Map Shows US States Most-Overcrowded With Tourists

West Virginia, North Dakota and Delaware are among the states that are most-overcrowded with tourists, according to a new study.

The study conducted by tour operator Go2Africa, which analyzed 2024 data from national tourist boards and compared it to state population figures, revealed significant disparities between local populations and the influx of domestic and international travelers. In some cases, where 2024 tourism data was unavailable, 2023 figures were used to maintain consistency in population-to-tourist ratios.

“Many U.S. states are seeing visitor numbers soar well beyond their local populations,” the study said. “This can mean crowded attractions, increased pressure on local infrastructure, and rising tensions between residents and tourists, especially in places where tourism drives the local economy.”

West Virginia, with its 1.77 million residents, welcomes approximately 75 million visitors annually. Its reputation for outdoor adventures such as whitewater rafting, hiking, and rock climbing has made it a year-round draw. The result is a tourism pressure ratio of over 42 to 1, making it the nation’s most-saturated state by tourist volume per capita.

Rounding out the top-five most-overcrowded states are North Dakota (33 tourists per resident), Delaware (28), Rhode Island, and Vermont. Many of these states have relatively small populations, amplifying the effect of tourism surges.

Jacob Wedderburn-Day, CEO and co-founder of travel tech startup Stasher, said the findings reflect a clear shift in travel patterns. “This list exactly captures the new travel behavior we’re witnessing among U.S. visitors,” Wedderburn-Day told Newsweek. “The surprise places in the top 15 reveal how international and domestic travelers are essentially redefining how they discover the U.S.”

States such as Ohio, Tennessee, and New Mexico also ranked high on the overcrowding index, despite being more commonly associated with midrange travel destinations. Wedderburn-Day said part of the trend is fueled by both international and domestic visitors designing “experience-heavy itineraries” that emphasize authenticity over fame.

“Overseas travelers are also planning authentic American trips that stretch far from gateway cities,” Wedderburn-Day said. “This spread-out strategy accounts for high tourist-to-local ratios in low-population states.”

American travelers, too, are increasingly crafting road trip-style tours across multiple regions. “The varied composition in this list reveals visitors are designing experience-heavy itineraries focused on authenticity over well-known tourist attractions,” Wedderburn-Day added.

In contrast, Texas was named the least-overcrowded state for tourism, with just two visitors for every resident, according to the study. Its geography—situated far from the more frequently traveled coastal corridors—and large population of over 31 million people help disperse tourism more evenly.

Still, when measured by total visitor volume, New York leads the country with 306.9 million annual visitors, followed by California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, according to a ranking of the top-15 states with the highest number of visitors overall that was shared with Newsweek. These states see consistent tourist inflows due to their dense metropolitan centers and iconic landmarks.

Alaska ranked as the least-visited state overall, welcoming just 2.7 million visitors a year. “Despite its breathtaking landscapes of glaciers, mountains, wildlife, and the Northern Lights, its remote location and limited accessibility mean fewer travelers make the journey” to Alaska, the study said. It added that getting to the state typically requires costly flights or cruises, often limited to certain seasons.

Looking ahead, Wedderburn-Day said the trend toward broader exploration will continue. “I am very bullish on U.S. travel staying exceptionally strong through 2025 and beyond,” he said. “Global demand for American experiences continues to increase, and this dispersed travel trend is a sign of a mature, sustainable tourism market in which travelers spend more time and venture further,” he added.

15 U.S. States Most-Overcrowded With Tourists

1. West Virginia
2. North Dakota
3. Delaware
4. Rhode Island
5. Vermont
6. Ohio
7. Tennessee
8. New Mexico
9. Idaho
10. Wisconsin
11. Connecticut
12. Kentucky
13. Arkansas
14. Nevada
15. South Dakota

15 Most-Visited U.S. States Overall

1. New York
2. California
3. Ohio
4. Pennsylvania
5. Georgia
6. Tennessee
7. Florida
8. Michigan
9. New Jersey
10. Wisconsin
11. Illinois
12. Washington
13. Colorado
14. Indiana
15. Minnesota

Source: Based on a study by Go2Africa that looked at the number of international and domestic visitors in each state, using 2023/2024 data from national tourist boards, and comparing it against the 2023/2024 population data in each state to determine the tourist-to-resident ratio.