Florida’s Sarasota Dominates Pickleball Rankings In New Study

Sarasota is America’s pickleball capital of 2025.

The study, conducted by pickleball technology experts PodPlay Technologies, examined court availability across the country to identify the nation’s pickleball hotspots. The cities with the highest number of indoor and outdoor pickleball courts per 100,000 people have been named the best for fans of paddle sports. 

Sarasota tops the charts, with the highest concentration of pickleball courts. The Gulf Coast city houses 38 indoor courts and 29 outdoor courts across 15 different venues. As such, the city has 26.14 courts per 100,000 people.

Bradenton secures second place, with 19.31 venues per 100,000 residents. The neighboring Florida city has 11 pickleball locations featuring seven indoor courts and 40 outdoor courts. Florida’s dominance in the ranking highlights the Sunshine State’s natural advantage in maximizing warm weather for outdoor play that northern cities cannot match without substantial investment in covered courts.

Boynton Beach grabs third position, with 18.55 venues per 100,000 people, tightening Florida’s grip on the national pickleball scene. Palm Beach County’s city has 15 pickleball locations with nine indoor courts and 43 outdoor courts, highlighting the sport’s appeal.

The first non-Florida challenger, Apex, North Carolina, ranks fourth, with 16.89 venues per 100,000 residents. This city provides 12 pickleball locations with eight indoor courts and 37 outdoor courts, establishing itself as North Carolina’s pickleball headquarters for players seeking consistent playing opportunities throughout the year.

Fifth position went to Wilmington, Delaware, with 13.97 venues per 100,000 residents. Players in this city can access 10 separate locations with 16 indoor courts and 29 outdoor courts, giving options during both scorching summers and freezing winters typical of the Mid-Atlantic climate.

Knoxville, Tennessee, ranks sixth. The eastern city provides exceptional access with 12.76 venues per 100,000 people across 25 distinct pickleball locations containing 42 indoor courts and 53 outdoor courts, which is the highest total court count among all top 10 cities.

The coastal city of Wilmington, North Carolina follows in seventh place, with 10.80 venues per 100,000 residents. The community has 13 pickleball facilities, including 13 indoor courts and 41 outdoor courts, placing another North Carolina location among the nation’s top pickleball destinations.

A third North Carolina contender, Asheville, ranks eighth, with 10.66 venues per 100,000 residents, followed by historic Charleston, South Carolina, in ninth, with 10.41 venues per 100,000 people. The tenth best city for pickleball lovers is Yuma, Arizona, with 10.15 venues per 100,000 residents.

Table 1: The top 10 best cities for pickleball players in 2025 

Ben Borton, Co-Founder of PodPlay Technologies, comments, “These findings reveal which areas have embraced the pickleball trend and highlight how different regions adapt based on their weather patterns. Florida cities make the most of endless sunshine with plenty of outdoor courts, while northern states like Vermont and Maine ensure year-round play through a significant number of indoor courts. This information helps players find great playing locations and shows communities how they compare against the nation’s pickleball hotspots.”

Methodology

This study analyzed data from Places2Play on pickleball court locations across the United States to determine which cities and states offer the most accessible playing options. Cities with 10 or more pickleball locations were included in the rankings, which were calculated based on locations per 100,000 residents using population data from the US Census Bureau. The study considered total locations, indoor courts, and outdoor courts to provide a comprehensive view of pickleball accessibility.

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