Married Americans are 65% more romantic on vacation. That's not just anecdotal—it's what researchers found when they surveyed 2,000 adults in 2025. More striking: 82% said a trip with their partner can reignite the spark, and 56% reported that a getaway actually helped them reconnect.
So where are couples going? The Resorts Collection analyzed thousands of Tripadvisor reviews to find out which U.S. states people describe as most romantic. They looked for how often travelers used the word "romantic" when talking about hotels, restaurants, landmarks, and nature. The results paint a clear picture of what Americans associate with romance—and it's more varied than you might expect.
What the data reveals
Rhode Island tops the list with 2,100 romantic mentions per 100,000 Tripadvisor comments—nearly double the national average. Couples praise the state's coastal charm: quaint inns, seafood dinners in Newport, weekend walks in Providence. Nature features heavily in the praise too, with parks and outdoor attractions mentioned as romantic 94% more often than the national norm.
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Start Your News DetoxTexas comes in second, but for a different reason. While Rhode Island leans on scenery and ambiance, Texas dominates on food. Restaurants alone account for over 1,261 of its 1,787 romantic mentions—80% above the national average. The San Antonio River Walk and Dallas Arboretum provide the backdrop, but it's the dining experience that keeps couples talking.
Washington, New York, and Ohio round out the top five, each offering their own mix: Washington's rain forests and alpine scenery, New York's restaurants and urban energy, Ohio's balanced appeal across all categories. Vermont, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Hawaii, and Oregon complete the top 10, each pulling between 1,528 and 1,681 mentions.
What's interesting isn't just which states rank highest, but why. Some places—like Texas and New York—draw couples through food and restaurants. Others like Washington and Pennsylvania lean on nature and outdoor spaces. Rhode Island and Vermont do both. That means the "most romantic" destination really depends on what reignites the spark for you: a meal you'll remember, a view you'll remember, or both.
The broader takeaway: you don't need to leave the country to find romance. You just need to know what kind of romance you're after.
