Overall Ranking: #10
Virginia has some historic charm, but there's not a lot of perks besides that. Only 0.98% of its land is parkland, which isn’t much. With 74 landfills scattered across the state, it struggles to keep things green and clean.
Urban areas like Arlington dominate, leaving little space for natural beauty. Overdeveloped suburbs and highways slice through any scenic areas left, making them feel less peaceful. Many landscapes lack wow-factor, leaving Virginia feeling more average than stunning to most visitors.
Overall Ranking: #9
Illinois offers little for nature lovers, with only 1.39% of its land reserved for parks. The state has 95 landfills and ranks 14th in trash production, with nearly 39 tons of garbage per person cluttering its landscape.
Illinois struggles with its mix of overcrowded cities and bland suburbs. Places like Chicago are full of traffic, pollution, and crumbling buildings. The sprawl of strip malls and industrial areas makes it hard to find anything eye-catching.
Overall Ranking: #8
Georgia’s sprawling cities are filled with endless highways, strip malls, and congested streets. The mix of overdevelopment and inconsistent planning makes it hard to find spots with real charm. Many areas feel crowded and visually unappealing.
Outside the cities, Georgia’s landscape doesn’t shine much either. The flat, repetitive countryside lacks variety, and industrial zones dot the scenery. Overdeveloped suburbs and traffic take away from the natural beauty that might be hiding underneath.
Overall Ranking: #7
Louisiana may have cultural charm, but nature lovers won’t find much to celebrate. Only 0.10% of its land is dedicated to parks, but not to worry, because there are 37 landfills and nearly 39 tons of trash per person.
The state’s natural landscape struggles, too. Swamps might be unique, but they’re not exactly pretty to everyone. Overdeveloped areas and polluted waterways don’t help, making Louisiana’s scenery feel less impressive and more neglected.
Overall Ranking: #6
Ohio’s cities are dotted with abandoned buildings, flat landscapes, and heavy traffic. Urban sprawl has taken over, with strip malls and boxy developments replacing any sense of charm or uniqueness. It feels gray and uninspiring.
The natural scenery isn’t much better. Ohio’s flat farmlands stretch for miles without much variety. Parks and green spaces don’t stand out, leaving the state looking dull and unremarkable for anyone driving through.
Overall Ranking: #5
Pennsylvania’s beauty gets buried under a sea of industrial areas and sprawling suburbs. Cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are filled with pollution, old factories, and crowded streets, making it hard to find any eye-catching scenery.
The state’s rural areas don’t add much charm either. Endless stretches of plain farmland and rundown small towns make the landscape feel tired. Pennsylvania’s mix of overdevelopment and bland countryside leaves little to admire.
Overall Ranking: #4
Maryland may rank as the fourth greenest state, but it still lacks natural areas with only 1.4% of its land designated as parkland. There are 46 state parks compared to 48 landfills, which really shows the state's priorities.
Maryland’s cities are packed with traffic, concrete, and cookie-cutter neighborhoods. Urban sprawl has taken over, leaving little room for charm. Industrial areas and crowded strip malls make it hard to find any standout beauty in the state.
Overall Ranking: #3
Indiana doesn’t exactly wow with its nature, with less than 1% of the state being parkland. Add in 89 landfills and a green ranking of 39, and it’s not very picture-perfect. No reason everyone calls it a flyover state, there's nothing there worth seeing.
Indiana has miles of flat farmland, but it’s not exactly pretty. Endless fields, broken by old factories and power lines, make the view repetitive and dull. Many towns feel neglected, with rundown buildings and lifeless streets.
Overall Ranking: #2
Delaware might have clean beaches, but it’s pretty lackluster otherwise. Only 1.69% of its land is set aside for parks, giving nature lovers slim pickings. With four landfills and 33 tons of trash per person, the state’s green spaces don't exactly shine.
Being the second smallest state doesn’t make Delaware any prettier. Its limited parkland means fewer spots to enjoy the outdoors. Pair that with its trash problem, and you’ve got a state many would describe as flat-out boring.
Overall Ranking: #1 Ugliest State
Rhode Island might be the smallest state, but it’s packed with a lot of concrete and crowded spaces. The cities are crammed, and the charm is often lost in the mess of highways and strip malls.
Only 0.84% of its land is dedicated to parks, leaving barely any green spaces to enjoy. For a state this tiny, having five landfills and a staggering 37 tons of trash per person makes its environmental situation downright messy.
