We ranked the fifty states, along with D.C. and Puerto Rico, according to the longest average distance per run.
We ranked the fifty states, along with D.C. and Puerto Rico, according to the longest average distance per run. (Photo: Lumina Images/Stocksy)

Which States Ran the Longest in 2017?

We shook up the ranking a little bit this year

We ranked the fifty states, along with D.C. and Puerto Rico, according to the longest average distance per run.
Lumina Images/Stocksy(Photo)

Originally Published Updated

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Around this time last year, we published an article ranking U.S. states by the number of runs recorded on Strava. Predictably, the two most populous states, California and Texas, took the top two spots on the list. There were some surprises—Colorado, only 21st in population, came in at number four—but, for the most part, a state’s place on the list correlated pretty closely with its number of inhabitants.

That’s why we decided to make things a little more interesting this year. We ranked the fifty states, along with D.C. and Puerto Rico, according to the longest average distance per run. The data below reflects Strava stats between October 2016 and October 2017.


1. Wyoming

Average distance (mi.): 5.56
Total runs: 42,405
Average speed (mph): 6.3
Average elevation gain (ft.): 427.77
Average moving time (mi.): 66

2. Montana

Average distance (mi.): 5.46
Total runs: 103,709
Average speed (mph): 6.52
Average elevation gain (ft.): 409.67
Average moving time (mi.): 59

3. Vermont

Average distance (mi.): 5.43
Total runs: 107,601
Average speed (mph): 6.59
Average elevation gain (ft.): 379.42
Average moving time (mi.): 54

4. New York

Average distance (mi.): 5.39
Total runs: 1,729,217
Average speed (mph): 6.85
Average elevation gain (ft.): 172.19
Average moving time (mi.): 51

5. Illinois

Average distance (mi.): 5.38
Total runs: 898,770
Average speed (mph): 6.94
Average elevation gain (ft.): 86.23
Average moving time (mi.): 51

6. Alaska

Average distance (mi.): 5.35
Total runs: 69,759
Average speed (mph): 7
Average elevation gain (ft.): 309.84
Average moving time (mi.): 54

7. North Dakota

Average distance (mi.): 5.32
Total runs: 32,236
Average speed (mph): 7
Average elevation gain (ft.): 102.52
Average moving time (mi.): 50

8. Minnesota

Average distance (mi.): 5.31
Total runs: 498,670
Average speed (mph): 6.83
Average elevation gain (ft.): 167.82
Average moving time (mi.): 50

9. Oregon

Average distance (mi.): 5.29
Total runs: 681,210
Average speed (mph): 6.69
Average elevation gain (ft.): 310.3
Average moving time (mi.): 53

10. Massachusetts

Average distance (mi.): 5.28
Total runs: 1,010,534
Average speed (mph): 6.9
Average elevation gain (ft.): 165.4
Average moving time (mi.): 48

11. Utah

Average distance (mi.): 5.26
Total runs: 661,718
Average speed (mph): 6.57
Average elevation gain (ft.): 350.04
Average moving time (mi.): 55

12. Wisconsin

Average distance (mi.): 5.25
Total runs: 429,491
Average speed (mph): 7.34
Average elevation gain (ft.): 163.97
Average moving time (mi.): 51

13. District of Columbia

Average distance (mi.): 5.24
Total runs: 222,664
Average speed (mph): 6.75
Average elevation gain (ft.): 185.4
Average moving time (mi.): 49

14. Maine

Average distance (mi.): 5.21
Total runs: 165,120
Average speed (mph): 7.14
Average elevation gain (ft.): 232.69
Average moving time (mi.): 50

15. Ohio

Average distance (mi.): 5.2
Total runs: 719,997
Average speed (mph): 7.01
Average elevation gain (ft.): 156.45
Average moving time (mi.): 50

16. Colorado

Average distance (mi.): 5.15
Total runs: 1,273,395
Average speed (mph): 6.52
Average elevation gain (ft.): 345.94
Average moving time (mi.): 54

17. Idaho

Average distance (mi.): 5.15
Total runs: 195,272
Average speed (mph): 6.42
Average elevation gain (ft.): 308.27.69
Average moving time (mi.): 55

18. Washington

Average distance (mi.): 5.14
Total runs: 958,438
Average speed (mph): 6.68
Average elevation gain (ft.): 288.16
Average moving time (mi.): 63

19. Nebraska

Average distance (mi.): 5.13
Total runs: 134,654
Average speed (mph): 6.89
Average elevation gain (ft.): 184.51
Average moving time (mi.): 48

20. South Dakota

Average distance (mi.): 5.13
Total runs: 55,945
Average speed (mph): 7.87
Average elevation gain (ft.): 224.16
Average moving time (mi.): 52

21. Iowa

Average distance (mi.): 5.12
Total runs: 200,693
Average speed (mph): 7
Average elevation gain (ft.): 172.84
Average moving time (mi.): 48

22. Rhode Island

Average distance (mi.): 5.11
Total runs: 90,078
Average speed (mph): 6.99
Average elevation gain (ft.): 171.88
Average moving time (mi.): 48

23. Virginia

Average distance (mi.): 5.11
Total runs: 887,687
Average speed (mph): 6.8
Average elevation gain (ft.): 213.24
Average moving time (mi.): 50

24. Pennsylvania

Average distance (mi.): 5.1
Total runs: 1,033,289
Average speed (mph): 6.69
Average elevation gain (ft.): 234.65
Average moving time (mi.): 49

25. Maryland

Average distance (mi.): 5.08
Total runs: 500,268
Average speed (mph): 6.66
Average elevation gain (ft.): 217.35
Average moving time (mi.): 51

26. West Virginia

Average distance (mi.): 5.07
Total runs: 89,942
Average speed (mph): 6.58
Average elevation gain (ft.): 286.5
Average moving time (mi.): 52

27. Nevada

Average distance (mi.): 5.06
Total runs: 233,184
Average speed (mph): 6.67
Average elevation gain (ft.): 285.35
Average moving time (mi.): 55

28. New Hampshire

Average distance (mi.): 5.06
Total runs: 246,210
Average speed (mph): 6.74
Average elevation gain (ft.): 263.59
Average moving time (mi.): 51

29. Michigan

Average distance (mi.): 5.04
Total runs: 689,793
Average speed (mph): 6.79
Average elevation gain (ft.): 124.16
Average moving time (mi.): 49

30. California

Average distance (mi.): 5.03
Total runs: 5,620,083
Average speed (mph): 6.96
Average elevation gain (ft.): 272.82
Average moving time (mi.): 52

31. Connecticut

Average distance (mi.): 5.02
Total runs: 334,365
Average speed (mph): 6.92
Average elevation gain (ft.): 235.82
Average moving time (mi.): 48

32. Kentucky

Average distance (mi.): 5
Total runs: 274,285
Average speed (mph): 7.4
Average elevation gain (ft.): 190.37
Average moving time (mi.): 49

33. Tennessee

Average distance (mi.): 4.99
Total runs: 551,242
Average speed (mph): 6.6
Average elevation gain (ft.): 244.04
Average moving time (mi.): 49

34. Indiana

Average distance (mi.): 4.97
Total runs: 426,566
Average speed (mph): 7.41
Average elevation gain (ft.): 106.51
Average moving time (mi.): 48

35. New Jersey

Average distance (mi.): 4.97
Total runs: 596,765
Average speed (mph): 6.98
Average elevation gain (ft.): 139.9
Average moving time (mi.): 49

36. Arizona

Average distance (mi.): 4.9
Total runs: 665,792
Average speed (mph): 6.78
Average elevation gain (ft.): 224.6
Average moving time (mi.): 53

37. Missouri

Average distance (mi.): 4.89
Total runs: 392,987
Average speed (mph): N/A
Average elevation gain (ft.): 204.54
Average moving time (mi.): 49

38. Arkansas

Average distance (mi.): 4.88
Total runs: 212,264
Average speed (mph): 6.31
Average elevation gain (ft.): 200.83
Average moving time (mi.): 50

39. Hawaii

Average distance (mi.): 4.88
Total runs: 201,262
Average speed (mph): 6.6
Average elevation gain (ft.): 211.87
Average moving time (mi.): 51

40. North Carolina

Average distance (mi.): 4.88
Total runs: 995,137
Average speed (mph): 7.52
Average elevation gain (ft.): 211.54
Average moving time (mi.): 48

41. Oklahoma

Average distance (mi.): 4.87
Total runs: 222,756
Average speed (mph): 6.59
Average elevation gain (ft.): 132.2
Average moving time (mi.): 50

42. Kansas

Average distance (mi.): 4.86
Total runs: 193,732
Average speed (mph): 6.7
Average elevation gain (ft.): 158.23
Average moving time (mi.): 48

43. Alabama

Average distance (mi.): 4.82
Total runs: 342,752
Average speed (mph): 6.54
Average elevation gain (ft.): 187.49
Average moving time (mi.): 49

44. New Mexico

Average distance (mi.): 4.82
Total runs: 160,808
Average speed (mph): 6.3
Average elevation gain (ft.): 278.33
Average moving time (mi.): 53

45. Delaware

Average distance (mi.): 4.79
Total runs: 79,107
Average speed (mph): 6.77
Average elevation gain (ft.): 148.38
Average moving time (mi.): 47

46. Georgia

Average distance (mi.): 4.76
Total runs: 698,911
Average speed (mph): 6.52
Average elevation gain (ft.): 225.95
Average moving time (mi.): 48

47. Texas

Average distance (mi.): 4.75
Total runs: 1,925,123
Average speed (mph): 6.47
Average elevation gain (ft.): 112.31
Average moving time (mi.): 48

48. Florida

Average distance (mi.): 4.6
Total runs: 1,281,717
Average speed (mph): 7.18
Average elevation gain (ft.): 43.14
Average moving time (mi.): 47

49. South Carolina

Average distance (mi.): 4.57
Total runs: 357,617
Average speed (mph): 7
Average elevation gain (ft.): 140.17
Average moving time (mi.): 45

50. Louisiana

Average distance (mi.): 4.52
Total runs: 201,855
Average speed (mph): 7.84
Average elevation gain (ft.): 35.12
Average moving time (mi.): 44

51. Mississippi

Average distance (mi.): 4.49
Total runs: 89,238
Average speed (mph): 6.64
Average elevation gain (ft.): 115.72
Average moving time (mi.): 45

52. Puerto Rico

Average distance (mi.): 4.29
Total runs: 114,393
Average speed (mph): 5.96
Average elevation gain (ft.): 163.61
Average moving time (mi.): 49

Lead Photo: Lumina Images/Stocksy
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