These 10 states leave the most vacation days unused

Can you guess how much vacation time goes unused every year? While that figure varies wildly from state to state, the national average is 54%, according to Project Time Off, a broad coalition of travel-related organizations. According to their study, every year, Americans collectively leave 662 million days of vacation on the table, at a loss of $128 billion to the economy and a loss of 100% to our sanity.

Below are the states where workers let the highest percentage of vacation days go unused. And because we know it can be hard to get away—time, money, work!—we’ve also listed an easy but rejuvenating quick escape for residents of these overworked states.

Historic shops and restaurants buildings in the Old Montreal district in Quebec Canada

10. Vermont (64%)

The Green Mountain State’s a pretty beautiful place, so we can see why you Vermonters don’t get out much but come on—we all need a break! So pack up the car and make the two-hour drive up to Montreal to feel a world away, s’il vous plaît. Book a stay at the elegant new Le Mont Stephen, housed in a historic private club in Montréal’s Golden Square Mile. Indulge in a spa treatment there, or venture out to skate the new Lachine Canal Ice Skating Rink, hike up Mount Royal or indulge in local specialties such as poutine at La Banquise or canard en conserve at Au Pied de Cochon. The music scene is outstanding here, too, so be sure to check a local publication like Cult MTL to see what’s on.

Sunset over Denver

9. Kansas (64%)

You’re literally in the center of the country, Kansas, so why aren’t you getting out more? If you can bear to part with your most excellent barbecue for a weekend, make the eight-hour drive to the Mile High City for a ski and culture getaway—several great ski resorts are only about an hour or so from downtown Denver, including Arapahoe and Loveland. Make the stylish new Kimpton Hotel Born Denver your urban home base; it’s just a two-minute walk from Union Station in the happening LoDo neighborhood and you’ll be treated to free bike use, a rooftop patio, in-room massages (for a fee) and beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains.

Downtown Minneapolis

8. Nebraska (66%)

While folks on the coasts sometimes like to think of the Midwest as one big homogeneous (and, let’s face it, dull) landlocked region, that couldn’t be further from the truth. That’s why we’re recommending you non-vacation-taking Nebraskans plan an escape to Minneapolis. Adventurous Cornhuskers will find all kind of cool things that you just can’t get at home: Just think Prince’s Paisley Park, the famed Walker Museum, this year’s Super Bowl and more Minnesota Nice than you can shake a stick at.

7. Wyoming (66%)

Wyomingites, take a quick break from being so cool and rugged, OK? Everybody needs a vacation now and then. Why not explore your own backyard and revisit Jackson. Book a few nights at the new Anvil Hotel, which is housed in a converted 1950s motel and was recently described by Bloomberg as a “Wild West dude ranch for hipsters.” That said, you don’t have to be a hipster to love this place: It puts you within 20 minutes of the ski lifts, surrounded by views of the Tetons, with Yellowstone at your feet.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

6. Montana (67%)

Home to both Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, Montana is a nature lover’s paradise. That said, it might be time for you Montanans to shake things up with a flashy urban escape to Las Vegas, so you actually feel like you’ve gone somewhere. Hotels in Sin City are famously a steal and flights from Missoula, Billings and Great Falls often go for between $100–$150. Even if you’re not the gambling type, you’ll appreciate the city’s top-notch hotel pools, exciting shows and interesting attractions such as the High Roller Observations Wheel, Mob Museum and Neon Museum. Or just spend hours marveling at the endless sights and sounds of the Strip.

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Old Red Courthouse in downtown Dallas Texas

5. Oklahoma (69%)

You Oklahomans aren’t far from… well, anywhere. But if you’re looking for a quick getaway, try Dallas. There’s a reason the city’s turned up on so many 2018 “best of” lists, plus it’s easily accessed via a quick, cheap flight (often $99 or so round trip) or even a reasonable mini-road trip (about 4.5 hours). Once in the Big D, you can catch a concert or outdoor film at Klyde Warren Park, explore the vast Arts District or take your pick of the city’s many incredible dining options. You’ll also want to hit some of the city’s excellent museums, including the Sixth Floor Museum, which covers the JFK assassination, and the George W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum.

Beautiful Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park

4. South Dakota (73%)

We admire your tireless work ethic, South Dakotans, but imagine how productive you’d be if you just took a long weekend to refresh. We know you’ve probably seen Mount Rushmore at least a half dozen time already, so why not opt for a romantic Black Hills getaway? Plan your trip around Custer State Park’s 70-mile Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway, where you’ll wind past the state’s signature spiraled “pigtail bridges,” stone-walled tunnels, the striking Needles Eye rock formation and beautiful Sylvan Lake. Stop for a romantic picnic and keep your eyes peeled for majestic wildlife before settling in for the night at the Summer Creek Inn & Spa, where you can cozy up by the in-room fireplace or have a soak in the hot tub.

Mount Rainier National Park

3. Alaska (73%)

Alright, Alaskans. We understand your geographic position makes a quick, close getaway a little more complicated. But why not spend a long weekend (or more) in Seattle? That’s a 3.5-hour flight that you can usually land for under $300. Book a stay at the luxurious Theodore Hotel, a downtown Seattle landmark that puts you just six blocks from the city’s number one attraction, Pike Place Market. From here, the Space Needle and top museums aren’t far afield, and you’ll definitely want to save time for exploring nearby Olympic National Park, as well as Mt. Rainier.

Banks of Hudson River and Freedom Tower

2. New Hampshire (77%)

New Hampshire certainly has its charms, but the work gods granted those vacation days for a reason, guys. We’re jealous that you’re a mere 4.5-hour drive from New York City, so that’s our pick. It’s one of the few destinations on earth that you could revisit 100 times and never run out of incredible new things to do—Broadway shows, the High Line, Central Park, some of the world’s best museums, best restaurants, best bars, best sightseeing… OK, New York just might have the best everything. If you haven’t been in a while, book your room in the burgeoning NoMad area, which saw a slew of incredible new hotel openings this past year. One of our favorites is the Life Hotel, housed in the former LIFE Magazine office. It’s a charming, reasonably-priced, 98-room boutique hotel with an intimate basement bar that once served as a speakeasy for journalists during Prohibition.

The Sawtooth Range sits in the distance behind a meadow.

1. Idaho (78%)

Mountains, canyons, waterfalls, rolling hills, lakes and even high desert… Idaho’s natural beauty is definitely underrated as a domestic travel destination. But what’s the point of living among all that beauty if you never a take a day off to enjoy it? For a great ski getaway, head to Twin Falls near the Sawtooth Mountains. In warmer months, McCall’s is the place to be for watersports on the lake, hot springs and hiking.