Fourth of July, or Independence Day, is one of the biggest holidays of the year in the U.S., celebrating the birth of our nation. Americans go all out for the occasion, from elaborate parades to cookouts with extended family and friends. The National Retail Federation projects that this year American households will spend a collective $8.9 billion just on food for Fourth of July celebrations.
In order to help Americans find the best and cheapest places to celebrate this star-spangled occasion, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on how well they balance holiday cost and fun. Our data set of 18 key metrics ranges from average beer and wine prices to duration of fireworks shows to the Fourth of July weather forecast.
“The 4th of July is one of the most beloved holidays in America, allowing many of us to not only celebrate our independence but also get a day off of work and gather together with family and friends. The best cities for the holiday help you make the most of your day, with affordable food options, good weather, fun recreation choices and long, spectacular fireworks shows.”
Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
Top 5 Cities for 4th of July Celebrations
- Las Vegas, NV
- New York, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Minneapolis, MN
- St. Paul, MN
In-Depth Look at the Best Cities for 4th of July
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas is the best city for July 4th celebrations, boasting a fireworks display that lights up the sky for about 15 minutes. Residents can buy and set off their own fireworks, as well.
Las Vegas is also great for grabbing a meal out on Independence Day, as it’s one of the best cities for affordable restaurants with at least 4.5 stars. In addition, people tend to stay safe after drinking, as the city has one of the lowest shares of fatal crashes due to intoxicated driving.
On top of that, there’s no shortage of things to do, as the city ranks first in entertainment and recreational facilities and has the fourth-most party supply stores per capita.
New York, NY
New York is the second-best city for celebrating Independence Day, and it’s also the third-most popular city for people to travel to during the holiday. New York leads the country when it comes to the availability of affordable restaurants with at least 4.5 stars, which is great for people who aren’t holding their own barbecues or who are simply visiting the city.
New York’s fireworks show isn’t the longest in the country, but it is a very respectable 25 minutes. It’s important to note that the city doesn’t allow residents to set off their own fireworks.
To top things off, New York has some of the highest-quality parks in the country, as well as some of the best entertainment and recreational facilities to enjoy in the lead-up to the fireworks show. Getting around isn’t an issue even with an influx of tourists, either, since NYC has the best access to public transportation in the nation and is the second-most walkable city.
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles is the third-best city for 4th of July celebrations, in part because it makes it easy to prepare for a 4th of July bash with the second-most party supply stores per capita. In addition, Los Angeles residents get really excited about the holiday and search Google for terms related to July 4th more than people in most other cities.
To top things off, it’s very unlikely there will be precipitation on the 4th in L.A., and the city has great walkability in addition to a multitude of other recreational activities to enjoy on the day off.
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