20 Best US Cities for Nature Lovers and Outdoor Enthusiasts

Published on October 3, 2023 at 7:09 am by Zarah Hamid in Industries, Lists, News

In this article, we will be studying the US outdoor industry while covering the 20 best US cities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis, you can move directly to the 5 Best US Cities for Nature Lovers and Outdoor Enthusiasts.

The American Outdoor Industry

The outdoor industry in the United States is a major economic contributor to the GDP of the country. Outdoor recreation value is generated by conventional activities such as bicycling, boating, hiking, hunting, skiing, and snowboarding as well as certain other activities such as field sports, amusement parks, festivals, and guided tours. In June, The Outdoor Industry Association reported that the outdoor participant base grew by 2.3% to a record 168.1 million participants in 2022. Furthermore, 80% of the outdoor activities experienced more people participating, including fishing, camping, sport climbing, and skateboarding in 2022.

The outdoor industry has seen significant growth as consumer behavior evolved in the aftermath of the global pandemic. On February 28, Forbes reported that many Americans started opting for outdoor activities after long lockdowns during the pandemic which eventually led them to continue investing in those outdoor activities in the future. Statistics from post-COVID in the US indicate that golf, camping, and snow sports were the top categories that witnessed high growth in their equipment sales. Apart from part-time consumers, some enthusiasts made outdoor recreation a lifestyle rather than a choice. Hence, they remained consistent against the rising inflationary pressures. Renting out equipment for outdoor activities was also a trend seen in the industry among those who wished to pursue a recreational activity of their interest, without any financial burden.

Outdoor Companies Shaping the Industry

The outdoor industry in the US is diverse. There are many companies that operate in diverse segments for outdoor recreation. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CWH) is a popular company that sells camping supplies, recreational vehicles, and their parts. On September 12, the company reported that it would be acquiring Edmundson RV to solidify its presence in Indiana. Elaborating on this acquisition, the CEO, said:

“Edmundson RV has a strong presence in Indiana and helps widen our #1 position in the state. It remains our goal to increase our dealership count to over 320 locations over the next five years, through a combination of acquisitions, new store openings, and manufacturer exclusive locations”

Another dominant firm in the industry is Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE:DKS). The company is a significant retailer of sporting goods in the US. On August 18, the company reported that it inaugurated stores of its renowned brand, House of Sport, in 9 new locations in the US during July and August. The company also expects to open 75 to 100 House of Sport stores in the country by 2027. Despite the intensive expansion, the company reported low sales for the second quarter of 2023, primarily attributed to elevated labor costs and supply chain issues.

Johnson Outdoors Inc. (NASDAQ:JOUT) offers recreational products such as camping gear, diving equipment, watercraft, and outdoor clothing. Despite experiencing low sales in its fiscal third quarter of 2023, the company reported that it remains focused on driving innovation to position itself for long-term success as evident from its recent launch of new fishing products and advanced watercraft recreation. The company also reported that its year-to-date net sales were $567.5 million, a 4% increase as compared to the first fiscal nine months of 2022. Profit before income taxes for the year-to-date period was $47.9 million as compared to $47.0 million in the first nine months of the previous fiscal year, 2022.

A leading player in American golf which has also seen growth in recent years is Acushnet Holdings Corp. (NYSE:GOLF). The company produces equipment, clothing, and accessories related to golf. On August 3, the company reported strong earnings for the fiscal second quarter of 2023. The company reported earnings per share of $1.14, beating EPS estimates by $0.22. The company’s revenue for the quarter amounted to $689.36 million, up 4.67% year over year and ahead of revenue consensus by $16.10 million.

Thus, Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CWH), Dick’s Sporting Goods, inc. (NYSE:DKS), Johnson Outdoors Inc. (NASDAQ:JOUT), and Acushnet Holdings Corp. (NYSE:GOLF) continue to transform the outdoor recreational landscape in the United States. Let’s now take a look at the 20 best US cities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

20 Best US Cities for Nature Lovers and Outdoor Enthusiasts

Methodology

In order to compile the 20 best US cities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, we shortlisted the top 50 cities from the Niche screener which ranks US cities on different criteria. We selected ‘outdoor activities’ as our criteria. Moving on, we decided to look for appropriate metrics. Our hypothesis is that those who prefer to explore the nature around them or pursue outdoor activities tend to seek access to closeby outdoor spaces. However, the areas of interest of nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts vary for different cities, for instance, skate parks are famous in western cities while splash pads are common in the northeastern cities. To accumulate these interests, we chose the number of outdoor court spaces as our primary metric. These outdoor spaces include all outdoor hard and sand courts, including basketball, pickleball, tennis, futsal, volleyball, and other sports. In order to back our research up, we chose access to parks as our secondary metric. This access has been expressed as the percentage of residents who can access a park within a 10-minute’ walk. The data for the number of outdoor spaces and park access was sourced from the Trust for Public Land’s city database for 2023.

Finally, we ranked the top 20 cities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts according to their number of outdoor court spaces and park access, on a priority basis as stated above. Please note that the number of outdoor spaces are also dependent on the relative size of the city and our rankings depict how well residents can access outdoor spaces and parks in their respective city.

20 Best US Cities for Nature Lovers and Outdoor Enthusiasts

20. San Francisco

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 23

Park Access: 100%

San Francisco is one of the best US cities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The city has green parks, beautiful beaches, outdoor recreational spaces, and hiking trails to offer.

19. Anaheim

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 27

Park Access: 67%

Anaheim also makes it to our list of the US cities that are most attractive for natural, outdoor activities. The gardens, hiking trails, horseback touring, skydiving, and camping are easy to access in the city.

18. Los Angeles

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 82

Park Access: 64%

Los Angeles is another city favorable for those who like nature and outdoor activities. There are many neighborhoods in the city that offer hillside hiking while enabling visitors to witness landscapes. The city has a lifestyle that supports outdoor recreation.

17. Newark

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 87

Park Access: 94%

There are several outdoor activities in Newark such as hiking, fishing, and camping that make the city one of the most sought-after US cities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

16. Saint Paul

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 137

Park Access: 99%

The access to parks for an average resident is high in Saint Paul. The city is a top destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts and has hiking, biking, fishing, and ice-skating activities to offer.

Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CWH), Dick’s Sporting Goods, inc. (NYSE:DKS), Johnson Outdoors Inc. (NASDAQ:JOUT), and Acushnet Holdings Corp. (NYSE:GOLF) have positioned themselves well in the American outdoor market for recreational products.

15. Oakland

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 149

Park Access: 89%

Oakland is another top place in the US for those who are nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The city is surrounded by hills and water and thus offers budget-friendly natural areas to witness.

14. Long Beach

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 170

Park Access: 83%

Long Beach is known for its hiking trails, saltwater lake, picnic areas, and parks. Thus, the city is one of the most attractive US cities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

13. Irvine

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 186

Park Access: 94%

Irvine is a city popular among nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts as people in the city tend to enjoy mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and picnics in the city.

12. Arlington

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 207

Park Access: 99%

The community parks, hiking trails, cycling paths, and golf courses allow residents and visitors to witness nature in Arlington. Thus, the city is a top destination in the US for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

11. Portland

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 227

Park Access: 90%

Portland is a US city recommended for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts since the urban walks in the city can help people explore around. The city also has an urban forest and many public parks to offer.

10. Seattle

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 232

Park Access: 99%

Seattle is another top destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts in the US. The city has many parks, gardens, biking, and hiking trails. Kayaking, paddleboarding, and whale watching are popular water activities in the city.

Those who are keen to learn more about the US outdoor and recreational market can look up Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CWH), Dick’s Sporting Goods, inc. (NYSE:DKS), Johnson Outdoors Inc. (NASDAQ:JOUT), and Acushnet Holdings Corp. (NYSE:GOLF).

9. Washington

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 274

Park Access: 99%

Washington is known for its hiking trails, state parks, and recreational areas. This makes it one of the best US cities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

8. Boston

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 279

Park Access: 100%

With almost all the residents living in close proximity to a park, Boston makes it to our list of the top US cities favorable for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The city has many parks, gardens, walking paths, and picnic areas which are quite accessible.

7. Madison

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 297

Park Access: 95%

Madison is an attractive city for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts since the city offers many recreational options such as hiking, biking, kayaking, and fishing.

6. Minneapolis

Number of Outdoor Court Spaces: 335

Park Access: 98%

An extensive network of hiking trails, walking paths, parks, and green spaces is present in Minneapolis. The city is located on the Mississippi River and hence offers a wide range of water activities as well.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best US Cities for Nature Lovers and Outdoor Enthusiasts.