The Best and Worst Cities for a Legal Cannabis Vacation
The Best Places for a Weed Vacation in 2022
As legalized recreational marijuana use becomes more widespread in the U.S., cannabis-seeking travelers have more options when it comes to planning a weed-inspired vacation. The team at Upgraded Points recently analyzed 50 major U.S. cities where recreational marijuana use is legal across 10 different factors for a memorable cannabis vacation, including the average cost of roundtrip airfare, the average nightly price at a weed-friendly accommodation, the average rideshare cost, the number of fast food restaurants, the number of medical and recreational dispensaries, the number of weed-friendly Airbnbs, the number and average cost of weed-friendly experiences, the average cost of a quarter ounce of marijuana and the number of guided cannabis tours. Here’s a look at the five best and the five worst cities for a law-abiding cannabis vacation right now.
Denver, Colorado
The Mile High City is undoubtedly the number one U.S. city for a weed vacation. After all, Denver (receiving a score of 41.19 out of a possible 50) has over 64 licensed dispensaries per 100,000 people—the national average is 21—and visitors can find marijuana-friendly accommodations for under $176 a night on average. Denver is also home to as many as 19 guided cannabis bus tours.
Portland, Maine
Earning an overall score of 37.68, Portland, Maine ranks as the second-best U.S. city for a legal weed getaway in 2022 thanks to its high number of weed-friendly stays despite its small population size of just over 68,000. Portland has as many as 102 cannabis-friendly Airbnb listings per 100,000 people.
Oakland, California
On the West Coast, Oakland (36.9) is the most cost-efficient destination for a cannabis vacation. Here, a tourist can enjoy a four-day weed stay for as little as $1,068. That’s more than 22 percent cheaper than the national average cost of $1,262.
Boulder, Colorado
A short drive northwest of nation-leading Denver, Boulder ranks as the fourth-best U.S. city for a cannabis vacation right now, earning an overall score of 36.7. While this college town popular with outdoor enthusiasts has some catching up to do with Denver, it fares slightly better than eighth-ranked Colorado Springs (33.95).
Portland, Oregon
In the Pacific Northwest, Portland, Oregon (36.09) offers tourists one of the most affordable cannabis vacations, with a quarter ounce of marijuana going for nearly $50 on average. Additionally, the average cost to attend a 420-friendly experience in Portland such as a weed-infused yoga class or a “wake and bake” drag brunch is under $20. Plus, visitors can choose from nine different guided cannabis bus tours.
Anchorage, Alaska
With an overall city score of just 17.45 out of a possible 50, Anchorage is the worst of the 50 cities that Upgraded Points analyzed when it comes to a weed trip. The destination is hurt by cost, with the average four-day cannabis vacation for one in Anchorage costing more than $1,550.
Phoenix, Arizona
Back in the contiguous U.S., Phoenix (18.22) isn’t so much hampered strictly by cost but by its massive population of more than 1.7 million, which is bound to impact its score in multiple categories taking per 100,000 people into account.
Fresno, California
Despite the fact that California is one of the nation’s most affordable states for high-quality legal weed, Fresno (18.64) ranks among the worst cities for a marijuana vacation likely due to a lack of 420-friendly experiences and accommodations given its sizable population of well over a half-million people.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
In the Mid-Atlantic, Virginia Beach (19.13) offers pot-loving travelers plenty of gorgeous coastlines and things to do but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wallet-friendly. Virginia ranks second behind only Washington, D.C. in terms of the highest average price of one ounce of high-quality weed at a whopping $363.07.
Reno, Nevada
Rounding out the list of the five worst U.S. cities for a cannabis vacation is the Biggest Little City in the World in Reno, Nevada, which earns an overall score of 19.91. Based on Upgraded Points’ research, travelers with weed on the mind visiting the Silver State would be better suited in Henderson (34.89) or Las Vegas (32.19).