Most Naturally Beautiful States in the US
Each one of the 50 states is unique. When it comes to natural beauty, the real heavy hitters are out west, offering an array of towering mountains, rugged coastlines, and sometimes both. We ranked all 50 states by natural beauty from 1-50. Honestly, you could probably reorder the top 10 however you want and not be wrong.
1. California: Being one of the largest states in the country with a massive coastline gives California a distinct advantage. From the Sierra Nevada mountains to the rugged Pacific coastline and Redwood forests, its geographic diversity is unmatched. California offers a bit of everything.
2. Alaska: The last frontier offers massive glaciers, tundra, and North America’s tallest peaks on an epic scale. This is really a toss-up with California for first place.
3. Washington: Washington offers the best of the Pacific Northwest. Home to the temperate rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula and the massive, glaciated Mount Rainier. It is home to some of the most beautiful (and accessible) national parks in the US.
4. Hawaii: There’s no other US state quite like Hawaii. It’s a a true tropical paradise in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, defined by active volcanoes, emerald-green sea cliffs, and world-class beaches.
5. Colorado: Colorado is the first land-locked state on the list. What it lacks in coastline, it makes up for tenfold with mountains. Colorado is the heart of the American Rockies, boasting high-altitude alpine lakes and over fifty “14ers.”
6. Utah: Utah, at times, feels like another planet. It’s a red-rock masterpiece featuring dramatic arches, deep canyons, and unique hoodoos across its five national parks.
7. Wyoming: Anchored by the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone and the jagged, vertical granite spires of the Grand Tetons.
8. Montana: Known for the “Crown of the Continent” in Glacier National Park and endless, wide-open mountain horizons. You could certainly argue that Montana is underrated on this list and that would be a fair argument. But again, the entire top 10 is stacked.
9. Oregon: Similar to Washington, Oregon offers a stunning mix of rocky coastlines and a mountainous interior landscape. The view of Mt. Hood from Portland is iconic.
10 Arizona: Simply being home to the Grand Canyon puts Arizona in the top 10. You’ve also got the surreal red rocks of Sedona.
11. Maine: Maine is the first New England state on the list. The state features a quintessential rocky Atlantic coastline and the granite peaks of Acadia National Park.
12. New Mexico: Known as the “Land of Enchantment” for its high-desert landscapes and white gypsum dunes.
13. South Dakota: Features the sharp, lunar-like landscapes of the Badlands and the forested Black Hills.
14, Nevada: Mostly high desert, but features the stunning Lake Tahoe and the stark beauty of Great Basin National Park.
15. Idaho: A hidden gem with the jagged Sawtooth Range and deep, rushing river canyons.
16. Vermont: Famous for its pastoral beauty, rolling Green Mountains, and vibrant autumn foliage.
17. New Hampshire: Boasts the rugged White Mountains, featuring some of the most dramatic alpine terrain in the Northeast. It also has a very small stretch of Atlantic coastline.
18. Florida: Unique for its subtropical Everglades, coral reefs, and the turquoise waters of the Keys.
19. North Carolina: Home to the lush Blue Ridge Mountains and the unique barrier islands of the Outer Banks.
20. Michigan: Defined by the massive Great Lakes coastlines, towering sand dunes, and the pristine wilderness of the Upper Peninsula.
21. Virginia: Features the scenic Skyline Drive through Shenandoah and the historic beauty of the Chesapeake Bay.
22. Tennessee: Home to the Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited and biologically diverse national park in the country.
23. West Virginia: Entirely mountainous, offering the dramatic New River Gorge and dense, misty forests.
24. New York: Beyond the city lies the massive Adirondack Park and the scenic, glacial Finger Lakes.
25. Massachusetts: You’ve got the scenic Berkshires in the west and the iconic dunes and beaches of Cape Cod and the Islands in the East.
26. Minnesota: The “Land of 10,000 Lakes” is best represented by the pristine wilderness of the Boundary Waters.
27. Georgia: Transitions from the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains to moss-draped coastal islands.
28. Wisconsin: Known for the rugged bluffs along the Mississippi River and the scenic Apostle Islands on Lake Superior.
29. Kentucky: Home to the rolling Bluegrass hills and the world’s longest cave system at Mammoth Cave.
30. Arkansas: Features the ancient, eroded peaks of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains and pristine hot springs.
31. Texas: Incredible variety ranging from the desert mountains of Big Bend to the rolling Hill Country.
32. South Carolina: Famous for its salt marshes, Palmetto-lined beaches, and the atmospheric Lowcountry.
33. North Dakota: Immense flatness is broken up by the colorful, rugged terrain of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
34. Pennsylvania: Characterized by the rolling Appalachian ridges and the dense forests of the Poconos.
35. Maryland: Often called “America in Miniature” for its mix of Atlantic beaches and Appalachian foothills.
36. Missouri: Dominated by the lush, cave-riddled Ozark Plateau and several major river confluences.
37. Alabama: Features a surprising mix of Appalachian foothills and sugar-white quartz sand beaches.
38. New Jersey: Despite its urban reputation, it has the vast Pine Barrens and a beautiful, long Atlantic coastline.=
39. Oklahoma: A crossroads of ecosystems featuring the Wichita Mountains and the tallgrass prairie.
40. Connecticut: Known for the quiet beauty of the Litchfield Hills and the rocky shores of Long Island Sound. We’ll give it a slight edge over Rhode Island, but it’s close.
41. Rhode Island: Though small, it packs a punch with its dramatic Newport cliffs and Narragansett Bay.
42. Louisiana: Louisiana is beautiful in a unique and haunting way, with its vast cypress swamps and winding bayous.
43. Ohio: Offers pleasant rolling hills in the southeast and the scenic cliffs of Hocking Hills.
44. Delaware: Mostly flat, but Delaware boasts clean, expansive Atlantic beaches and peaceful coastal wetlands.
45. Mississippi: Characterized by dense pine forests and the unique ecosystems of the Gulf Islands.
46. Illinois: We’re entering the bottom 5. This is where things get boring. Illinois is home to one of America’s greatest cities, but the state is largely flat farmland, though the Shawnee National Forest in the south offers sandstone bluffs.
47. Nebraska: While dominated by plains, the rolling Sandhills offer a unique, undulating grass landscape.
48. Indiana: Mostly agricultural, but the towering sand dunes along Lake Michigan are a spectacular natural exception. That’s what keeps Indiana above Iowa and Kansas.
49. Iowa: Very friendly people. Very boring landscape.
50. Kansas: Kansas takes the bottom spot in our list. If you’ve ever driven through Kansas, you’ll understand why.