With 87% of Americans planning to celebrate the Fourth of July this year and total food spending expected to reach $9.4 billion, the personal-finance company WalletHub has released its report on 2026's Best and Worst Places for 4th of July celebrations.
To identify the top places for this star-spangled occasion, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on how well they balance cost and fun. The analysis is based on 18 key metrics, ranging from average beer and wine prices to the duration of fireworks shows and the Fourth of July weather forecast.
| Best Cities to Celebrate 4th of July | ||
| 1. Las Vegas, NV | 11. San Diego, CA | |
| 2. New York, NY | 12. Cincinnati, OH | |
| 3. Orlando, FL | 13. Scottsdale, AZ | |
| 4. Los Angeles, CA | 14. New Orleans, LA | |
| 5. Minneapolis, MN | 15. Chicago, IL | |
| 6. St. Paul, MN | 16. Washington, DC | |
| 7. San Francisco, CA | 17. Irvine, CA | |
| 8. Atlanta, GA | 18. Pittsburgh, PA | |
| 9. Seattle, WA | 19. Miami, FL | |
| 10. Sacramento, CA | 20. Portland, OR |
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-4th-of-july-celebrations/4651
4th of July Facts & Figures
- $9.4 Billion: Amount Americans plan to spend on 4th of July food.
- 150 Million: Number of hot dogs eaten each 4th of July.
- $4+ Billion: Amount Americans plan to spend on 4th of July beer and wine.
- $2.95 Billion: Estimated amount spent on fireworks in 2025 (66% of fireworks injuries occur within a month of July 4).
- $3.9 Million: Value of American flags imported annually.
- 72.2 Million: Number of people who travel 50+ miles from home for the 4th of July.
To view the full infographic, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/blog/4th-of-july-facts/22075
Survey Key Findings
- Inflation’s Grip: 77% of people say rising costs are threatening our independence.
- Debt Shadows Freedom: 76% of Americans say our independence is threatened by the rising federal debt.
- Tank vs. Tradition: Nearly 3 in 5 people say high gas prices are affecting their 4th of July plans.
- Budgeting for the holiday: 57% of Americans plan to spend less money this 4th of July than they did last year.
- Turning in their graves: Nearly 9 in 10 Americans think the founding fathers would be appalled by how much debt the government is in.
- The AI Effect: 47% of Americans say their wallet is threatened by AI.
For the complete survey results, visit:
https://wallethub.com/blog/4th-of-july-spending-survey/39371