The United States boasts an incredible number of stunning locations: National Parks with enchanting nature sites, buzzing cities, sandy beaches, and scorching-hot deserts.
As vast as it is diverse, deciding where to begin exploring this magnificent country can often feel overwhelming.
This is precisely why we’ve traveled from the sparkling shores of the Pacific to the historic streets of the East Coast, curating for you the definitive list of the best places to visit in the USA.
This is your portal to a series of unforgettable experiences.
Be it the untamed beauty of Yellowstone’s geothermal wonders, the echoing corridors of power in Washington D.C., or the soulful rhythms and flavors of New Orleans, each destination on our list is a chapter in the great American narrative waiting to be explored.
Join us as we embark on a stunning journey across the land of the free and home of the brave.
Discover with us the top 20 unmissable spots that epitomize the American spirit. From secret nooks to iconic landmarks, these are the places that promise to captivate, inspire, and leave an indelible mark on your heart.
Let’s start right with:
20. Hamilton Pool, Texas
Located near Austin, Texas, this beautiful place was designated a nature preserve in 1990.
Hamilton Pool was created thousands of years ago, when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion.
A unique natural area including lush plant communities and lots of wildlife surrounds it.
19. Sequoia National Park, California
California’s Sequoia National Park is the second oldest National Park in the US, designated in 1890.
It ranges from the low foothills to the peaks of the Sierra Nevada. This place boasts breathtaking landscapes with huge trees and deep canyons.
The many impressive sights make Sequoia National Park one of the best places to visit in the USA.
Some examples of the are the General Sherman Tree, which is the world’s largest tree by volume, and Moro Rock with its breathtaking views.
About 600 miles to the East, you’ll find number 18 of this list of the US’ best places to visit:
18. The Wave, Arizona
This surreal place is located in the Coyote Buttes North area of the Utah – Arizona border.
To visit the Wave, you need a permit issued by the US Bureau of Land Management.
Unfortunately (or, for the protection of this stunning area, fortunately), only 64 people per day are allowed there, with more than 300 people applying for a permit during the most popular months, which are April, May, September, and October.
17. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
Among the best places to visit in the USA, this famous landmark was constructed between 1927 and 1941.
It is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota and shows the 60-foot big sculptured faces of 4 iconic U.S. Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
When visiting, be sure to also walk the Avenue of Flags, and experience the Presidential Trail through the forest to get exceptional views of Rushmore.
16. New Orleans, Louisiana
Located on the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans offers influences from Europe, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world.
If you like music, you can immerse yourself in New Orleans’ rich blues, jazz, and rock’n roll scenes. Besides that, there are many other visitor attractions, for example the world-renowned French Quarter.
New Orleans is also known for its creole cuisine – it’s probably the most distinctively recognized regional cuisine in the US.
15. Taos Pueblo, New Mexico
The historic Taos Pueblo is located in Northern New Mexico.
Preserving the culture and history of the Red Willow people, this living Native American UNESCO World Heritage site is famous for its multi-storied adobe buildings that are about 1.000 years old.
Taos Pueblo is probably the oldest continuously inhabited community in the US.
A little more than 500 miles west, in southern Utah:
14. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon is located about 4 hours south of Salt Lake City.
This National Park is best known for the world’s largest collection of hoodoos, which are the extraordinary rock formations at Bryce.
Bryce Canyon is also an International Dark Sky Park, so be sure to take part in one of the many astronomy programs!
Our next destination is a little farther away:
13. Oahu, Hawaii
Among the best places to visit in the USA, Oahu, Hawaii’s most popular island, provides perfect, sandy beaches and gorgeous hikes combined with Honolulu’s city vibes.
Be sure to visit Diamond Head State Monument, a 300.000-year old crater with the best views in Hawaii, Pearl Harbor Memorial, and Waikiki Beach.
Also the Haiku Stairs of Oahu would be a must-see, but unfortunately a storm damaged it in 2015. Afterwards, it was fenced off and deemed illegal to climb afterwards.
12. The Missions in San Antonio, Texas
You probably already know the Alamo, but do you know that across San Antonio, there are 4 other Spanish missions you should visit?
Watch the still visible frescoes inside Mission Concepción, and see Mission Espada, which was founded in 1690 and is therefore the oldest one in San Antonio.
Also be sure to experience Mission San José, which is the largest of them.
While number 12 was in the very South, number 11 is as far north as it can get (at least in the lower 48 states).
11. Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park in Montana borders parts of Canada and encompasses over 1.000.000 acres of alpine meadows, pristine forests, breathtaking lakes, and rugged mountains.
Experience this beautiful piece of Earth while driving the spectacular Going-to-the-sun road, which passes through almost every type of terrain in the park.
10. Golden Gate Bridge, California
When opened in 1937, this famous bridge in San Francisco had the longest main suspension bridge span in the world. Its 746-foot towers made it also the tallest bridge of any type until 1993.
The Golden Gate Bridge connects San Francisco to Marin County, where you can experience breathtaking vistas of the bridge and the city, many hiking trails, and historic attractions.
You can reach the next destination after a 3 1/2 hours – drive on the Pacific Coast Highway:
9. Big Sur
Trust me, you’ll want to stop at every single vista point, and there are a lot of them.
The photogenic Bixby Creek Bridge, one of the most photographed bridges in the state, and the McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, a waterfall that falls directly on the beach, are must-sees when driving through Big Sur.
The next spot is another beautiful coastline:
8. Nā Pali Coast State Park, Hawaii
Nā Pali Coast, located on the garden island of Kauai, is about 17 miles long and not accessible by car. This means you’d have to hike the Kalalau Trail or access the coast by kayak, boat, helicopter, or plane.
But trust me, it’s worth it: Nā Pali Coast offers breathtaking views of the emerald green land and the clear blue waters of the Pacific.
If you want to see more of Hawaii’s coastlines, be sure to also check out this post about the US’ best beaches!
7. Las Vegas, Nevada
The Entertainment Capital of the World, as the city bills itself, is world-famous for its nightlife, gambling, pool parties, and restaurants.
When visiting Las Vegas, the obvious place to go is The Strip with its casinos and opulent hotels, street performances and outstanding shows.
Our next destination is another place right at the border to Canada:
6. Niagara Falls, New York
If you really want to experience these mighty waterfalls, you should consider a boat tour with the Maid of the Mist to get the closest view.
Behind Bridal Veil Falls, there’s the Cave of the Winds, which also offers an amazing view, oftentimes beautified by a marvelous rainbow.
Number 5 is the only theme park in this list:
5. Walt Disney World, Florida
As Disney World in Orlando is probably one of the most magical places for children as well as for adults, everyone should experience it at least once in his life.
This massive resort encompasses four theme parks: The Magic Kingdom with its fairy tales and Disney characters, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
There are also two water parks, 27 themed resort hotels, and much more.
If you wanna learn about other stunning places to visit in Florida with your little ones, check out our list featuring the best things to do in Florida with kids!
The next place is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, so its truly one of the best places to visit in the USA:
4. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
It was carved by the Colorado river over millions of years and spans a massive 277 miles in length. Overall, it is bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island!
For its millions of visitors, the beautiful landmark offers hiking, biking, mule trips, rafting, railways, camping, museums, horseback riding, plane tours, helicopter tours, hot air balloon tours, swimming, and more!
3. Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital boasts some of the richest history in the US.
Beyond the obvious White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln memorial, and Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. is home to the Arlington National Cemetery, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Smithsonian museums, and the largest library in the world: the Library of Congress.
2. New York City, New York
The hustle and bustle of the Big Apple makes it difficult to summarize it in short.
The must see places are Times Square, Grand Central Station, and to escape the busy city life, Central Park.
NYC also offers some of the richest food culture, nightlife, and shopping in the world.
For a real New York experience, explore the city via the expansive subway system, and don’t forget that there is more than Manhattan to visit.
The top spot in our list of the best places to visit in the USA goes to…
1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
The oldest National Park in the United States was designated in 1872. It still attracts millions of people from around the world to enjoy the unique geologic and hydrothermal features.
The most famous sights in the over 2.2 million acres big park are Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring.
Old Faithful is a cone geyser that got its name from its constant and normally predictable eruptions.
Grand Prismatic Spring boasts the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. It’s named for its striking coloration.
If you enjoyed reading this list, you’ll LOVE watching it in video-format:
