Listen to this articleSummary:
- Honolulu ranks as the best U.S. city for an active lifestyle.
- Oklahoma City ranks 83rd and Tulsa 62nd overall for activity levels.
- Both OKC and Tulsa have poor access to exercise opportunities and biking infrastructure.
Americans who set fitness goals for 2026 might find success easier or harder depending on where they live.
A comparison of the 100 largest U.S. cities ranks Honolulu as the best city for an active lifestyle and Garland, Texas, as dead last.
WalletHub used 35 key indicators of an active lifestyle — from the average monthly fitness-club fee to the share of physically inactive adults — to rank the cities, using December data collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, County Health Rankings and other sources.
Honolulu came out on top in large part because it promotes community sports more than any other city, the analysis showed. It has an especially high number of baseball fields, skate parks, volleyball courts and tennis courts per capita. The city’s proximity to the ocean allows for easy access to swimming and surfing, and it’s the top city for hiking trails.
New York City was named the second-best city for an active lifestyle and also the second-most walkable city in the U.S. Residents can get plenty of exercise simply by walking to work, restaurants and other destinations. It’s also one of the best cities when it comes to the availability of organized recreation, dance schools, swimming lessons, bike rental facilities, basketball courts, soccer fields and ice rinks.
San Francisco ranks third because 100% of residents live within a reasonable distance of opportunities for physical activity. It has a high number of hiking trails per capita, is right next to the bay and is the most walkable city in the nation, according to the report.
“The top cities for staying active offer opportunities for all types of people, from those who prefer team sports to people who simply want to get their daily exercise by walking or biking to work,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the report.
“They also tend to be large cities that still have a close proximity to beautiful natural areas for hiking and swimming,” Lupo said. “Finally, the top cities for an active lifestyle have populations that are highly interested in exercise, which helps people find workout partners and stay motivated.”
Scottsdale, Arizona, (No. 22) has the most public golf courses per capita. In fact, the top four cities in this category are all in Arizona.
Denver (No. 9) and Aurora, Colorado, (No. 85) have the most fitness trainers and aerobics instructors per capita, while Corpus Christi, Texas, (No. 94) has the fewest.
Las Vegas has the most playgrounds per capita but ranks No. 91 overall.
Oklahoma results not so good
The analysis ranked Oklahoma City No. 83 overall and 65th when it comes to share of inactive adults (27.9%). Tulsa ranked No. 62 overall and 90th out of 100 for share of inactive adults (31.4%).
Both cities also ranked poorly for access to exercise opportunities — OKC 90th and Tulsa 98th — and for having “minimal infrastructure” for biking. Their walkability scores — OKC 81st and Tulsa 66th — noted “most errands require a car.”
Tulsa ranked higher than OKC when it comes to the number of playgrounds, fitness centers, tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, and intramural leagues per capita, as well as public golf courses. It was in the top 10 for ballfields and 15th for leagues.
OKC ranked higher for park acres and hiking trails per capita and low average monthly fitness club fees.
Oklahoma City has dedicated $154 million in MAPS 4 funding towards transforming its park system, including upgrades to 105 neighborhood and community parks, new parks, soccer facilities and enhancements at the Oklahoma River.
Another $61 million will be used for sidewalks and related amenities, $22 million for bike lanes and $9 million for trail connectivity and amenities.