A New Study Ranked the Most Dangerous States for Fourth of July, and Missouri Made the Top 5
Fourth of July travel is expected to be huge this year.
AAA projects 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Independence Day holiday period, making it one of the busiest July 4 travel weeks in recent years.
And plenty of travelers are not just heading anywhere — they’re looking for the right place to celebrate. A separate ranking recently named the best U.S. cities for Fourth of July festivities, though a few classic holiday destinations missed the top 10.
But as road trips, backyard cookouts, fireworks shows, and long days outside ramp up, so do the safety risks.
A new analysis from Nursa ranked the most dangerous states to spend Independence Day by looking at several holiday-related risk factors, including unintentional fatal injury rates, alcohol consumption, excessive drinking rates, alcohol-related driving fatalities, July arrests, fatal crash data, fires, firework imports, and July temperatures.
The ranking does not mean these states are automatically unsafe places to visit. But it does give a useful snapshot of where July 4 celebrations may carry more risk, especially when fireworks, alcohol, traffic, and summer heat are all in the mix.
North Dakota ranked as the riskiest state for July 4
North Dakota took the No. 1 spot in Nursa’s analysis, with a July 4 danger score of 8.88 out of 10. The state ranked high for several alcohol-related factors, including alcohol consumption per person, excessive drinking rate, and the share of driving fatalities involving alcohol.
According to the analysis, North Dakota also saw 55 Independence Day fires and a 42.86% increase in July car accidents compared with the rest of the year. That combination pushed it to the top of the ranking.
Montana came in second, with a score of 8.70 out of 10. Like North Dakota, Montana ranked high for alcohol-related measures, including alcohol consumption and alcohol-related driving fatalities.
South Dakota rounded out the top three with a score of 8.51. Nursa’s analysis found that South Dakota had the highest firework import value per person, at $12.29, and saw a 70% increase in July accidents compared with other months.
The 10 riskiest states for Independence Day, according to Nursa
Here are the states that ranked highest in Nursa’s July 4 danger index:
- North Dakota
- Montana
- South Dakota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Colorado
Wisconsin landing at No. 6 caught my eye, especially since I’m based here. Between lake weekends, cookouts, drinking culture, road trips, and fireworks, it’s not exactly shocking to see it rank high — but it is a good reminder that the “it’ll be fine” approach is not a safety plan.
The analysis also noted that California had the most Independence Day fires last year, followed by Texas and Washington. Texas had the most Fourth of July car accidents in 2024, followed by California.
One important caveat: Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Rhode Island, and South Carolina were omitted from the study because of data availability, according to Nursa’s methodology.
New Jersey ranked as the safest state for July 4
On the other end of the list, New Jersey ranked as the safest state for Independence Day, scoring 5.04 out of 10. Nursa pointed to factors including a lower rate of alcohol-related driving fatalities, a drop in July car accidents compared with the average month, and a lower unintentional fatal injury rate.
Georgia, New York, and Massachusetts followed New Jersey among the safest states in the ranking.
Again, this does not mean nothing can go wrong in those states. Fireworks, drinking, driving, sun exposure, and crowded events can create problems anywhere.
Fireworks are still one of the biggest July 4 risks
The Fourth of July is one of the biggest fireworks holidays in the United States, and the injury numbers are not exactly comforting.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says fireworks caused 15 reported deaths and an estimated 13,000 injuries in 2025. Sparklers alone were involved in about 1,300 emergency room-treated injuries.
That last part is worth repeating because sparklers are often treated like the “safe” firework for kids. They are not toys. They can burn hot enough to cause serious injuries fast.
The CPSC says the most common fireworks injuries involve hands and fingers, head, face, ears, legs, and eyes. Many of the most serious incidents involve misuse or fireworks that malfunction.
How to make July 4 safer without killing the fun
You do not have to turn the Fourth into a laminated safety seminar. But a few boring decisions can save the weekend.
If you are using fireworks, light only one at a time, keep people far back, and have water nearby. Do not relight a dud, and do not use fireworks after drinking.
If kids are around, assign an actual sober adult to keep an eye on them. Not the person “kind of watching” from a lawn chair while holding a drink.
For road trips, plan around heavy traffic and avoid driving late at night if you can. AAA expects 61.4 million Americans to travel by car during the July 4 holiday week, so the roads are going to be busy.
And if you are spending the whole day outside, treat heat and sun like part of the plan. Bring water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and lightweight clothing you can actually tolerate wearing for more than 20 minutes. (This is a great guide on how to dress for the heat.)
And if you want more honest travel stories, safety tips, and destination ideas, follow me on Yahoo for more.
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