Best is highly subjective and depends entirely on your goals, budget, and preferred training style. However, based on popularity, unique offerings, national presence, and reputation, here is a breakdown of the best gyms in the USA across different categories.
National Chains (Value & Accessibility)
These are the giants for a reason. They offer consistent, affordable access to equipment across the country.
1. Planet Fitness
· Best for: Beginners, casual gym-goers, and those on a tight budget.
· The Vibe: The “Judgment Free Zone” is designed to be non-intimidating. It’s cardio and machine-heavy, with a focus on basic fitness. Not ideal for serious weightlifters (they famously have no squat racks and “lunk alarms”).
· Key Perk: Extremely low monthly fees (~$10), often with no commitment. Great for travel as locations are everywhere.
2. LA Fitness
· Best for: The general population looking for a full-service gym with a good balance of everything.
· The Vibe: A standard, full-service club. You’ll find a wide range of cardio equipment, strength machines, free weights, group fitness classes, and many locations have a pool, basketball court, and racquetball courts.
· Key Perk: It’s the reliable middle-ground option. You get more serious equipment than Planet Fitness without the premium price of a luxury club.
3. 24 Hour Fitness
· Best for: People with unpredictable schedules who need 24/7 access.
· The Vibe: Similar to LA Fitness—a large, full-service club. The quality can vary significantly by location (Super Sport clubs are much nicer than Sport clubs).
· Key Perk: True 24-hour access at most locations, making it perfect for shift workers or those who like to train late at night or very early in the morning.
4. Anytime Fitness
· Best for: People who travel frequently or value convenience and security.
· The Vibe: Smaller, neighborhood-style clubs that are clean and functional. They are franchises, so quality and equipment can vary.
· Key Perk: With a membership, you get a key fob that grants you 24/7 access to any Anytime Fitness location in the world. This is arguably its biggest selling point.
Premium & Boutique Studios (Specialized Training & Community)
These are where you go for a specific, high-energy experience, expert coaching, and a strong sense of community. They come at a higher price point.
1. Equinox
· Best for: Those who see fitness as a luxury lifestyle and are willing to pay for it.
· The Vibe: The pinnacle of luxury. Impeccably clean, high-end amenities (e.g., luxurious locker rooms with towels, toiletries, saunas), top-tier equipment, and highly curated group classes. It’s a status symbol as much as a gym.
· Key Perk: An unparalleled premium experience, from the facilities to the programming.
2. Lifetime Fitness
· Best for: Families and those looking for a true athletic country club experience.
· The Vibe: Massive facilities that are more like resorts. Beyond incredible gym floors and classes, they often offer indoor/outdoor pools, basketball courts, rock walls, spa services, cafes, and extensive childcare and kids’ programming.
· Key Perk: It’s a one-stop shop for your entire family’s fitness and recreation needs.
3. CrossFit Boxes (Thousands of affiliates)
· Best for: Those who thrive on high-intensity, constantly varied functional movements and a competitive, community-driven atmosphere.
· The Vibe: The focus is on coached, high-intensity group classes (the Workout of the Day or WOD). The community is incredibly strong and supportive. Each “box” (gym) is independently owned, so the vibe and quality depend on the owners and coaches.
· Key Perk: You become part of a tribe. The coaching and community accountability are powerful motivators.
4. Orangetheory Fitness
· Best for: People who love data-driven, guided HIIT workouts and want clear, measurable results.
· The Vibe: Science-backed, one-hour, full-body group workouts. You wear a heart rate monitor that projects your effort level onto screens. The goal is to spend 12+ minutes in the “Orange Zone” to achieve Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC).
· Key Perk: You don’t have to think. The coach tells you exactly what to do, and the technology gives you immediate feedback on your performance.
5. F45 Training
· Best for: Those who want the variety of HIIT and functional training in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
· The Vibe: 45-minute functional training sessions. The setup is “functional circuit training,” where you move between stations every set time. The workouts are different every day and displayed on screens.
· Key Perk: The combination of cardio and strength days provides a balanced weekly schedule. The team-based workouts are highly motivating.
Strength & Performance Gyms (For the Serious Athlete)
These are heart for powerlifters, Olympic weightlifters, strongmen, and anyone focused purely on getting strong.
1. Westside Barbell (Columbus, Ohio)
· The Legend: The home of powerlifting. Founded by Louie Simmons, it’s the birthplace of the conjugate method (max effort and dynamic effort training). It’s not a commercial gym; it’s a private training facility for elite lifters, but it’s the most famous strength gym in the world.
2. Muscle Beach Gym (Venice, California)
· The Icon: The historic home of bodybuilding’s golden era. While the original outdoor weight pen is still there, the nearby modern indoor gym is filled with every piece of classic and strongman equipment imaginable. It’s a pilgrimage site for fitness enthusiasts.
3. Local Powerlifting & Weightlifting Gyms:
· The Reality: The best strength gym for you is likely a local, no-frills warehouse-style gym in your city. These are filled with power racks, competition-grade barbells and bumper plates, platforms, and strongman equipment like logs and yoke bars. They are communities built solely around getting stronger.
Climbing Gyms (For a Vertical Challenge)
1. Movement Gyms / Planet Granite / Earth Treks
· (These brands have merged under the Movement name)
· Best for: Climbers of all levels and those looking for a fun, full-body workout that feels like play.
· The Vibe: Large, modern facilities with massive roped climbing walls and extensive bouldering areas. Most also have a full traditional gym floor (weights, cardio), yoga studios, and fitness classes.
· Key Perk: An incredibly engaging way to build strength, flexibility, and problem-solving skills.
How to Choose the Best Gym For You:
Ask yourself these questions:
1. What are your goals? (Lose weight, build muscle, train for a sport, socialize, general health?)
2. What’s your budget? (Consider initiation fees and annual fees on top of monthly dues).
3. What’s the location? (The best gym is the one you’ll actually go to. Is it close to home or work?).
4. When will you go? (Check the gym’s hours and visit at the time you’d normally train to see how crowded it is).
5. Take a trial tour! This is the most important step. Any good gym will offer a free pass or tour. Feel the vibe, check the cleanliness of the equipment and locker rooms, and see if it’s a place you’d feel comfortable and motivated.
