# The most boring U.S. state **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 22, 2019, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262 "2019-12-22T22:57:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/181 "2020-01-07T17:06:11Z")
Delaware has a lot of beaches compared to square miles. It doesn’t have much else going for it, but that is pretty good compared to states like Kansas. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/182 "2020-01-07T18:16:53Z")
> [@TheSundial](#): > > For anyone that’s said Indiana, I don’t think they know what they’re talking about with the state as a whole. > > This is a lone tree I found on Google Street View in Indiana: > > [Untitled1-Copy-1 hosted at ImgBB — ImgBB](https://ibb.co/xqwSHk1) > > I went there in person and it was absolutely massive. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen in the US and I’ve been to 25-30 states before, Banff National Park, Europe three times including Norway. > > A great view I found in Indiana also: > > [Untitled25-Copy-1 hosted at ImgBB — ImgBB](https://ibb.co/KKgrfVX) > > As an Indiana native, Brown County is very pretty and hilly. The entire state is not flat and devoid of trees. > > **The very northern part of the state is on Lake Michigan which very few people know about. There are sand dunes and it’s pretty. You can even see the Chicago skyline over the water.** Bolding mine. The Trump Admin. recently made part of it a National Park. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/183 "2020-01-07T18:29:13Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Funny! I agree, if you need to post that sign, then you’re basically saying that you’re boring. > > But Iowa has… > > Beautiful rolling hills of corn fields > The two great rivers, Mississippi and Missouri. And also the Big Sioux River. > Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch > Clear Lake — the Surf Ballroom, and the cornfield that was there on The Day The Music Died (marked by giant Buddy Holly eyeglasses) > The Field of Dreams in Dyersville > Hawkeye Point, the highest point in the state, at 1,670’ elevation > _This ain’t heaven. It’s Iowa._ > > What’s not to like? You’re arguing for Iowa being boring as shit, right? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/184 "2020-01-07T19:59:36Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > You’re arguing for Iowa being boring as shit, right? Iowa has some character. I like Iowa. Remember also the covered bridges ([images](https://www.google.com/search?q=Iowa+covered+bridges&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS832US832&sxsrf=ACYBGNRaIsk4RzuGwvwE_6bsRClewqtpsw:1578427117126&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi6zPqco_LmAhXxIDQIHV7XCZEQ_AUoAnoECBAQBA&biw=1321&bih=679)) and round barns ([images](https://www.google.com/search?q=Iowa+round+barns&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjDlbqeo_LmAhV3BTQIHfFrAhAQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Iowa+round+barns&gs_l=img.3..0i24.25785.27187..27661...0.0..0.77.723.11......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0j0i8i30.8OTRrvdW7M4&ei=8OIUXsPdD_eK0PEP8deJgAE&bih=679&biw=1321&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS832US832)) of Iowa. Hey now, that’s some cool shit, Maynard! ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/185 "2020-01-07T20:27:46Z")
I was in Delaware for a few days but didn’t consider it boring. I saw a lot more boats per capita than in other states. They have no sales tax, but they do have luxury tax, which I discovered when I rented a tux. I thought gee, a lot of rich people live here and go sailing. The most boring state to me is Tennessee. Once you get past the mountains, there’s nothing between Knoxville and Nashville, and nothing between Nashville and Memphis. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/186 "2020-01-07T20:48:13Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Iowa has some character. I like Iowa. Remember also the covered bridges ([images](https://www.google.com/search?q=Iowa+covered+bridges&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS832US832&sxsrf=ACYBGNRaIsk4RzuGwvwE_6bsRClewqtpsw:1578427117126&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi6zPqco_LmAhXxIDQIHV7XCZEQ_AUoAnoECBAQBA&biw=1321&bih=679)) and round barns ([images](https://www.google.com/search?q=Iowa+round+barns&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjDlbqeo_LmAhV3BTQIHfFrAhAQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Iowa+round+barns&gs_l=img.3..0i24.25785.27187..27661...0.0..0.77.723.11......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0j0i8i30.8OTRrvdW7M4&ei=8OIUXsPdD_eK0PEP8deJgAE&bih=679&biw=1321&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS832US832)) of Iowa. Hey now, that’s some cool shit, Maynard! I honestly don’t know if I’m being whooshed. “They have corn, a small hill, and barns” doesn’t really make a good travel brochure, in my experience. I’ve been to maybe half the states, but Indiana probably was the most boring for me. I was only in Omaha for a couple days, but if that’s the crown jewel for Nebraska, then it’s probably in contention as well. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/187 "2020-01-07T21:09:27Z")
I’ll go with the Mount Rushmore of boring states: Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma, and it’s no coincidence that they are all connected. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/188 "2020-01-07T21:13:08Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > I honestly don’t know if I’m being whooshed. “They have corn, a small hill, and barns” doesn’t really make a good travel brochure, in my experience. > > I’ve been to maybe half the states, but Indiana probably was the most boring for me. I was only in Omaha for a couple days, but if that’s the crown jewel for Nebraska, then it’s probably in contention as well. You’re not being whooshed. I’m being sincere - truly! ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/189 "2020-01-07T21:47:24Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > My vote goes to Delaware. Fun\* fact: Delaware is the only state in the US with no regularly scheduled passenger airline service whatsoever. It must be so boring no one wants to fly there. 🙂 \*Or maybe not, since it’s about Delaware. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/190 "2020-01-07T21:53:01Z")
I’ve lived in Rhode Island and/or Connecticut for the last 27+ years. **TriPolar** covered why Rhode Island isn’t boring upthread. Connecticut isn’t boring, either. I’ve been to lots of states that are much more boring, like the aforementioned plains states. For a small state, Connecticut has lots of things to do, like [Mystic Seaport](https://mystic.org/), hundreds of miles of [blue-blazed hiking trails](https://www.ctwoodlands.org/blue-blazed-hiking-trails/blue-blazed-hiking-trails-interactive-map), a section of the Appalachian Trail in the northwest corner, and access to both NYC and Boston without being _too_ close, if you know what I mean. 😉 It has a coastline and beaches, as well as numerous rivers and lakes. It has history – the town I live in was founded in the late 17th century. For his Eagle Scout project, my son restored and painted the exterior of a historic house in our town that was built in 1702. Mark Twain lived here in West Hartford. A few years ago I replaced the water main in front of his house; the original main was installed while he was living (and writing) there. Connecticut has a couple of small ski resorts that are good for learning on, and is close enough to drive to bigger mountains in Vermont and New Hampshire. Finally, like the rest of New England, it also has something all but absent from my home state of Texas: four actual seasons and beautiful fall colors. On the other hand, it is largely missing decent Mexican food. (I’ve found exactly one Tex-Mex restaurant that’s worth going to in the entire state. Fortunately it’s relatively close to me in southeastern Connecticut – only a 35 minute drive away. The owner moved here from Houston – his restaurant would be just OK in Houston, but is far better than anything else up here.) You can find good Italian restaurants, though. Even take-out pizza is pretty good here. After getting one of the worst “pizzas” of my life in Park City (Utah) over the holidays, I’ve learned to appreciate the take-out pizza joints here in Connecticut. All in all, Connecticut is not boring. Our last tourism logo was pretty boring, though. Fortunately, they just [dropped it](https://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-connecticut-tourism-marketing-20190506-pkancqlqhfcire5vgskxtpqxoy-story.html). (It was: “Connecticut: Still Revolutionary.”) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/191 "2020-01-07T22:49:20Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Fun\* fact: Delaware is the only state in the US with no regularly scheduled passenger airline service whatsoever. It must be so boring no one wants to fly there. 🙂 > > \*Or maybe not, since it’s about Delaware. 😉 When my daughter was deciding on which college to go to, she visited the University of Maryland and the University of Delaware. She chose the former when most of the students she spoke to at Delaware were in the middle of transferring to Maryland. But Delaware has DuPont, and any state busy poisoning us can’t be that boring. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/192 "2020-01-08T07:44:12Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I’ll go with the Mount Rushmore of boring states: Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma, and it’s no coincidence that they are all connected. You omitted the Dakotas, and Oklahoma doesn’t qualify once off Interstates. Take the blue highways, and roads designated as “scenic”. All states have them, say my AAA maps. Visit small-town libraries and ask what’s interesting thereabouts - librarians know. Boring flatlands become quite exciting when dodging blizzards, tornadoes, etc. ---
**Author:** ![ginman999](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@ginman999](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ginman999)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/193 "2020-01-20T05:09:06Z")
Indiana has a world class event ( Indy 500 ) most states cant say that. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/194 "2020-01-20T23:49:12Z")
> [@TheSundial](#): > > For anyone that’s said Indiana, I don’t think they know what they’re talking about with the state as a whole. > > This is a lone tree I found on Google Street View in Indiana: > > [Untitled1-Copy-1 hosted at ImgBB — ImgBB](https://ibb.co/xqwSHk1) > > I went there in person and it was absolutely massive. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen in the US and I’ve been to 25-30 states before, Banff National Park, Europe three times including Norway. > > A great view I found in Indiana also: > > [Untitled25-Copy-1 hosted at ImgBB — ImgBB](https://ibb.co/KKgrfVX) > > As an Indiana native, Brown County is very pretty and hilly. The entire state is not flat and devoid of trees. > > The very northern part of the state is on Lake Michigan which very few people know about. There are sand dunes and it’s pretty. You can even see the Chicago skyline over the water. Funnily enough, I just sold a new truck to a guy that lives in my area, dates a woman in Indy and has a brother that owns land in Brown County and says he loves going camping there and just unplugging from the world. And this is a guy who’s _second_ favorite place to tow his camper is into the mountains of Colorado! ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/195 "2020-01-21T00:02:16Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I’ll go with the Mount Rushmore of boring states: Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma, and it’s no coincidence that they are all connected. > [@RioRico](#): > > You omitted the Dakotas, and Oklahoma doesn’t qualify once off Interstates. Take the blue highways, and roads designated as “scenic”. All states have them, say my AAA maps. Visit small-town libraries and ask what’s interesting thereabouts - librarians know. > > Boring flatlands become quite exciting when dodging blizzards, tornadoes, etc. Well because the actual Mount Rushmore is in South Dakota, and North Dakota has the Badlands. I’m sorry Oklahoma is boring even off the interstates. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/196 "2020-01-21T00:09:28Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Let me recap my post for you… > > I said that many of the posts were using old or limited information. > > Someone mentioned Indiana’s odd liquor laws (yes, we used to have them). > > Those laws have been gone for a few years now… very few limitations, I can walk into Kroger on Sunday and buy a bottle of Scotch (cite for using old information). Your roads have been gone for a few years longer than the odd liquor laws. Seriously, have you seen the size of your Pence Potholes? (yeah, I know I-69 is _getting_ better, but that’s a drop in the bucket…) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/197 "2020-01-21T00:14:58Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Well because the actual Mount Rushmore is in South Dakota, and North Dakota has the Badlands. I’m sorry Oklahoma is boring even off the interstates. South Dakota also has Badlands National Park, and the Black Hills national forest in the Rushmore area is beautiful. There’s also Custer State Park and Wind Caves National Park. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/198 "2020-01-21T05:17:40Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Let me recap my post for you… > > I said that many of the posts were using old or limited information. > > Someone mentioned Indiana’s odd liquor laws (yes, we used to have them). > > Those laws have been gone for a few years now… very few limitations, I can walk into Kroger on Sunday and buy a bottle of Scotch (cite for using old information). Life long Hoosier here - they changed the liquor laws from no liquor on Sundays to being able to sell on Sundays from like 10am - 8pm or something. They did that like three years ago. Indiana is where America’s diarrhea comes out. It’s not just boring, it’s hateful and racist and anti-gay and sexist and religious. Just awful. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262/199 "2020-01-21T06:34:57Z")
> [@ginman999](#): > > Indiana has a world class event ( Indy 500 ) most states cant say that. Really? I’m sure most can. And not that it’s well-known, but Madison, Wisconsin has the looniest one: The Paddle and Portage. You haven’t lived until you’ve stood on the Capital Square watching down Hamilton Street for a guy on horseback to ride up it while ringing a handbell while saying “the canoes are coming! The canoes are coming!” right before a mass of people carrying their canoes come running after him. We were waiting once and a family from Europe asked us why everyone was waiting and staring. We explained and they stayed and watched in astonishment . [https://paddleandportage.com](https://paddleandportage.com) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-boring-u-s-state/845262.md?page=9)