Figuring out the best cities to visit in the USA when you’re planning a visit can be a real challenge. Heck, we live here and still struggle to put our finger on the best places to go. There are so many!
From majestic mountains to beautiful coastlines, the United States has plenty of marvelous places to visit.
Diverse travel destinations in the USA can make it difficult for you to plan your travel through the country so we’ve made sure to give you a wide variety of options.
The beauty of visiting the USA is that it offers something for every interest, taste, and desire. With abundant nature, dramatic landscapes, sprawling cities, quaint towns and everything in between you’ll not be disappointed.
Not to mention the history and culture that differs in every corner of the country. It’s no wonder why many Americans spend their vacation time exploring their own country.
If you reside outside the US borders, be sure to read up on the EVUS enrollment procedures before your visit.
15 Best Cities to Visit in the USA
Table of Contents
1. New York, New York
Recommended Time: 5 to 7 Days
New York is a dream city for tourists. For those who visit it for the first time, they may feel that they’re walking through a huge movie set.
You’ll want to plan at least a 3 day weekend in New York Itinerary to see the best the city has to offer visitors.
Statue of Liberty, 5th Avenue, Times Square, Broadway, Central Park, Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Plaza and Empire State Building are some of the most prominent places to visit.
Start your day with sightseeing, move on to Broadway, shop around and enjoy a fantastic meal. There are lots of things to see in New York, so be sure to plan enough time to explore.
2. San Francisco, California
Recommended Time: 2 to 3 Days
The scenic and charismatic city is an excellent destination for families, singles, and couples. Outdoor dining, beautiful views, charming streets, and famous sites are making this city a prominent place for tourists.
You can take a cruise on San Francisco Inlet and explore Alcatraz. The Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf can mesmerize anyone. Fall or summer is a great time to visit San Francisco.
3. Honolulu, Hawaii
Recommended Time: 2 to 4 Days
If you want to visit a beach destination, Honolulu is one of the best places for a tropical vacation.
Situated on the island of Oahu, Honolulu is a famous place for its mesmerizing golden sand beaches and towering hills.
Read more 13 Epic Things to do in Honolulu, Hawaii
4. Las Vegas, Nevada
Recommended Time: 4 to 6 Days
The sparkling city of lights in the desert holds an exceptional appeal for visitors. Huge complexes draw many eyes, from newlyweds to families.
To make the most of your visit, you’ll want to plan at least a weekend in Las Vegas itinerary to ensure you see the best the city has to offer.
You can hang by the pools or enjoy the performance of the top stars of the music industry.
The city also provides access to plenty of natural attractions such as Hoover Dam, Death Valley Park, Red Rock Canyon, and the Grand Canyon.
Whether you choose to spend your time in the city or the surrounding area, there are so many things to do in Las Vegas that there is literally something for everyone.
One of the things we really love about the city, and we’ve been 8 times, is the abundance of incredible day trips from Las Vegas. You can get into beautiful state parks, deserts and mountains in as little as 30 minutes from the strip.
5. Washington, D.C.
Recommended Time: 5 to 7 Days
The capital city of the USA is home to many attractive sites including the Capitol Building, many Smithsonian museums, and the White House.
You could spend a lifetime exploring this city and struggle to see every museum and monument on offer.
If you are planning to visit this place in spring, you must attend the Cherry Blossom Festival. Fall can be a good time too because the summer can be very hot.
6. Miami, Florida
Recommended Time: 5 to 7 Days
Miami is one of the most diverse destinations in the USA. To do it justice, be sure to plan at least a long weekend in Miami itinerary to see the best it has to offer.
Embracing a vintage vibe with an infusion of Cuban flavor, Miami offers towering skylines, white sand beaches and the swankiest clubs you could imagine.
Outside of the city, you can enjoy trips to the Everglades National Parks to view a variety of birds, turtles, and alligators from an airboat. People also enjoy a variety of shopping, watersports and bus tours in the city.
7. Los Angeles, California
Recommended Time: 3 to 5 Days
Los Angeles is famous for its glamour and for being the epicenter of elite locations. The best of the city can be seen in a long weekend in Los Angeles itinerary, if you plan it right.
Bel Air, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood Boulevard are a clear indication of pop culture and even if you can’t afford the stores, window shopping is an event in itself.
When you’ve had enough of the city streets, head down to the Santa Monica pier and hop on the Ferris wheel, enjoy Venice Beach or explore the tar pits.
8. Chicago, Illinois
Recommended Time: 4 to 6 Days
Looking for a summer destination in the USA? There is nothing better than Chicago. The city is famous for its beautiful waterfront, parks, cultural attractions, and arts.
With galleries and luxury stores, you will get a great chance to shop around. Be sure to visit the downtown area for a photo with the giant bean.
9. Savannah, Georgia
Recommended Time: 2 to 4 Days
In Savannah, you will get a chance to see huge moss-covered trees around old mansions, large plantation farms, waterfront areas, and beautiful parks.
The people of Savannah are friendly and know the way to enjoy their life. Outside the city, you can visit the beautiful beaches at Hilton Head and Tybee.
10. Boston, Massachusetts
Recommended Time: 2 to 4 Days
If you are interested in history, this city is an excellent option for you. The freedom trail leads you to famous historical sites around the city, completely immersing you in the story.
Modern skyscrapers, buildings of the old century and public places give a unique charm to Bosom. The city is also home to the Pops Orchestra of Boston.
11. Seattle, Washington
Recommended Time: 3 to 4 Days
Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and water, the town is evocative of Vancouver, Canada. You can do countless things in Seattle, but its main attractions are the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and the entire waterfront area.
You can even go whale watching for Orcas on the Puget Sound from the ferry.
12. Orlando, Florida
Recommended Days: 5 to 7 days
Orlando is most famous for all the theme parks it has, including Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios, Sea World and host of other attractions.
The options are endless and it is every child’s dream to come face to face with Mickey Mouse or a Disney Princess during their visit.
In addition to the theme parks, Orlando offers a variety of outdoor options in the area including gator tours, airboat rides, kayaking, hiking, helicopter rides and so much more.
It is not uncommon for families to spend 1-2 weeks vacationing in the Orlando area.
You’ll also want to check out the nearby areas, as there are some pretty epic things to do in Kissimmee too.
13. Page, Arizona
Recommended Time: 2 to 4 Days
One of the best cities to visit in the USA, that doesn’t make it on the top-tier list yet is incredible, is Page, Arizona.
From this tiny base town in Northern Arizona, it’s possible to visit some of those stunning attractions that you see blowing up the social media space.
You can base here to access the Grand Canyon, Havasupai Falls, the famous Horseshoe Bend, located just outside the city limits and sacred Antelope Canyon.
14. Juneau, Alaska
Recommended Time: 3 to 5 Days
Not only is Juneau, Alaska one of the best cities to visit in the USA, but it’s also one of our favorite cities in the world. I’m sure you’ve heard the term a city by nature, well Juneau defines that.
This city combines lush coastal rain forests with towering mountains, not a combination you can find in many other places.
Why do we love it so much? Despite that it is a capital city, it has a small-town charm that offers a fantastic base for just about any outdoor adventuring you can think of.
Towering glaciers, ocean kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing, cruising, fishing and dog sledding, to name a few.
15. Asheville, North Carolina
If you like quirky, trendy cities, than Asheville, North Carolina belongs on your best cities to visit in the USA bucket list. In our opinion, this city has it all when it comes to amenities, lodging and adventure.
When you’re not hitting the streets to shop, visit trendy neighborhoods, enjoy breweries and support local initiatives, you can head into the Blue Ridge Mountains for some outdoor fun.
The endless amounts of things to do in Asheville make this city a people pleaser in so many ways.
More on the USA:
- 21 Bucket List Things to do in Hawaii
- 50 Incredible Things to Do in Maui
- 21 Alluring Things to do in Alaska
- Southwest Virginia Road Trip – Top Things to Do in Virginia
- Epic Miami to Key West Road Trip Guide
- 12 Fun Things to Do in Panama City Beach
- 18 Epic Things to do in Outer Banks, NC + Planning Guide
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