The Best U.S. Cities for a Cannabis Vacation [2025 Data Study]

Dreaming of a cannabis-friendly getaway? Your travel options are greener than ever — and so is the industry. With the U.S. cannabis market expected to hit nearly $45 billion in revenue in 2025, more cities than ever are catering to weed tourism. 

Back in 2022, we crunched the numbers to find the best U.S. cities for a cannabis vacation, but with more states legalizing recreational marijuana (welcome to the party, Delaware, Minnesota, Ohio, and others!), it was time for an update. This time around, we analyzed 50 major cities in states where weed is legal, ranking them based on 10 key factors — everything from dispensary density to the cost of 420-friendly experiences and, of course, the price of a fast-food run, among several others. 

Whether you’re after a luxe weed-friendly stay, guided cannabis tours, or just the most budget-friendly ounce, we’ve got the data to help you find the best place to plan the ultimate canna-cation.

The Best U.S. Destinations for Cannabis Tourism

These are the best U.S. cities for a cannabis vacation and their respective city scores (out of 50):

1. Denver, Colorado

• City Score: 40.10

Denver continues to reign as the #1 U.S. city for a cannabis vacation — holding the top spot in 2022 and once again in 2025. Since our last study, weed-friendly accommodations in Denver have increased by 32%, with 41 stays per 100K residents, making it easier than ever to book a 420-friendly spot. 

The city also boasts 48 dispensaries per 100K residents, which is nearly 140% more than the study’s average of 20 dispensaries — so you’ll never have to go far to stock up. And when you do, you’ll find that Colorado offers some of the best prices in the country, with 1 ounce of weed averaging $241.49 — 24% cheaper than the national average. But what really sets Denver apart is its 20 guided cannabis tours, more than any other city in our study. 

2. Portland, Oregon

• City Score: 38.74

Portland ranks as the second-best U.S. destination for weed tourists, and true to its “Keep Portland Weird” motto, it delivers a cannabis scene that’s anything but ordinary. For starters, booking a weed-friendly hotel or Airbnb in Portland costs just $161 per night, making it 33% cheaper than the study’s average — so you can save more for the experiences that matter. And when it comes to dispensaries, Portland is stacked, boasting 55 per 100K residents, the fourth most in the study, and a 20% increase in dispensaries since 2022. 

Oregon also has some of the least expensive weed in the country, with an ounce averaging just $210.19 — far below the national average of $300. Even cannabis-friendly activities are easy on the wallet, with experiences like “puff, pass, and paint” classes or cannabis-infused yoga averaging $22 per person.

3. Boulder, Colorado

• City Score: 38.70

For a cannabis vacation with stunning mountain views and laid-back vibes, Boulder is the place to be. Ranking third overall, the city has 67 weed-friendly accommodations per 100K residents, the second most in the study, making it a breeze to book a stay where your stash is welcome. Dispensary access is also unmatched, with 70 dispensaries per 100K residents — the highest of any city in our ranking. Whether you’re looking for boutique bud or budget-friendly options, you won’t have to go far to find it. And with a weed vacation, munchies are inevitable. Luckily, Boulder delivers with 63 fast food restaurants per 100K residents — 50% more than the study’s average.

4. Missoula, Montana

• City Score: 36.28

Missoula is a hidden gem, ranking fourth overall. The city has 53 marijuana dispensaries (68 dispensaries per 100K residents), the second most in the study, meaning there’s no shortage of options despite Missoula’s smaller population. When it’s time to settle in, 420-friendly accommodations average just $180 per night, 34% cheaper than the study’s average, while maintaining an impressive average star rating of 4.88. What’s more, cannabis-friendly experiences cost only $24 per person, and fast food meals average just $9.25.

5. Burlington, Vermont

• City Score: 36.15

For a cannabis vacation with small-town charm and a serious love for the outdoors, Burlington is the fifth-best city for weed tourists in the U.S. Burlington now has the highest number of weed-friendly stays in the study — 103 per 100K residents — 15% more than in 2022, making it easier than ever to find a bud-forward spot to relax. When it comes to dispensaries, the city holds its own with 52 per 100K residents, the fifth most in the study. Burlington is also a munchies paradise, with 67 fast-food restaurants per 100K residents. Whether you’re strolling along Church Street or taking in the scenic views of Lake Champlain, Burlington offers a thriving weed scene.

Honorable Mentions: More Top Canna-Cation Destinations

• 6. Portland, Maine – Portland is a top pick for a coastal canna-cation, offering a high concentration of cannabis-friendly stays — 50.65 per 100K residents, the fifth most in the study. With 60.78 dispensaries per 100K residents (the third highest), you’ll have no shortage of options to explore Maine’s thriving cannabis scene.
• 7. Eugene, Oregon – If you’re after affordability without sacrificing quality, Eugene delivers. It’s the third cheapest city for weed-friendly stays, with hotels and Airbnbs averaging just $135 per night. Plus, those stays come highly rated — Eugene claims the highest-rated weed-friendly accommodations in the study, with an impressive 4.96-star average.
• 8. Ann Arbor, Michigan – This college town isn’t just about football and craft beer. It’s also a solid pick for a cannabis getaway. Ann Arbor has 55 weed-friendly stays per 100K residents, the fourth highest in the study. The city also keeps things budget-friendly, with low-cost cannabis experiences averaging just $21.67 per person.
• 9. Las Vegas, Nevada – Sin City delivers big when it comes to cannabis travel, too. Vegas is the fourth cheapest city in the study to fly into, with round-trip airfare averaging $275.16. It also has 62 weed-friendly stays per 100K residents (the third highest in the study) and 8 cannabis tours.
• 10. Seattle, Washington – A canna-cation here means high-quality bud at a great price. Washington is the second cheapest state in the study for an ounce of weed, averaging just $233.93 (compared to the national average of $300). Plus, weed-friendly accommodations in Seattle average under $200 a night ($198). 

Regional Trends

When it comes to cannabis-friendly travel, the West still reigns supreme. The western half of the U.S. claims 11 of the top 15 cities for a weed vacation, thanks to longer histories of legalization, more dispensaries per capita, and lower costs of marijuana. 

Apart from Colorado, Oregon also stands out with 2 cities in the top 10 cities for a canna-cation, Portland (#2) and Eugene (#7), cementing its status as a 420 hotspot. Meanwhile, Michigan is leading the charge for the Midwest with 2 cities in the top 15 — Ann Arbor (#8) and Grand Rapids (#15). As more states legalize, the regional landscape of cannabis tourism is shifting, but for now, the West continues to set the standard for the ultimate canna-cation experience.

Where To Plan Your Next Canna-Cation

Interested in diving deeper into the numbers for the top cities, or want to see how other legal cities stack up? We’ve compiled the full ranking data for all 50 U.S. cities analyzed in the interactive table below. Use the search bar to find a specific city, or click on column headers to sort by the ranking factors that matter most to you.

Where To Take a Canna-Cation in Newly Legal States

Next, we conducted a separate ranking focused exclusively on cities in states that legalized recreational marijuana within the last 5 years (since 2020), based on data from U.S. News & World Report. This includes cities in Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Virginia. These cities were analyzed and ranked against each other, meaning their final scores differed from those in the full city ranking in the previous section.

These are the top 5 cities for a recently legal cannabis vacation and their respective city scores (out of 50):

1. Missoula, Montana – 36.80
2. Scottsdale, Arizona – 30.18
3. Albuquerque, New Mexico – 25.30
4. Tucson, Arizona – 25.10
5. St. Louis, Missouri – 23.16

Missoula is a standout nationwide and a top pick for canna-cations in newly legal states — Montana legalized recreational weed in 2020. Ranking #4 in the overall ranking and #1 among recently legal cities, Missoula’s cannabis-friendly credentials speak for themselves.

Arizona claims 2 cities in this top 5 list (Scottsdale and Tucson) and legalized recreational marijuana use in 2020. Scottsdale (#2) has the third cheapest round-trip airfare in the ranking ($160.75). While the cost of a 420-friendly stay is on the higher end ($490 per night), Scottsdale has a high density of weed-friendly accommodations (38 per 100K residents) and plenty of dispensaries (41 per 100K residents). With the cheapest 420-friendly experiences ($19 per person) and some of the lowest-priced ganja-friendly accommodations ($170 per night), Tucson (#4) is one of the most affordable cities for a canna-cation. 

And then there’s St. Louis (#5) — a surprise standout for budget-conscious cannabis travelers, thanks to the lowest-priced weed-friendly stays ($143 per night) and a solid fast food scene (49 fast food restaurants per 100K residents). With Missouri only legalizing recreational weed in 2022, St. Louis is already proving itself to be a rising star in the cannabis tourism scene. Whether you’re looking for an outdoorsy retreat, a high-end canna-cation, or just an affordable place to toke up, these newly legal cities are rolling out the welcome mat.

Methodology

We started with 50 of the largest U.S. cities in states where recreational marijuana usage is legal based on updated data from U.S. News & World Report and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. To find the best cities for a cannabis vacation, we considered 10 ranking factors strongly related to weed tourism. 

We assigned cities with a score of 0 to 5 for each factor, with a score of 5 representing the most favorable conditions. We determined each city’s total score from the total of its individual factor scores, which were weighted according to their impact on cannabis tourism. Individual factor scores were then added together to give each city a final score from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate that cities are better for cannabis tourists. The factors are listed below, along with their respective weights and source data.

Ranking factors include:

For Airbnb accommodations, we applied the “smoking allowed” and “entire home” filters when gathering listings for each city. The cost of an ounce of weed reflects the price of high-quality cannabis. Examples of weed-friendly experiences include activities like “Puff, Pass, & Paint” classes, 420-friendly comedy shows, yoga sessions, drag brunches, and more.

We conducted a separate ranking focused specifically on cities in states that legalized recreational marijuana within the last 5 years (since 2020). This includes cities in Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Virginia. These cities were analyzed and ranked against each other, so their final scores differ from those in the full city ranking. To ensure consistency, we applied the same methodology, ranking factors, weights, and data sources as in the overall ranking.

Final Thoughts

Cannabis tourism is booming, with the U.S. cannabis market worth billions in 2025. As more states legalize, cities across the country are becoming hotspots for weed-friendly travel. Denver, Portland, and Boulder continue to dominate as top destinations, while Missoula, Scottsdale, and St. Louis are emerging as must-visit spots in newly legal states. With dispensaries, 420-friendly stays, and budget-friendly experiences on the rise, there’s never been a better time to plan your next canna-cation! 

To learn more about flying with medical marijuana, check out the TSA’s guidelines for possessing marijuana and cannabis-infused products in checked and carry-on bags.