15 Best Cities for Axe Throwing in America (Ranked by a Directory That Tracks 500+ Venues)

We run a directory of 500+ axe throwing venues across all 50 states. We read the reviews, track the ratings, and write city guides for every major market. So when someone asks "where is the best axe throwing in America?" -- we actually have the data to answer it.

This is not a list of 15 cities that happen to have axe throwing. Every city on this list earns its spot through a combination of venue quality (ratings and review volume), market variety (multiple venues with different vibes), pricing relative to the local cost of living, and the strength of the surrounding scene (leagues, bars, food pairings, walkability). A city with one perfect venue does not rank as high as a city with three great options serving different audiences.

1. Atlanta, GA

Why it is number one: Three venues in the city proper, zero below 4.9 stars, and over 4,200 combined Google reviews. American Axes on the Westside holds a perfect 5.0 rating with 2,033 reviews -- one of the highest-rated axe throwing venues in the entire country. The downtown location serves convention visitors and tourists, while Bury The Hatchet handles the Sandy Springs corporate crowd. Add suburban options in Marietta, Buford, and Acworth, and the metro has seven venues covering every type of outing from date night to team building.

The edge: American Axes' Chattahoochee Row location connects directly to Atlanta's brewery corridor, making the pre-and-post throwing experience as good as the throwing itself.

2. New York City (Including Brooklyn)

Why it ranks: Sheer density. Brooklyn alone has 39 venues listed in our directory, and Manhattan adds another 21. No other metro comes close to that concentration. You can throw in Williamsburg, the East Village, Midtown, or Long Island City without leaving the subway system.

The tradeoff: NYC pricing runs $35-$50 per person -- the highest in the country. And the venues range from world-class to tourist-trap. Stick to the well-reviewed spots.

3. Seattle, WA

Why it ranks: Four venues spanning Capitol Hill to Tacoma, each serving a different slice of the Puget Sound. Blade & Timber on Capitol Hill is one of the best axe-and-bar experiences in the country. Pacific Axes in Redmond holds a 4.9 rating across 443+ reviews. Axe Kickers hosts IATF tournaments and live music nights. The competitive scene is legitimately strong here.

The edge: The only major axe throwing market where you can take public transit (Link Light Rail) directly to a flagship venue.

4. Denver, CO

Why it ranks: Denver's craft-everything culture extends to axe throwing. Multiple venues downtown and in surrounding neighborhoods serve a population that is young, active, and always looking for the next thing to do after hiking. The pricing is mid-range ($25-$35), and the city's brewery density means post-throwing options are endless.

Pair it with: A day of hiking in the foothills followed by evening axes and craft beer. That is the quintessential Denver Saturday.

5. Nashville, TN

Why it ranks: Nashville combines tourist volume with genuine local enthusiasm. The Broadway entertainment district pulls visitors who want more than honky-tonks, and axe throwing fills that gap perfectly. Bad Axe Throwing Nashville serves the market well, and the city's party culture makes it a natural fit for bachelor and bachelorette outings.

The edge: Nashville is the rare city where axe throwing is part of the tourist itinerary, not just a local activity.

6. Salt Lake City, UT

Why it ranks: SLC has Social Axe Throwing as its anchor tenant, but the surrounding market in Ogden, Orem, Provo, and American Fork adds genuine depth across the Wasatch Front. Nearly 5,000 combined Google reviews across the metro area. The outdoor-obsessed population picks up technique quickly, and the apres-ski crowd creates strong winter demand.

The edge: Possibly the best price-to-quality ratio in the Mountain West.

7. Chicago, IL

Why it ranks: Chicago has the venue diversity you would expect from a metro of 9.5 million. Options range from downtown entertainment complexes to neighborhood spots in Logan Square and the suburbs. The winter drives people indoors for six months, and axe throwing is a perfect antidote to cabin fever.

Pair it with: Deep-dish pizza and a blues bar. The full Chicago night out.

8. Philadelphia, PA

Why it ranks: Philly punches hard with Chopper's Hatchet House holding a perfect 5.0 rating across 4,500+ reviews. The blue-collar city takes to axe throwing like it was invented here. King of Prussia and Horsham add suburban options with massive review counts -- the broader Pennsylvania market is one of the deepest in the country.

The edge: The highest-reviewed axe throwing chain in America (Bury The Hatchet) is headquartered in the Philly-New Jersey corridor.

9. Las Vegas, NV

Why it ranks: Vegas brings 42 million annual visitors who are looking for something beyond the casino floor. Axehole Vegas holds a perfect 5.0 rating with over 7,700 reviews -- one of the single most-reviewed axe throwing venues in the country. The Strip-adjacent location and bar integration make it a natural fit for the Vegas experience.

The edge: Open late, because everything in Vegas is open late.

10. Austin, TX

Why it ranks: Austin's "Keep It Weird" culture embraces axe throwing with enthusiasm. Multiple venues serve a young, tech-heavy population that treats recreational activities like mandatory team bonding. The live music scene pairs well with post-throwing bar hopping on Rainey Street or East 6th.

The edge: Austin's food truck culture means you can eat world-class tacos for $8 between throwing sessions.

11. Boise, ID

Why it ranks: For a city of 230,000, Boise having two distinct high-quality venues is remarkable. Base Camp Pong + Axe on the Greenbelt is a gastropub with river views. RAGERS combines 16 axe lanes with rage rooms. Both maintain near-perfect ratings. The per-capita venue quality here beats cities five times its size.

The edge: The only axe throwing venue in America on a riverwalk with mountain views.

12. Kansas City, MO

Why it ranks: KC has Blade & Timber (the national chain's flagship) plus Bury The Hatchet in Overland Park with a perfect 5.0 rating and 3,400+ reviews. The barbecue capital gives you the best post-throwing meal in the country, no contest.

Pair it with: Joe's Kansas City, Q39, or any of the 100+ BBQ joints within 20 minutes of throwing.

13. Portland, OR

Why it ranks: Portland does axe throwing the Portland way -- independent, quirky, community-driven. The venues lean into the city's craft culture with BYOB policies and neighborhood-specific personalities. The PNW lumber heritage gives it historical resonance.

The edge: Combined with Seattle, the Pacific Northwest has the strongest regional axe throwing corridor in the country. A weekend throwing trip hitting Portland Friday and Seattle Saturday is entirely doable.

14. Rochester, NY

Why it ranks: Rochester is the sleeper pick. Bad Axe Throwing downtown (4.8 stars, 444 reviews) handles the franchise consistency, while Axes & Ales on East Avenue brings WATL-circuit coaches who have competed on ESPN. For a mid-size city, the coaching quality here rivals markets ten times its size. The Finger Lakes proximity adds a weekend trip dimension -- axes Saturday, wine tasting Sunday.

The edge: The cheapest quality axe throwing in New York state, at roughly half what you would pay in Manhattan.

15. Charlotte, NC

Why it ranks: Charlotte benefits from explosive population growth -- new residents mean steady demand for social entertainment. The South End and NoDa neighborhoods have embraced axe throwing as part of the brewery-district experience. Pricing stays reasonable for a major Sun Belt city.

Pair it with: A brewery crawl through NoDa or a walk along the Rail Trail. Charlotte's entertainment districts are increasingly walkable.

Honorable Mentions

These cities did not crack the top 15 but are worth a trip for throwers:

• Milwaukee -- Strong Midwest market with venues integrated into the brewery scene
• Indianapolis -- Growing market with solid venues and excellent pricing
• Cincinnati -- Over-the-Rhine neighborhood vibe elevates the post-throwing experience
• Houston -- Massive metro with multiple options, though spread across a huge footprint
• Dallas -- Deep Ellum and surrounding neighborhoods have quality venues
• Columbus -- Underrated Ohio market with strong university-driven demand
• Raleigh -- Research Triangle tech workers keep venues busy year-round
• San Diego -- Craft beer capital meets axe throwing in a near-perfect climate
• Miami -- Tourist demand keeps the market diverse and energetic
• St. Louis -- Affordable Midwest pricing with venues near the Gateway Arch

How We Ranked These Cities

Our ranking weighs four factors:

1. Venue quality (40%): Average Google rating and review volume across all venues in the city. A single 5.0-star venue with 50 reviews does not outrank a 4.8-star venue with 2,000 reviews -- consistency at scale matters.

1. Market variety (25%): Does the city have multiple venues with different vibes? A city with a bar-focused venue, a competition-focused venue, and a family-friendly venue ranks higher than one with three identical experiences.

1. Price-to-value ratio (20%): How much throwing do you get for your dollar, relative to the local cost of living? A $20 session in Boise delivers more value than a $45 session in Manhattan, even if the Manhattan venue is technically "nicer."

1. Scene strength (15%): Are there active leagues? Tournaments? A thriving post-throwing food and drink scene? Does axe throwing feel like a natural part of the city's culture, or is it an afterthought?

We did not include mobile-only markets (cities where the only option is a trailer that comes to you) or cities where the sole venue is inside a multi-activity entertainment complex where axe throwing is a side attraction rather than the main event.

Plan Your Trip

Every city on this list has a detailed guide on our site -- click through for venue-specific pricing, hours, directions, and dining recommendations. If your city did not make the list but you want to find venues near you, browse our full directory or search by state.

New to axe throwing? Start with our beginner's guide. Wondering about the cost? Our pricing guide breaks it down by city and session type. And if you are trying to convince a friend to come along, show them how axes compare to bowling, escape rooms, or Topgolf.