Here Are the Sunniest American Cities and States in 2026

Does your doctor constantly tell you you're vitamin D deficient? Have you wished that your town had more sunny days than gloomy, cloudy days? Maybe it's time to move. Or at least compare where you live to other cities around the United States and dream.

We compiled a list so you can see where your town ranks among the sunniest cities in America.

There's no big surprise about the sunniest cities in America's top ten. These are all cities in the Western or Southern United States, well known as destinations for soaking up the sun.

Average percent of sunshine possible: 90

Arizona is a popular place to retire because of its warm, dry air and sunny days, so it's not shocking that Yuma, located in this state's Southwestern corner, tops our list.

Yuma is nestled along the Colorado River, near the borders of California and Mexico. It's home to many year-round residents, plus a large population of seasonal snowbird residents who flock there from colder climes to enjoy the sunny skies. 

Average percent of sunshine possible: 86

Yuma edged Phoenix out in the sunshine department slightly, but this cosmopolitan area has lots to offer in addition to sunny days.

Located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix is known for magnificent sunsets, and mild, easy winters. 

Average percent of sunshine possible: 84

Sin City's sunshine percentage was just one off from the top spot. One thing's for sure, if you find a long-distance mover and move here, you'll never run out of things to do. It's not just gambling and shows: Las Vegas has 130 public parks and recreational facilities.

Average percent of sunshine possible: 85

Another Arizona city makes the list at number four.

Tucson's magnificant, lavender-tinted sunrises and stunning desert cacti make it a wonderland year-round. It's particularly  magical during the winter holidays, when luminaria line driveways, and trees are decorated with chili peppers and Kachina dolls. 

Average percent of sunshine possible: 84

This desert city has a bicultural identity, thanks to its proximity to Mexico. It's many bright, sunny days provide lots of opportunity to enjoy Franklin Mountains State Park, Wet-N-Wild Wonderland, and other outdoor recreational areas. 

Average percent of sunshine possible: 78

It's kind of fitting that the capital of the Golden State is the sunniest city in California. Sacramento is also known as America's Farm-to-Fork Capital because of its plethora of farm-to-table restaurants and farmers' markets.

Average percent of sunshine possible: 79

Fresno is the gateway to three national parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia. It's California's fifth largest city, and also its sunniest. Visitors here can enjoy Fresno County Blossom Trail, Shinzen Friendship Garden, and other outdoor attractions. 

Average percent of sunshine possible: 76

Albuquerque is the sunniest city in New Mexico, a sundrenched state with a high elevation. There are very few rainy days here, even during the winter months. Whether you're here year round or only for a vist, sunscreen is mandatory and so is frequent hydration. 

Average percent of sunshine possible: 73

Los Angeles isn't only sunny, it glitters with stars day and night. LA is California's quintessential location, and home to Hollywood, USA. There's no place like Los Angeles anywhere in the world. 

Average percent of sunshine possible: 71

Miami is the only east coast city that made this list. It's known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and eclectic art and culinary scenes. It also boasts a large population of winter-dwelling snowbirds who spend much of the year up north in states like New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut,   

Didn't see your city, or potential future city in the top ten? Here's a full list of the sunniest cities in the U.S and U.S. territories.

There’s a reason why so many people migrate to Arizona and don’t fly back for the winter. Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff are all in the top 10 sunniest cities in the US, with Phoenix and Tucson tied for the top spot.

While you’re visiting Arizona, you can check out the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley for some awesome desert vibes, or you can take a dip and hike around Havasu Falls. And you’ll be picking up some major vitamin D along the way — don’t forget your sunscreen!

On average, the West region of the US is sunnier than both the Midwest and the East Coast. More than half of the top 15 sunniest cities are on the Pacific side of things.

But, overall, Texas came out on top with five cities in the top 15. Here are the top 5 sunniest states:

1. Texas
2. California
3. Arizona
4. Nevada
5. Florida

A city that may surprise you is the Hawaiian town of Hilo (it ranks 151 out of 155 sunniest cities).

The area receives massive amounts of rainfall, which mostly falls between midnight and sunrise. The clouds evaporate during the day, but that doesn’t happen immediately, and you’ll still get stretches of long rainfalls that put it on the less sunny side of the spectrum as a whole.

You can definitely catch the sun out there, but if your timing falls within a rainy spell, just hit the west side of the island, Kona, for some rays.

Only one Hawaiian city shows up in the top 25: Kahului, HI, on the island of Maui. Kahului is tied for the thirteenth spot with Little Rock, Arkansas and Concordia, Kansas. 

To find the sunniest cities, we sourced the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Comparative Climatic Data report. Each city was ranked based on the annual average percent of possible sunshine.

NOAA defines the sunniest cities by the total time that sunshine reaches the observing station, which is expressed as the percentage of the maximum amount possible from sunrise to sunset in clear sky conditions.