Maryland (25), making it the ideal state to experience the great outdoors. From the rugged terrain of the Pocono Mountains to the beauty of Ricketts Glen, Pennsylvania has plenty to offer for travelers looking to embody the full American experience. 

#2: California ranks in second place with an “All-American” score of 8.98 out of 10.

The Golden State is home to the most national park sites in the US (28),  including Yosemite National Park and Redwood National Park, positioning California as a prime location for outdoor adventures. 

California provides year-round camping options in its 357 RV parks and campgrounds, which is more than double that of the neighboring state of Oregon (160). 

Not only this, but the state has a vibrant history that hosts 147 historic landmarks, 3 times more than the neighboring state of Arizona (47), including the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island.

California's rich sports scene  — with 72 sports venues  — surpasses New York by 36% (46), highlighting the state’s affinity with American culture. Of these venues, California is the proud host of numerous professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Francisco 49ers. 

#3. Florida ranks third with an “All-American” score of 8.85 out of 10. 

The Sunshine State has 11 national park sites, attracting 14.4 million visitors annually, including the Biscayne National Park in Miami.

With sports considered a hallmark of American culture, Florida houses 57 sports venues across the state, more than double the amount in the neighboring state of Georgia (26).

Not only this, but the state boasts a variety of professional sporting teams, including the Miami Heat NBA team and the Miami Dolphins NFL team. 

In addition, Florida is home to the top 4 most visited theme parks in America, with Universal Studios alone attracting over 22 million visitors annually.

#4. Fourth in the ranking is New York with an ‘All-American’ score of 8.69 out of 10.

New York is home to 24 national park sites that attract 16,309,406 annual visitors — 55% more visitors than in the neighboring state of Pennsylvania (7,309,946). This includes the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area which falls into the border of western New York. 

The state houses the most national landmarks in the whole of the US (275), including the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building. 

Home to 46 sporting venues, New York hosts more than double the sports venues than the rival state of Massachusetts (19), including iconic arenas such as the Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden.

The state's vast amount of historic landmarks and sports venuesepitomize America’s cultural and historical richness.

#7. Ohio ranks as the seventh most “All-American” state

Rounding off the ranking, the study can reveal that Ohio is the seventh most “All-American state” with a score of 8.6 out of 10. Ohio is home to 8 national parks, including the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Not only this, but the state benefits from 76 historic landmarks including the Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum. 

Furthering its affinity with American culture, the state hosts an impressive 52 sporting venues,46% more than Indiana (28), including the Cleveland Browns Stadium —  home to the NFL team, the Cleveland Browns.

#10. Indiana ranks as the tenth most All-American state

In tenth place is Indiana, with an ‘All-American’ score of 8.24/10. Home to 3 national park sites and 43 historic landmarks, including the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and New Harmony Historic District, Indiana houses 26% more landmarks than the neighboring state of Kentucky (32).

The state is well known for its sporting culture, often referred to as the ‘Basketball Capital of the world’, with 28 iconic sports venues. This includes the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — one of the most famous race tracks in the world — as well as the Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, and Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home to the NBA’s Indiana Pacers.

10 most “All-American” states: