United States

Big landscapes, bigger cities.

Photo: Murray Foubister · CC BY-SA 2.0

The United States is really several trips in one country. The East Coast packs world-class cities and four centuries of history into a few hours of train travel. The West is about space: canyons carved a mile deep, geysers, giant trees and roads that run empty to the horizon. In between are music cities, the Great Lakes and a food culture that changes every few hundred miles.

The mistake most first-timers make is trying to see it all. Distances are huge (New York to Los Angeles is a five-hour flight), so pick one or two regions and go deep. The list below is what we'd send a friend to first.

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Best time
Spring and fall almost everywhere; summer for the high national parks
Ideal trip
2 weeks for one coast, 3+ for both
Entry
US citizens: none. Most visitors need an ESTA or a visa
Money
US dollar. Cards accepted almost everywhere
Tipping
18–20% at sit-down restaurants; a few dollars for hotel staff and drivers
Getting around
Fly long distances; rent a car outside the big cities
Power
Type A/B plugs, 120 V
Drives on
The right

The short list

Must-see
Cities · Museums

New York City

The city that sets the bar for every other city.

Full guide
Must-see
Nature · National parks

Grand Canyon

A mile deep and 18 miles wide. No photo prepares you for it.

Guide coming soon
Must-see
Cities · Monuments

Washington, DC

Monuments, the Capitol and the world's largest free museum complex, all on one great lawn.

Full guide
Must-see
Nature · National parks

Yellowstone

Half the world's geysers, plus bison and wolves you can actually see.

Guide coming soon
Must-see
Nature · National parks

Yosemite

Granite cliffs, giant sequoias and America's tallest waterfalls.

Guide coming soon
Must-see
Cities · Food

San Francisco

Hills, fog, the Golden Gate and one of the country's best food cities.

Guide coming soon
Must-see
Nature · Waterfalls

Niagara Falls

Three waterfalls on the Canadian border; the boat into the spray of Horseshoe Falls is the one thing not to skip.

Guide coming soon
Must-see
Festivals & seasons · Parades

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

February or early March, ending on the day before Lent

Two weeks of parades, brass bands and costumes ending on Fat Tuesday. Book a room months ahead.

Guide coming soon

On the map

Grey pins: guides still being written.

Regions

Coming soon

Northeast

New York City, New England towns and fall color.

Ready

Mid-Atlantic

The capital, colonial history and the Blue Ridge.

Coming soon

Southeast

Music cities, Southern food and the Smokies.

Coming soon

Florida

Beaches, the Everglades and the Keys.

Coming soon

Midwest

Chicago, the Great Lakes and the heartland.

Coming soon

Rocky Mountains

Geysers, glaciers and high peaks.

Coming soon

Southwest

Canyons, deserts and Route 66.

Coming soon

Texas

Missions, live music and wide-open spaces.

Coming soon

California

Coast roads, granite valleys and two great cities.

Coming soon

Pacific Northwest

Rainforest, volcanoes and coffee culture.

Coming soon

Alaska

Glaciers, bears and the midnight sun.

Coming soon

Hawaii

Volcanoes, reefs and island time.

Classic routes

10 days

East Coast classics

New York City→ Philadelphia→ Washington, DC

Three great cities joined by one train line. No car needed.

10–12 days

Southwest canyon loop

Las Vegas→ Zion National Park→ Grand Canyon

Fly into Las Vegas and drive a loop of red-rock parks.

8–10 days

California coast

San Francisco→ Yosemite

City, valley and the Big Sur coast road.

Good to know

Getting around

For long distances, fly: domestic flights are frequent and often cheap if booked early. Amtrak trains are only practical in the Northeast, between Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington. Everywhere else, and for every national park, you'll want a rental car. Drivers must be 21 (usually 25 to avoid a surcharge).

Money and tipping

Prices are shown before sales tax, which is added at the register and varies by state (0–10%). Tipping is expected, not optional: 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at a bar, and a few dollars a night for housekeeping.

Health and safety

Healthcare is excellent and very expensive, so international visitors should carry travel insurance. Big-city tourist areas are generally safe; use normal city sense at night. In national parks, the real dangers are heat, dehydration and wildlife: carry water and keep your distance from bison, bears and elk.

National parks

Most parks charge a per-vehicle entry fee. If you'll visit three or more, the America the Beautiful annual pass pays for itself. Popular parks increasingly need timed-entry reservations in summer, so check each park's site a few months ahead.