With the Fourth of July just around the corner and Americans starting to plan their summer celebrations, Las Vegas has claimed the top spot on personal finance website WalletHub’s 2025 list of the best places to celebrate Independence Day.
Las Vegas Ranked Top for Spending the Fourth of July
With consumers expected to spend heavily on Independence Day festivities, WalletHub has released a new study to help Americans find the best and most affordable cities to celebrate on July 4. The study compares the 100 largest US cities based on how well they balance holiday fun with cost-effectiveness. To rank the cities, the personal finance website evaluated 18 key metrics.
These included factors like average prices for beer and wine, the duration of fireworks shows, and typical weather conditions on the holiday. Considering 86% of Americans are planning to celebrate Independence Day this year, total spending on food for the holiday is expected to reach $8.9 billion.
WalletHub named Las Vegas the top destination for Fourth of July celebrations, thanks in large part to the wide range of activities available throughout the city. The study highlighted that Las Vegas ranks first for entertainment and recreational facilities and has the fourth-highest number of party supply stores per capita.
It’s also a great spot for dining out on Independence Day, as the city boasts a high number of affordable restaurants rated 4.5 stars or higher. Additionally, Las Vegas stands out for safety, with one of the lowest rates of fatal drunk driving crashes, according to the study.
That being said, Las Vegas did fall down on some metrics. For example, the city ranked 55th for “Walkability,” 38th for “Traffic Congestion,” and surprisingly, 43rd for “Duration of Fireworks Show.”
Who Are the Runners-Up?
While Las Vegas was ranked top in WalletHub’s list, New York and Los Angeles followed in second and third place, respectively. New York, for example, ranks first in the nation for the availability of affordable restaurants with ratings of 4.5 stars or higher.
It also boasts some of the highest-quality parks in the country, along with top-tier entertainment and recreational facilities, perfect for enjoying before the fireworks begin. WalletHub also pointed out that New York offers the best access to public transportation in the US and is the second-most walkable city overall.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles ranked third among the best cities for Independence Day celebrations, partly due to its abundance of party supply stores, the second-highest per capita in the country. According to WalletHub, residents also show strong enthusiasm for the holiday, with more July 4-related Google searches than in most other cities.