Best Places to Visit in the USA: 20 Beautiful Places in America
The most beautiful places in America and the best places to visit in the USA, from natural wonders to historic cities, with the best seasons to go, including spring.
In this article
From red-rock deserts to historic cities, the United States has an incredible variety of places to explore. Here are 20 of the best places to visit in the USA, and the best time to go.
Natural wonders
- Grand Canyon, Arizona: nothing prepares you for the scale. Spring and fall are ideal.
- Yosemite Valley, California: waterfalls are at their most powerful in late spring.
- Yellowstone, Wyoming: geysers, wildlife and the Grand Prismatic Spring.
- Niagara Falls, New York: walk to the edge of the falls or take a boat into the mist.
- Big Sur, California: one of the world's most dramatic coastlines.
- Glacier National Park, Montana: alpine lakes and mountain goats. Best in summer.
- Antelope Canyon, Arizona: swirling sandstone slot canyons on Navajo land, visited by guided tour only.
- Monument Valley, Arizona and Utah: iconic Western buttes in a Navajo Tribal Park.
- Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina: spring wildflowers and fall color.
- Denali, Alaska: North America's tallest peak, best visited in summer.
- Haleakalā, Maui, Hawaii: sunrise above the clouds. Sunrise viewing requires a reservation.
- Sedona, Arizona: red rocks, hiking and stargazing.
Historic and cultural cities
- Washington, D.C.: the Smithsonian museums are free, and so are the monuments on the National Mall.
- Charleston, South Carolina: cobblestone streets, historic homes and Lowcountry cuisine.
- Savannah, Georgia: moss-draped oaks and 22 historic squares.
- New Orleans, Louisiana: jazz, food and the French Quarter.
- Boston, Massachusetts: walk the Freedom Trail through Revolutionary history.
- San Francisco, California: the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and Alcatraz.
- Santa Fe, New Mexico: adobe architecture, art galleries and Southwestern food.
- Nashville, Tennessee: country music history and live music every night.
Best places to visit in spring
- Washington, D.C. for the cherry blossoms, usually in late March or early April.
- Charleston and Savannah for azaleas and mild weather.
- Utah's national parks before the summer heat.
- Yosemite for peak waterfalls.
- Texas Hill Country for bluebonnet season, typically in late March and April.
Best places to visit in fall
See our full guide to the best places to visit in fall.
Plan your trip
Save money with our list of free things to do in America, and discover hidden gems off the beaten path.
