A new analysis reviewed by Anidjar & Levine reveals that some of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States carry far higher levels of danger than travelers realize. While 92 percent of Americans choose to vacation within the country, the study shows that crime, traffic fatalities, and natural hazards vary dramatically across the nation’s most visited sites. The findings challenge long‑held assumptions about which places are safe and which carry hidden risks, and they highlight several important takeaways for Florida’s tourism‑driven economy.

The study evaluates 29 major U.S. vacation destinations using a weighted scoring system that considers crime exposure, traffic safety, and natural hazard risk. Each destination receives three subscores, which are then normalized on a 0 to 100 scale. Crime and traffic categories each account for 40 percent of the final score, while natural hazard exposure accounts for 20 percent.

The result is a national ranking that identifies the most dangerous and safest places to vacation in the United States. For Florida, the findings offer a mix of reassurance and caution. While some Florida attractions rank among the safest in the country, others face significant hazard‑related risks that travelers should understand before planning their trips.

How Americans Vacation: A Snapshot of 2026 Travel Behavior

The study begins with a survey of 1,461 U.S. adults, offering a detailed look at how Americans plan and experience domestic travel.

Key findings include:

• 92 percent of Americans choose domestic vacations
• 67 percent have already taken or plan to take a staycation in 2026
• The average staycation spend is $928.11 per person
• 47.3 percent choose domestic travel primarily due to cost
• 32.6 percent prefer beach trips
• 31.2 percent choose cabin breaks
• 28.8 percent take cruises
• New York is the most visited U.S. destination (22.8 percent)
• Yellowstone is the top bucket‑list destination (19.5 percent)

Relaxation, family time, and entertainment remain the top priorities for domestic travelers.

The Most Dangerous Vacation Destinations in the U.S.

The study’s crime‑based rankings reveal that several well‑known destinations carry significant safety risks. The top ten most dangerous locations based on crime score include:

• Pennsylvania Wilds, PA: 98
• Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX: 83
• Juneau Wildlife/Whale Watching, AK: 62
• Biltmore Estate, NC: 50
• Ocean City Beach, MD: 49
• Redwood National and State Parks, CA: 47
• Silver Dollar City, MO: 41
• Charleston, SC: 40
• Sequoia National Park, CA: 39
• Napa, CA: 32

The Pennsylvania Wilds tops the list with a near‑maximum crime score. The region’s vast, remote landscape, combined with a history of disappearances and limited law enforcement presence, contributes to its high ranking. Urban proximity also plays a major role. Philadelphia alone welcomed 26.6 million visitors in 2024, and the broader metro area saw 43.9 million, increasing exposure to crime.

Riverwalk in San Antonio ranks second due to high levels of petty crime and occasional violent incidents. Juneau’s wildlife attractions, despite their natural beauty, rank third due to a combination of remoteness and limited emergency response resources.

The Safest Vacation Destinations in the U.S.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, several destinations score extremely low on crime risk. The top ten safest include:

• Legoland New York, Goshen, NY: 0
• Santa Monica State Beach, CA: 0
• Oval Beach, Saugatuck, MI: 0
• Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL: 0
• Legoland California, Carlsbad, CA: 3
• Blue Ridge/Appalachian Trails, VA: 5
• Haystack Rock, OR: 7
• Disneyland, Anaheim, CA: 8
• Gulf Shores/FloraBama, AL: 11
• Horseshoe Bend, Page, AZ: 14

Florida’s Busch Gardens stands out as one of the safest destinations in the country. After a spike in crime in 2024, the park implemented new restrictions and security measures that significantly improved safety.

Theme parks in general rank among the safest places to vacation due to heavy on‑site security and controlled environments.

Traffic Safety: A Different Kind of Risk

When evaluating traffic‑related danger, the rankings shift dramatically. The top ten most dangerous destinations for traffic risk include:

• Haystack Rock, OR: 28
• Horseshoe Bend, AZ: 16
• Hilton Head, SC: 14
• Redwood National/State Parks, CA: 10
• Legoland California, CA: 9
• Ocean City Beach, MD: 9
• Sequoia National Park, CA: 8
• Oval Beach, MI: 7
• Charleston, SC: 7
• Busch Gardens, FL: 6

Haystack Rock ranks highest due to heavy congestion and inadequate road infrastructure during peak seasons.

By contrast, several destinations score extremely low on traffic risk, including:

• Biltmore Estate, NC: 0
• Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX: 0
• Blue Ridge/Appalachian Trails, VA: 1
• Disneyland, Anaheim, CA: 2
• Juneau Wildlife/Whale Watching, AK: 2
• Pennsylvania Wilds, PA: 2

Natural Hazards: The Hidden Danger Travelers Overlook

The hazard‑risk category reveals some of the most surprising findings. The top ten destinations with the highest hazard scores include:

• Santa Monica State Beach, CA: 100
• Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX: 99
• Pennsylvania Wilds, PA: 99
• Disneyland, Anaheim, CA: 98
• Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL: 98
• La Jolla Cove Beach, CA: 97
• Legoland California, CA: 97
• Charleston, SC: 95
• Hilton Head, SC: 95
• Gulf Shores, AL: 94

For Florida, the most notable entry is Busch Gardens, which carries a hazard score of 98. While the park ranks extremely low in crime risk, its hazard score reflects environmental and weather‑related risks common in Florida, including storms, flooding, and heat‑related dangers.

Florida’s Tourism Landscape: Safe, Popular, and Still Vulnerable

Florida is one of the most visited states in the country, and its attractions appear throughout the study’s rankings. The findings show that Florida destinations tend to be:

• Very safe in terms of crime
• Moderately safe in terms of traffic
• High‑risk in terms of natural hazards

This pattern reflects Florida’s unique environment. Coastal regions face risks from rip currents, storms, flooding, and water‑quality issues. Even destinations with low crime scores can carry high hazard scores due to environmental factors.

For example:

• Santa Monica Beach (CA) has a hazard score of 100, and similar coastal risks apply to Florida beaches
• Gulf Shores (AL), another Gulf Coast destination, has a hazard score of 94
• Busch Gardens (FL) has a hazard score of 98, despite a crime score of 0

These findings underscore the importance of understanding environmental risks when planning Florida vacations.

A Clear Takeaway for Travelers

The study reviewed by Anidjar & Levine shows that vacation safety is more complex than many travelers assume. Crime, traffic, and natural hazards each play a distinct role in shaping the overall risk of a destination. For Florida, the data highlights a tourism landscape that is generally safe from crime but vulnerable to environmental hazards that require awareness and preparation.