The States Where Walking Is the Most Popular New Year’s Resolution
Walking may not grab headlines like high-intensity workouts or boutique fitness trends, but it’s quietly become the go-to New Year’s resolution for millions of Americans.
A recent YouGov survey found that exercising more tops the list of 2026 resolutions. Walking, in particular, remains one of the easiest and most sustainable ways to make that goal stick.
To understand where walking is gaining the most traction, we analyzed search interest, real-world walking behavior, and physical activity data across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
This new report offers a fresh perspective on walking by state and walking trends in the U.S. and reveals which states are stepping up their walking habits in 2026.
Ready to see who's putting their best foot forward this year?
The Top 10 States Most Committed To Walking in 2026
A fresh start often begins with small steps. In these 10 states, those steps are adding up to real momentum as walking gains popularity in the new year.
| Rank | State | Walking Popularity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | 73.4 |
| 2 | California | 72.8 |
| 3 | New York | 64.7 |
| 4 | Minnesota | 63.9 |
| 5 | Illinois | 63.8 |
| 6 | Washington | 63.0 |
| 7 | Colorado | 61.9 |
| 8 | Virginia | 59.3 |
| 9 | Utah | 58.8 |
| 10 | Michigan | 57.4 |
Beyond the top 10, a few geographic patterns began to emerge. The Northeast flexed its walking muscles with states like New Jersey and New York ranking high, thanks to strong search interest and frequent walking routines. On the West Coast, California and Washington continued to perform well, driven by active populations and environments that support consistent movement.
In the Mountain West, Colorado and Utah punched above their weight with a culture that clearly prioritizes fitness, despite having smaller populations. Washington, D.C. made a strong showing as well. While it finished just outside the top 10 at number 11, it leads the nation in daily walking trips per person. That puts it firmly among the states where walking is popular.
Meanwhile, many Southern states struggled across the board. Higher inactivity levels and lower walking frequency kept them further down the list, creating a sharp contrast in walking habits by state across the country.
Easy Ways To Walk More in 2026
You don’t need to overhaul your entire routine to make walking a part of your life, even if you don’t live in one of the most walkable states. A few smart shifts can help your resolution turn into something that feels natural, doable, and even fun.
1. Make it part of something you already do.
Pair your walk with a daily routine like taking a work call, listening to a podcast, or walking the dog. When walking fits naturally into your schedule, it becomes easier to maintain.
2. Schedule it like a meeting.
Putting walking on your calendar, even for just 10 or 15 minutes, makes it more likely you’ll follow through. Treat it as a non-negotiable part of your day.
3. Track your progress.
Using a step tracker or walking app can help you stay motivated and see how far you’ve come. Watching your consistency build over time creates powerful momentum!
4. Don’t wait for perfect weather.
Colder temperatures or rainy days don't have to derail your habit. Dress for the conditions or look for indoor options like walking pads or local malls.
5. Start small and build.
You don’t need to hit 10,000 steps on day one. Start with what feels doable and gradually increase as your body adapts and your confidence grows.
6. Choose supportive shoes.
If walking more is one of your goals this year, consider how your shoes support you. Comfortable, shock-absorbing footwear can help turn a short stroll into something you want to repeat.
Methodology
To identify the states where walking is most popular as a New Year’s resolution, we created a Walking Popularity Score for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Each state received a score out of 100, based on five equally weighted factors that reflect both interest and behavior.
Metrics and Data Sources (20 points each):
- Google Trends search interest for “walking for exercise” (Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 9, 2026)
- Google Trends search interest for “walking pad” (Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 9, 2026)
- Google Trends search interest for “10k steps” (Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 9, 2026)
- CDC Physical Inactivity Rate, inverted so that lower inactivity results in a higher score
- Average daily walking trips per 100 people, using the most recent annual data available
Scoring Process:
- Each metric was normalized on a 0–100 scale
- CDC inactivity rates were inverted to reward states with more active populations
- All five factors were weighted equally
- Final scores represent the average of all normalized values
Note: In cases where data were unavailable, such as CDC inactivity rates for New Jersey, scores were calculated using the remaining metrics. This adjustment is shared here to maintain transparency.
About Us
At KURU, we’re on a mission to help you Heel Better™ with footwear technology designed to relieve foot pain, so you can live a life you love. Since launching our innovative technology in 2008, we’ve sold over 3 million pairs and received more than 42,000 five-star reviews from thousands of customers who tell us their KURU shoes helped them with foot pain conditions (such as plantar fasciitis) and got them back to doing what they love.
For all media inquiries, please contact us at pr@kurufootwear.com.