Pickleball's rapid rise continues, drawing players of all ages to courts across the country (Play at PAC, n.d.). As the sport grows, so does the infrastructure to support it. Below is an analysis of ten states leading the way in pickleball accessibility based on projected 2025 data (Pickletip, n.d.-a). 

Note: The following data is compiled from multiple sources that use different metrics. For California and Florida, the data refers to the total number of individual courts. For the other eight states, the data refers to the total number of locations (which may contain multiple courts). This inconsistency means the list should be viewed as a profile of key states with significant pickleball activity, not a direct numerical ranking.

The "Courts/Locations per 100k" metric indicates the density of these facilities relative to a state's population, calculated per 100,000 residents.

We also have more articles about pickleball; you can check out "Pickleball Rules," "Pickleball Terms," and "Tennis vs Pickleball."

1. California

• Total Courts: 794 (Pickletip, n.d.-a)
• Population: 39,431,263 (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.-a)
• Courts per 100k: 2.01

California’s warm climate and strong sports culture have driven significant court development (Play at PAC, n.d.). Tennis clubs and municipal parks routinely add pickleball lines, leveraging existing infrastructure (Reddit, 2024). 

Urban areas such as Los Angeles and San Diego, as well as active retirement communities, drive demand. There is still enough space for more installations, particularly indoor facilities (Reddit, 2024).

2. Florida

• Total Courts: 770 (Pickletip, n.d.-a)
• Population: 23,372,215 (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.-b)
• Courts per 100k: 3.30

Florida's year-round sunshine and large active-adult population make it an ideal pickleball market (Play at PAC, n.d.).

Many resort communities feature dedicated facilities, with Naples often recognized as a pickleball hub (The Pickleball Dinks, n.d.).

Florida consistently ranks high for court density and hosts major tournaments.

3. Texas

• Total Locations: 941 (Pickletip, n.d.-a)
• Population: 31,290,831 (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.-i)
• Locations per 100k: 3.01

Texas has a high number of pickleball locations, benefiting from large multi-court complexes and entertainment-style sites. With its typically mild winters, there is year-round outdoor play.

Growth is strong in the rapidly expanding suburbs of Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Austin.

4. New York

• Total Locations: 702 (Pickletip, n.d.-a)
• Population: 19,867,248 (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.-e)
• Locations per 100k: 3.53

New York is very densely populated, providing a high volume of active adults to support many pickleball locations. Although winter weather forces many players indoors, tennis-to-pickleball conversions and new indoor arenas keep courts occupied (Reddit, 2024).

5. Ohio

• Total Locations: 638 (Pickletip, n.d.-a)
• Population: 11,883,304 (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.-g)
• Locations per 100k: 5.37

Ohio has one of the highest densities of pickleball locations per population. Major metropolitan areas, such as Columbus and Cleveland, have actively added courts to parks and community centers. Both youth leagues and senior programs drive the expansion of facilities, reflecting pickleball's widespread popularity (Play at PAC, n.d.).

6. Illinois

• Total Locations: 626 (Pickletip, n.d.-a)
• Population: 12,710,158 (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.-c)
• Locations per 100k: 4.92

Chicago’s parks and suburban recreation departments lead Illinois’s growth. Hundreds of tennis courts now sport pickleball lines, demonstrating effective adaptation of existing infrastructure (Reddit, 2024). Indoor clubs in metro areas ensure play through colder months.

7. North Carolina

• Total Locations: 586 (Pickletip, n.d.-a)
• Population: 11,046,024 (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.-f)
• Locations per 100k: 5.31

A mild climate and rapid population growth contribute to North Carolina’s strong ranking in facility density. Cities such as Charlotte and Raleigh are rapidly expanding their public and private courts, with both retirement communities and universities investing in courts (Play at PAC, n.d.).

8. Michigan

• Total Locations: 525 (Pickletip, n.d.-a)
• Population: 10,140,459 (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.-d)
• Locations per 100k: 5.18

Despite harsh winters, Michigan's suburbs surrounding Detroit and Grand Rapids have a large number of pickleball locations. Indoor community centers and adapted tennis facilities keep players engaged all year (Reddit, 2024), promoting balanced growth across all age groups (Play at PAC, n.d.)

9. Pennsylvania

• Total Locations: 525 (Pickletip, n.d.-a)
• Population: 13,078,751 (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.-h)
• Locations per 100k: 4.01

The Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metropolitan regions are the hubs of Pennsylvania's pickleball population. Many parks and recreation departments have added courts, and indoor facilities in colder climates offer year-round playing (Reddit, 2024), implying state-level popularity.

10. Virginia

• Total Locations: 481 (Pickletip, n.d.-a)
• Population: 8,811,195 (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.-j)
• Locations per 100k: 5.46

Virginia has one of the highest location-density ratios in the country, particularly in the Northern Virginia suburbs. Warm coastal areas also have outdoor play facilities that are open virtually all year, with both school districts and senior communities supporting expansion (Play at PAC, n.d.).

These ten states showcase the incredible growth of pickleball. Regions with warm weather, active-adult communities, and supportive local governments have surged ahead. But even states with colder climates keep pace through indoor facilities and savvy court conversions.

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References

Association of Pickleball Professionals. (2023). New APP Research Reveals Nearly 50 Million Adult Americans Have Played Pickleball In The Last 12 Months; Average Age Drops To 35. theapp.global. https://www.theapp.global/news/nearly-50-million-adult-americans-have-played-pickleball

Canyon Pickleball. (n.d.). Pickleball Statistics. canyonpickleball.com. https://canyonpickleball.com/blogs/news/pickleball-statistics

Pickletip. (n.d.-a). Pickleball Statistics 2025: The Surprising Rise of America’s Fastest Growing Sport. pickletip.com. https://www.pickletip.com/pickleball-statistics-2025/

Play at PAC. (n.d.). How Fast is Pickleball Growing? playatpac.com. https://playatpac.com/how-fast-is-pickleball-growing/

Reddit. (2024, March 14). What Are the Main Causes to Pickleball’s Popularity? reddit.com. https://www.reddit.com/r/Pickleball/comments/1j2ra9e/what_are_the_main_causes_to_pickleballs_popularity/

Sports & Fitness Industry Association. (n.d.). SFIA Releases Single Sport Reports for Pickleball and From the Team Sports Category. sfia.org. https://sfia.org/resources/sfia-releases-single-sport-reports-for-pickleball-and-from-the-team-sports-category/

The Pickleball Dinks. (n.d.). Pickleball Statistics. thepickleballdinks.com. https://thepickleballdinks.com/post/pickleball-statistics

U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.-a). QuickFacts: California. census.gov. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA/PST045223

U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.-b). QuickFacts: Florida. census.gov. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/FL/PST045223

U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.-c). QuickFacts: Illinois. census.gov. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/IL/PST045223

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U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.-e). QuickFacts: New York. census.gov. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/NY/PST045223

U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.-f). QuickFacts: North Carolina. census.gov. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/NC/PST045224

U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.-g). QuickFacts: Ohio. census.gov. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/OH/PST045224

U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.-h). QuickFacts: Pennsylvania. census.gov. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/PA/PST045223

U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.-i). QuickFacts: Texas. census.gov. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/TX/PST045224

U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.-j). QuickFacts: Virginia. census.gov. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/VA/PST045223

USA Pickleball. (2025). Annual Facts & Highlights. usapickleball.org. https://usapickleball.org/about-us/organizational-docs/pickleball-annual-growth-report/