Everyone knows that New York is the city that never sleeps. While it’s just an idiom that refers to the always-active urban environment of America’s largest city, it does get you thinking about the sleep patterns across the country. For example, if NY is the city that never sleeps then what’s the state that never sleeps?
Good news! We found out.
Sleep habits might seem personal, but our survey uncovered some surprising state-by-state trends. We asked more than 2,400 Americans about their typical bedtimes, wake-up routines, and everything in between to see where people are burning the midnight oil — and where they’re getting a full night’s rest.
Because let’s face it: Time flies when you’re having fun. Whether you’re bingeing your favorite show, playing games on your phone, or playing cards at a casino, it’s easy to lose track of the clock. So, which states are pushing bedtime boundaries and which are early to rise? Let’s dive into the data and find out.
Which States Really Never Sleep?
The average American gets 7 hours and 17 minutes of sleep each night, according to our survey. But not everyone wakes up feeling refreshed. Over a third (36%) report feeling “tired” or “exhausted” when they get out of bed. Older Americans may have cracked the code, with nearly 20% saying they wake up feeling “very well-rested.”
It isn’t just waking up that’s a problem. One in four Americans struggle to fall asleep in the first place. With so much variability in sleep schedules and wake-up moods, we wanted to find out which parts of the country are home to those that really never sleep. Here’s what we found.
The States That Really Never Sleep
- Nevada – 6 hours, 51 minutes (average sleep duration)
- Mississippi – 6 hours, 52 minutes
- Louisiana – 6 hours, 54 minutes
- Michigan – 6 hours, 59 minutes
- Arkansas – 7 hours
It’s no surprise to see Nevada topping the list — with Las Vegas as its crown jewel, the state practically runs on a 24/7 schedule that seems to permeate through to its residents.
Beyond that, we see a pretty striking cluster of sleepless states in the Southeast including Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas in the top five along with Kentucky, Georgia, and Tennessee giving the region six of the top 10 states that sleep the least.
The States That Get the Most Sleep
- South Dakota – 7 hours, 40 minutes
- Pennsylvania – 7 hours, 39 minutes
- Florida – 7 hours, 38 minutes
- Ohio – 7 hours, 37 minutes
- California – 7 hours, 35 minutes
Though it doesn’t quite hit that golden eight hours figure, South Dakota comes in as the state that gets the most sleep which may be attributed to the quieter, rural lifestyle many people associate with the Midwest.
Interestingly, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, and California round out the top five despite several of those states being home to major cities that you’d expect a little more hustle and bustle out of. Though, Florida is among the states with the oldest residents, perhaps explaining their spot in the top three.
Sleep patterns can be as diverse as the states themselves, so we’re going to dig a little deeper into the bedtime habits of people across the country and explore how much time Americans spend simply trying to fall asleep — because getting into bed is just the first step toward a good night’s rest.
Which States Have the Hardest Time Falling Asleep?
One of the most surprising insights from our survey is how long it takes some Americans to fall asleep. On average, it takes 45 minutes for people to drift off after getting into bed — and for some states, that nightly wait really adds up. We crunched the numbers to see how much time people spend trying to fall asleep over the course of a month, and the results might make you want to consider some sleepy time tea before bed tonight.
That begs the question: what are Americans doing right before bed that might be keeping them up? According to our survey, that would be scrolling their phones (64%) and watching TV (49%). A smaller number unwind by reading a book (33%) or playing games on their phones (22%) — though it seems screen time dominates the wind-down routine for most.
Now, let’s take a look at just how much time is being wasted just trying to fall asleep across the country.
The States That Take the Longest to Fall Asleep
- Georgia – 1 hour, 1 minute per night (31 hours, 1 minute per month)
- Mississippi – 59 minutes per night (30 hours, 15 minutes per month)
- Arkansas – 57 minutes per night (29 hours, 1 minute per month)
- Louisiana – 57 minutes per night (28 hours, 52 minutes per month)
- Delaware – 56 minutes per night (28 hours, 39 minutes per month)
Similar to the states that sleep the least, the South is found all over this ranking. States like Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana struggle the most with falling asleep, likely contributing to the shorter sleep durations we saw earlier.
The States That Fall Asleep the Fastest
- Arizona – 34 minutes per night (17 hours, 35 minutes per month)
- California – 35 minutes per night (17 hours, 39 minutes per month)
- South Dakota – 36 minutes per night (18 hours, 28 minutes per month)
- Washington – 37 minutes per night (18 hours, 35 minutes per month)
- New Jersey – 36 minutes per night (18 hours, 36 minutes per month)
Interestingly, some of the fastest-sleeping states include high-tech hubs like California and Washington, where fast-paced lifestyles don’t seem to interfere with bedtime routines. Meanwhile, South Dakotan’s ability to fall asleep quickly likely aids in their title of the state that gets the most sleep.
Falling asleep isn’t quite as simple as just climbing into bed. And that sunk time trying to fall asleep can really add up over time. Next, we’ll finish up our study by taking a look at the specifics of when each state shuts the lights off and rolls out of bed in the morning.
When Does America Call it a Night(and Start the Day)
We now know which states aren’t sleeping and which have the most trouble finally knocking out after a long day. All that really leaves is a look at the actual times Americans are going lights out and when the first snooze button of the day is being smashed.
Use the interactive table above to see when residents in every state typically go to bed, fall asleep, wake up, and finally get out of bed to start their days.
Nationally, the average American calls it a night at 10:59 p.m., though it takes about 45 minutes to actually fall asleep. The average wake-up time is 7:01 a.m., but actually emerging from the warmth of those covers takes a bit longer, with the average person rising 23 minutes later at 7:24 a.m.
Some states operate much more on their own time. Oregon, for example, leads the nation in early bedtimes, with the average resident turning in at 10:11 p.m. and falling asleep by 10:58 p.m. On the flip side, Kentucky burns the midnight oil, with lights out at 11:44 p.m. and sleep setting in around 12:28 a.m.
Early risers also dominate in Oregon, where the average person wakes up at 6:21 a.m. and is out of bed by 6:46 a.m., even before the sun makes an appearance. Meanwhile, Pennsylvanians enjoy a bit more shut-eye, waking up at 7:40 a.m. and getting out of bed at 7:57 a.m., on average. People from Indiana, however, take the prize for the slowest start, staying in bed until 8:00 a.m., despite waking up at 7:35 a.m.
From night owls to early birds, it’s clear that each state has its own unique sleep rhythm.
Closing Thoughts
Sleep habits are deeply personal, but our survey revealed some fascinating regional patterns. From Nevada’s late-night culture to Oregon’s early risers, it’s clear that where you live can influence when you call it a night — or when you finally drag yourself out of bed.
Of course, sometimes staying up late isn’t just about habit — it’s about being too enthralled to sleep — like if you are playing casino games on BetMGM! Whether you’re playing legal online slots via your phone or hitting the tables at a casino owned by MGM Resorts, it’s easy to lose track of time when the stakes are high and the action’s nonstop. (Remember, if playing in a legal online state, be sure to use the casino welcome offer, for new players only.)
So, if your state is one of the many that stays up past its bedtime, why not make the most of those extra hours? With BetMGM, the night’s excitement is always just a tap away.
Methodology
To determine the U.S. states that really never sleep, we surveyed more than 2,400 people over a two-week period in November 2024, asking them questions about the times they typically go to bed, fall asleep, wake up, and get out of bed, along with questions about other bedtime-related behaviors.
Using the time data we were also able to find out which states sleep the longest and shortest, and which seem to have the most trouble falling asleep and getting out of bed.
