Short answer: five of the best places to vacation in the USA are the Grand Canyon (Arizona), New York City, Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho), New Orleans (Louisiana) and Yosemite National Park (California). Together they cover epic nature, big-city energy, wildlife, music and food, so there’s something for every kind of traveler.
The US is huge, and picking where to go can feel like choosing one dessert at a buffet. So we did the hard part and narrowed it down to five places that never disappoint, for hiking-boot people and Broadway-ticket people alike.
1. Grand Canyon, Arizona
Yes, it really is that big. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, the Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and more than a mile deep, and its layered red rock tells nearly two billion years of geological history.
There’s something for every fitness level. Easy rim walks give you the jaw-dropping views without the sweat. The Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails take you down into the canyon (remember, coming back up is the hard part). Rafting trips on the Colorado River show you the canyon from the bottom.
The South Rim is open all year and has the most services. The North Rim is quieter and usually closes in winter, so check the National Park Service website for current conditions before you plan. Go for sunrise or sunset if you can: the colors are unreal.
2. New York City, New York
New York runs on pure energy (and coffee). Each of its five boroughs has its own personality, so try to see more than just Manhattan.
The classics are classics for a reason: the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Times Square and the 843 acres of Central Park. Catch a Broadway show, then spend a rainy day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA or the American Museum of Natural History. You could spend weeks in those three alone.
The food scene covers basically every cuisine on earth, from dollar slices to Michelin stars. Over in Brooklyn, you’ll find great cafes, breweries and waterfront parks with killer Manhattan skyline views. The subway gets you almost everywhere, but the best discoveries usually happen on foot.
Visiting in December? Hotels fill up fast. Here’s when to book a hotel for Christmas.
3. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho
America’s first national park, established in 1872, covers more than 2.2 million acres across three states, and it sits on top of a giant volcanic hotspot. No pressure.
That hotspot powers the famous geothermal show. Old Faithful erupts roughly every 90 minutes, shooting boiling water more than 100 feet into the air. The Grand Prismatic Spring glows in rainbow colors thanks to heat-loving bacteria. Hundreds of other geysers, hot springs and bubbling mud pots make the whole place feel like another planet.
Then there’s the wildlife. Bison regularly cause traffic jams. Elk, wolves, grizzlies and black bears roam the forests and meadows. Head to the Lamar Valley, nicknamed “America’s Serengeti,” at dawn or dusk for the best sightings. Keep your distance, though. The bison are not here for selfies.
Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-elevation lake in North America, and there are more than 1,000 miles of trails. In winter, the park turns into a snowy wonderland you can explore by snowcoach or snowmobile.
4. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans doesn’t feel like anywhere else in the US. French, Spanish, African and American influences all mixed together here, and you can see, hear and taste it everywhere.
Wander the French Quarter’s colorful Creole townhouses with their lacy iron balconies. Jackson Square is the heart of it all, with artists, street performers and St. Louis Cathedral. Bourbon Street is the famous party, while Royal Street is calmer, with antique shops and galleries.
Jazz was born here in the early 1900s, and you can still hear live music every night, especially on Frenchmen Street. Every spring, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates it in style.
Honestly, the food alone is worth the trip: gumbo, jambalaya, po’boys, crawfish étouffée, and beignets at Café du Monde (wear dark clothes, that powdered sugar goes everywhere). Mardi Gras brings weeks of parades and huge crowds, but the city is a party any time of year.
5. Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite Valley’s giant granite cliffs and waterfalls are some of the most photographed views in the country. The park covers nearly 1,200 square miles of the Sierra Nevada, though most visitors stick to the valley floor.
El Capitan’s 3,000-foot granite wall is a bucket-list climb for the world’s best rock climbers (and a great neck workout for everyone watching). Half Dome rises at the east end of the valley, and a tough 14- to 16-mile round-trip hike, finishing with cables, takes you to the top.
Yosemite Falls drops 2,425 feet in three sections. It’s at its best during the spring snowmelt and can shrink to a trickle by late summer. Bridalveil Fall and Vernal Fall are easier to reach on shorter hikes.
Don’t miss the giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove, some of the largest living things on Earth, and thousands of years old. Climbing, backpacking, fishing and photography keep people busy all year, and winter brings cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Tioga Road, the high-elevation route across the park, usually closes from around November to May because of snow.
Planning your US trip
These five are just the start, but each one is a guaranteed great trip. When it’s time to book, compare hotel prices before you commit, because the same room can cost different amounts depending on the booking site.
We built Hotel Ninja to make that easy. It’s a free Chrome extension that shows the final price for the same room on Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, Agoda and other supported sites, with taxes and fees included. Spend the savings on beignets. For more timing tips, see when to book a hotel for the lowest price.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best places to vacation in the USA?
Some of the best are the Grand Canyon, New York City, Yellowstone National Park, New Orleans and Yosemite National Park. They cover national parks, wildlife, big-city sightseeing, music and food.
When is the best time to visit Yellowstone?
Late spring to early fall is the most popular time, when most roads and facilities are open. Winter is quieter and beautiful, but access is limited to snowcoach and snowmobile in much of the park.
Is the Grand Canyon open all year?
The South Rim is open all year. The North Rim usually closes in winter, so check the National Park Service website for current conditions before you go.
When is the best time to see Yosemite’s waterfalls?
Spring, during the snowmelt. By late summer, some waterfalls, including Yosemite Falls, can slow to a trickle.
