People love lists because they’ re a triple win: brainfriendly, time-efficient, and socially shareable. Pickleball players are no different. We search for courts with the shortest wait times and love cities with multiple courts and indoor and outdoor options. Dedicated players who are relocating identify nearby courts as a must-have. Players planning vacations search only for resorts with courts, and if those courts are in a scenic setting, that’ s even better.
Pickleball Magazine is here to help by providing lists of some of the best cities and states for pickleball players, and some of the prettiest places to play.( Certainly not all the best cities, states or scenic venues!)
Pickleheads is the industry’ s most comprehensive database of pickleball courts. In August, it reported 68,458 dedicated and temporary indoor and outdoor courts in the country.
The numbers are changing rapidly. No matter— all the cities have one thing in common: They are welcome places for pickleball players.
TOP 10 CITIES
The exact number of pickleball facilities is fluid, frequently increasing due to the sport’ s rapid growth. Numerous databases list approximately 16,700 pickleball facilities in the U. S. These facilities include private or public clubs, community centers, and parks. It’ s safe to say that visitors to any of these cities won’ t have difficulty finding a place to play.
Surprisingly, no cities in Arizona and Florida— two states that are hotspots for pickleball— made the top 10. Phoenix is # 18 and Tampa is # 28. For the Top 25 Cities, go to pickleballmagazine. com.
1. Houston: 59 facilities
Houston has a very high number of courts and locations. While it may not top the list for courts per capita due to its large population, the sheer quantity of places to play makes it a significant pickleball city.
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2. New York City: 58 facilities
Despite its urban density, New York City is a major hub for pickleball. It boasts a high number of facilities and courts, including many that are free to play on, which increases public access. The city’ s resourceful players often set up portable nets in parks and other public spaces.
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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2025 | MAGAZINE 31