Retirement Retired Life

11 Great Cities for Pickleball Lovers To Retire In

Stay active and enjoy your community with these cities that have great pickleball amenities

senior man playing Pickleball on field
Updated Dec. 17, 2024
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Planning for retirement might include finding the perfect spot to enjoy your hobbies or free time.

One option on your list could be adding more pickleball playing time to your schedule. Pickleball can be a great form of exercise for retirees and a good way to socialize.

Check out these cities that could be good options as you decide where to spend your extra pickleball-playing days in retirement.

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Wilmington, North Carolina

Christopher Boswell/Adobe Springtime Downtown City Center Wilmington North Carolina

Wilmington is a great option for retirees who want to live near the water with plenty of beaches to enjoy along the Atlantic coast.

The area is also home to Brunswick Forest, a community with plenty of outdoor activities such as golf and swimming. You can also take advantage of the community’s six pickleball courts when you’re not at the beach.

Phoenix, Arizona

Kevin Ruck/Adobe phoenix arizona usa

Retirees are flocking to Arizona, and the Phoenix area offers a good mix of city living and retirement community amenities.

Take the Robson Resort Community at PebbleCreek, which offers residents amenities like a clubhouse, fitness, and 16 pickleball courts to play on throughout the year.

Henderson, Nevada

rsgphoto/Adobe henderson nevada vista 06

Outside of Las Vegas is Henderson and the Sun City Anthem community, where retirees can spend their days playing pickleball before heading out to the nightlife of Sin City.

The Sun City Anthem community is a 55+ community with various amenities, including eight pickleball courts. Depending on which rackets you want to use each day, you can also check out the tennis and paddle tennis courts.

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The Villages, Florida

Ryan Tishken/Adobe the Villages sign over Steel bridge

The Villages is a well-known retirement community in Florida. It’s great for active retirees who want to enjoy outdoor or indoor activities like pickleball.

You can find pickleball courts spread throughout the community, so there’s always a place to find a game. The Villages will also be home to The Pickleball Club, an indoor, members-only facility for pickleball fans.

Stamford, Connecticut

Edwin/Adobe Stamford Connecticut

You can still enjoy a city with four seasons while playing pickleball year-round for your retirement.

Check out Stamford, which has Pickleball America, one of the largest pickleball facilities in the country. Members can reserve pickleball courts for play, or you can join senior tournaments and compete with other retirees.

Georgetown, Texas

Cbrady310/Wirestock Creators/Adobe Courthouse in Georgetown Texas

Head to the Sun City community near Georgetown to take in golf, fitness, and plenty of pickleball when you’re not spending time enjoying nearby Austin.

The community includes 26 pickleball courts that you can reserve for play. You can also sign up for lessons to improve your game or league play with other pickleball enthusiasts.

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New York City

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe New York City Skyline at sunset

You might be surprised that the Big Apple is a big pickleball-playing city, but there are places across the five boroughs for you to enjoy if you want to retire in the city that never sleeps.

There are pickleball courts in public parks, or you can try private facilities like Chelsea Piers or seasonal pickleball courts at the Wollman Rink in Central Park before it turns into a famous ice-skating rink in the winter.

Broomfield, Colorado

jzehnder/Adobe Broomfield Colorado cornerstone outdoors

Enjoy outdoor winter activities like skiing and snowshoeing in Colorado in the winter and pickleball in the summer.

Anthem Ranch in Broomfield is a 55+ community with plenty of pickleball amenities, including a pickleball club that hosts tournaments and leagues when it’s warm.

Naples, Florida

jovannig/Adobe Naples, Florida. Aerial view

Another Florida option to check out is Naples, which boasts communities specifically for retirees and some great options for pickleball.

One place you might want to check out is the Naples Pickleball Center, which has 65 outdoor courts. You can also reserve time for clinics or private lessons to help you improve your pickleball game.

Maple Grove, Minnesota

Jacob/Adobe Twin Cities Suburb Maple Grove Minnesota

Retirees who want to stay in the Midwest have a home in Maple Grove, which just opened a new center dedicated to pickleball.

The city just opened 18 new pickleball courts, and you can enjoy both indoor and outdoor play. You can also check out Pints and Paddle, where you can play on 10 pickleball courts before heading in for a variety of beers on tap and a full bar menu.

Palm Springs, California

photogolfer/Adobe golf course palm springs california

Palm Springs attracts retirees due to its good weather and outdoor activities, including pickleball games throughout the area.

The city has a variety of pickleball facilities, and you can also join senior leagues to stay active and socialize with other retired pickleball fans.

Bottom line

irissca/Adobe people playing pickleball at outdoor court

Pickleball can be a great way to enjoy your retirement days and keep you active and involved in your community.

Remember to set yourself up for a stress-free retirement by creating a retirement budget now that includes necessary spending such as food and utilities as well as fun spending for things like pickleball and other hobbies.

Putting that estimated budget in place now can help you set your financial goals, so you’ll be set in retirement.

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