United States
United States travel guide
Big cities, bigger landscapes.
The United States suits almost every kind of trip, from city breaks and theme parks to national park road trips. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons in most regions. It is an expensive destination, so plan a budget and pick one or two regions and save the rest for later trips.
The United States stretches across North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with Alaska in the far north-west and Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific. Its 50 states hold an enormous range of landscapes, from the deserts of the Southwest and the Rocky Mountains to the swamps of Florida and the forests of New England, and 63 national parks protect places such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite.
Most first trips focus on the big cities: New York for skyline views and museums, Washington, D.C. for the Smithsonian museums and national monuments, Los Angeles and San Francisco on the Pacific coast, and Miami, Chicago, New Orleans and Las Vegas. Distances are vast, so pick one or two regions per trip and combine cities with a road trip or domestic flights.
Best experiences in the United States
Find your kind of trip: 24 travel themes, each with the packages in United States.
Wildlife
Hill Station
Ayurveda Tours
Seasonal/Event
Adventure
Wildlife & Safaris
Pilgrimage
Eco/Nature
Culture & History
Honeymoon
Romantic Getaway
Cruise
Water Activities
Backpacking
Luxury
Photography
City Slickers
Heritage
Beach & Relaxation
Sports & Recreation
Food & Wine
Train & River Journeys
Skiing
Overland
United States at a glance
Listed prices exclude sales tax and tips; ESTA or visa rules, plugs and time zones are summarised below.
Top destinations in the United States
Pick a place by travel style: beaches, nature, cities, heritage, hills, islands, desert.
MiamiBeaches and Art Deco
Las VegasThe Strip and the desert
New OrleansThe Big Easy on the Mississippi
ChicagoArchitecture on Lake Michigan
Los AngelesHollywood and beaches
AustinTexas capital of live music
HonoluluOʻahu's capital on the reef
NashvilleTennessee's Music City
OrlandoTheme parks and lakes
TellurideSilver town in a box canyon
WyomingYellowstone and the Tetons
HoustonSpace City on the bayous
AlbuquerqueThe Duke City of the high desert
Ann ArborMichigan's college town
AspenSilver town turned ski resort
AugustaGolf's April capital
BaltimoreHarbor city of crab cakes, row houses and history
BostonNew England's harbour capital
BoulderFoothills college town
ColumbiaSouth Carolina's Soda City
DeadwoodGold-rush gulch town
IndioThe Coachella Valley's festival city
Key WestLast stop on US 1
KeystoneMount Rushmore's Black Hills base
LafayetteHeart of Acadiana
LouisvilleKentucky's river city
PasadenaLA's mountain-edge art city
Pershing CountyDesert county on the Humboldt
Port AngelesOlympic National Park's harbour gateway
PunxsutawneyHome of the weather groundhog
San DiegoCalifornia's border-town beach city
AtlantaCivil rights history and the South's biggest air hub
Nothing in that category yet.
Top things to do in the United States
The Smithsonian's free museums, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, theme parks and big-city neighbourhoods all compete for time on a US itinerary.
Most Visited
United States
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls State Park, in the city of Niagara Falls, New York, covers the American side of the three waterfalls on the US–Canada border: American Falls, Brid...
Most Visited
United States
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park protects 446 km of the Colorado River's gorge in northern Arizona, a canyon up to 1.8 km deep. Most visitors come to the South Rim, o...
Most Visited
United States
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is the copper figure of Libertas on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, a gift from France dedicated on 28 October 1886 and run by the Nati...
United States
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is America's national memorial to the Holocaust, on Raoul Wallenberg Place SW in Washington, DC, just south of the N...
United States
Aventura Mall
Aventura Mall is a large shopping centre at 19501 Biscayne Boulevard in Aventura, Florida, in the far north of Miami-Dade County between downtown Miami and Fort...
United States
Central Park, New York
Central Park is the 843-acre (341-hectare) public park in the middle of Manhattan, New York City, between 59th and 110th Streets, designed in 1858 by Frederick...
St. Louis
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192-metre) stainless steel arch on the Mississippi riverfront in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, and the centrepiece of Gateway Ar...
New Orleans
The National WWII Museum
The National WWII Museum is the official national museum of the Second World War in the United States, at 945 Magazine Street in the Warehouse District of New O...
United States
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park lies in Montezuma County in southwest Colorado, near the towns of Cortez and Mancos. President Theodore Roosevelt signed the act creati...
Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park covers about 310,000 acres in north-western Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone National Park and north of the town of Jackson. It prot...
Wyoming
Grand Prismatic Spring
Grand Prismatic Spring lies in the Midway Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park, in north-western Wyoming, beside the Firehole River between Old Faithful an...
United States
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park lies in southern California, east of Palm Springs and about two and a half to three hours by road from Los Angeles. It was protected a...
Where to stay in United States
Hotels and resorts in United States with guest scores, nightly prices and free cancellation.
Best time to visit the United States
April to June and September to October suit most places; summer is for the mountains, winter for Florida.
Mild weather for cities and most national parks, before or after the summer crowds.
Hot in the south and the deserts, but the best time for Yellowstone, Alaska and the mountains.
Snow in the north and ski season in the Rockies; warm sunshine in Florida, Hawaii and southern California.
Popular national parks such as Yosemite and Arches have used timed entry or reservation systems in peak season; check the park's NPS page before you go.
United States travel tips
Entry, gateways, money, health costs, safety, hotels, getting around, SIM cards and tipping, one box each.
Visas and entry
ESTA or visitor visa
With an approved ESTA, citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries (most of Europe, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand among them) can stay up to 90 days. Everyone else needs a B-2 visitor visa, which means an interview at a US embassy. Since January 2026 nationals of a number of countries face full or partial entry restrictions.
- Passport
- Valid for your whole stay; some nationalities need 6 months
- ESTA
- Apply online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov at least 72 hours before you fly
- Visa
- B-2 visitor visa for non-VWP passports; book the interview early
- Confirm with
- travel.state.gov and esta.cbp.dhs.gov
Getting there
Major international gateways
Most international visitors fly into New York JFK, Los Angeles (LAX), Miami, Chicago O'Hare, San Francisco, Atlanta, Washington or Houston, then connect onward on domestic flights. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson is the busiest hub. Land crossings come from Canada and Mexico. Immigration queues on arrival can be long at peak times, so allow for them when planning a connection.
- Land borders
- Canada and Mexico
Money and costs
Very high destination
The US is expensive, especially in New York, California and Hawaii. Prices on tags and menus usually exclude sales tax, which is added at the till and varies by state and city. Tipping of 18 to 20% is expected in restaurants and taxis, and porters get a few dollars per bag. Cards, including contactless, are accepted almost everywhere.
- Sales tax
- Added at the till; varies by state and city
- Compare total hotel prices, as resort and parking fees are often extra.
- An America the Beautiful annual pass can save money if you visit several national parks.
- Carry a few small bills for tips where adding one to a card is awkward.
Health and vaccines
Insurance is essential
Routine vaccines are all you need for the US. Medical care is excellent but very expensive, so buy travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation before you go. Tap water is safe in towns and cities, pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens are everywhere, and walk-in urgent care clinics handle minor problems for less than the ER.
- Outdoors
- Heat in the deserts and altitude in the Rockies
- Carry prescription medicines in original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
Staying safe
Big-city sense, nature risks
Trouble is rare on a US trip. Petty theft and car break-ins are the most common problems for visitors, so leave nothing visible in a parked car, especially at trailheads. Natural hazards deserve real respect: hurricanes hit the south-east from June to November, and the west sees wildfires and extreme heat. Call 911 for police, fire or ambulance.
- Before you go
- Read your government's current travel advisory for United States
- Carry plenty of water and tell someone your plans on desert and mountain hikes.
Where to stay
Best areas to stay
Hotels range from roadside motels to luxury towers. In New York, Midtown suits sightseeing and Lower Manhattan or Brooklyn suit neighbourhood stays. In Los Angeles, look at Santa Monica or West Hollywood, and in Washington, D.C., Downtown or Dupont Circle near the Metro. Book national parks early, because lodges inside the parks sell out months ahead.
- National parks
- In-park lodges or gateway towns
Getting around
Fly, drive, or take the train
Domestic flights are the fastest way to cover long distances and run frequently between major cities. For national parks and scenic routes, rent a car, which usually needs a credit card and a driver over 21 or 25. Amtrak works best on the Boston to Washington corridor, and public transport works well in New York, Washington, Chicago and San Francisco.
- Long-distance buses
- Greyhound and FlixBus between cities
- Domestic airlines
- American, Delta and United; Southwest and JetBlue for low fares
- Coast to coast
- About 6 hours westbound, 5 hours eastbound
- Amtrak
- New York to Washington from 2 hr 45 min; New York to Boston from 3 hr 30 min
- Rail pass
- 30-day USA Rail Pass covers the whole network
SIM and internet
Local SIM or eSIM
For data, pick up a prepaid SIM or eSIM from AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon, or use an international eSIM. Either way you need an unlocked phone. Coverage is good in towns and cities but patchy in many national parks, deserts and other remote areas, where you may go hours without a signal.
- You need
- An unlocked phone
Culture and etiquette
Customs and etiquette
Americans are generally friendly and informal, and a handshake with first names is the normal greeting. Personal space and punctuality are valued. Service culture depends on tips for table service, taxis and hotel staff. The legal drinking age is 21 and ID is often checked, so carry photo ID if you plan to drink.
- Alcohol
- Legal drinking age is 21; ID is often checked
- Tip for table service, taxis and hotel staff
- Jaywalking in big cities
- Drinking alcohol in public where it is banned
- Approaching or feeding wildlife
Things to know before visiting the United States
Big distances, taxes and tips on top of listed prices, and costly health care are what surprise first-time visitors to the US.
Why travelers love it
- National parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.
- World-class cities: New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco and New Orleans.
- Road trips on routes such as the Pacific Coast Highway and old Route 66.
- Museums, including the free Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C.
- Variety: beaches, deserts, mountains and theme parks in a single country.
Good to know
- Distances are huge: flying from New York to Los Angeles takes about 6 hours.
- Health care is costly, so travel insurance is essential.
- Hurricane season affects Florida and the Gulf Coast from June to November.
Trip fit
BookingMentor editorial ratings out of 5, based on a first-time visitor's experience.
Washington weather by month
These are Washington, D.C. figures, with muggy summers and cold snaps in January, so treat them as an East Coast guide only.
Monthly averages for Washington from the climate table of its Wikipedia article (Washington, D.C. (Reagan National Airport), 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1872−present{{efn|Official records for Washington, D.C. were kept at 24th and M Streets NW from January 1872 to June 1945, and at Reagan National Airport since July 1945.{{cite web), compiled from the national weather service. Florida and Hawaii are much warmer in winter; the northern states and the mountains are colder.
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Picking a US region, with one-week and two-week routes
New York City and San Francisco sit further apart than Lisbon and Moscow. Pick one or two regions, decide early whether the trip runs on a rental car or on planes and trains, then let that choice shape the route.
- A week in the Northeast: four days in New York, then the train south via Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. for the free Smithsonian museums and the monuments on the National Mall. Baltimore is a short stop on the same line.
- Ten days in the desert Southwest: fly into Las Vegas and collect a car. Loop through the Grand Canyon and the national parks of southern Utah (Zion and Arches among them).
- Two weeks on the Pacific side: San Francisco and Yosemite first, then south along the Pacific Coast Highway to Los Angeles.
- Three weeks or longer: pair one city stretch with one road trip, joined by a domestic flight.
Book national park lodges first; gateway towns fill up behind them in July and August. Yosemite and Arches have used timed-entry or reservation systems in peak season, so read each park's NPS page before you fix dates.
City hotel rates swing with conventions and big events. Roadside motels on the Interstates rarely need a reservation.
Search domestic flights early for routes to smaller cities, and rent a car at the airport for the national parks.
US weather by season, from muggy D.C. summers to mild autumns
There is no single best month; choose the region you want at its best. As a reference point, Washington, D.C. sees an average April high of about 20°C against 32°C with muggy 22°C nights in July and only 7°C in January.
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October) suit the East's cities, the Southwest's parks and the Pacific coast, and the big parks are quieter outside school holidays.
High summer belongs to the north and the mountains. July and August are the months for Yellowstone, Glacier, the high Rockies and Alaska. Texas and the Deep South are punishing then. Tornadoes are most common in the Great Plains.
In winter, snow closes high passes and some park roads in the north while the Rockies' ski resorts peak, and Florida, Hawaii and southern California have their high season.
National holidays matter more than weather for prices. Thanksgiving in late November and the Christmas to New Year week bring some of the busiest travel days of the year. Book those dates first.
Regional American food, diner breakfasts and ID checks at bars
Eat by region. New England and the Pacific Northwest are for seafood. Texas means steak, brisket and Tex-Mex. Louisiana has its own Creole and Cajun kitchen built on gumbo and jambalaya.
The roadside diner is still the best place for a cheap breakfast of eggs, pancakes and coffee refills. Portions are large, and asking for a to-go box is normal.
Bars and shops ask for photo ID even from people well past 21; a passport is the safest proof for foreigners. Sales usually stop at 2AM, some rural counties are dry, and drinking in public is banned in many places.
Use "sir" or "ma'am" when you do not know a name, and send a message if you are running more than five minutes late. On Native American reservations local rules apply, and you should ask before photographing people or ceremonies there.
Travelers are asking
Yes, if you hold a passport of a Visa Waiver Program country and are traveling by air or sea for up to 90 days. Apply on the official site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, at least 72 hours before you fly.
Fly between distant cities and rent a car for national parks and scenic regions. Trains work well between Boston, New York and Washington.
About 18 to 20% in sit-down restaurants and for taxis, and a few dollars per bag for porters and per night for housekeeping.
Our travel desk answers questions about United States
How We Research This Guide
Visa and ESTA details here follow the US State Department, park rules follow the National Park Service, and trip ideas come from Brand USA's Visit The USA. We revise the page when those sources change, and the climate table uses Washington's long-term averages.
Last updated . Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Checked against trusted sources:
US State DepartmentNational Park ServiceBrand USA
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
ESTA, tipping, park bookings and how far apart the cities really are come up in almost every US trip we help plan.
Timing & weather
April to June and September to October are the best months for most of the United States. Summer suits the northern national parks and Alaska, and winter suits Florida, Hawaii and the ski resorts.
July is the warmest month in United States, with average highs of 32°C, and January the coolest, with lows of -1°C. July is the wettest month, at about 110 mm of rain; February is the driest. These are Washington, D.C. figures, with muggy summers and cold snaps in January, so treat them as an East Coast guide only.
Health & safety
Most visits are trouble-free. Petty theft and car break-ins are the main risks in cities, and natural hazards such as extreme heat, wildfires and hurricanes need care. Call 911 in an emergency.
Tap water in US towns and cities is treated and safe to drink. Treat water from streams and lakes before drinking.
Dial 911 from any phone for police, fire or an ambulance.
Visa & documents
Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA; everyone else needs a B-2 visitor visa from a US embassy. Some nationalities face entry restrictions since 2026, so check travel.state.gov before you book.
Booking
Plan at least 7 to 10 days for one region, such as New York and Washington, D.C., and 10 to 14 days for a national park road trip.
General
Top places include New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite.
English is the main language. Spanish is widely spoken, especially in California, Texas, Florida and New York.
Expect 120 V at 60 Hz and two-pin type A or three-pin type B sockets. Bring an adapter.
bookingMentor lists 4 places to stay in United States. Prices start from $175.00 per night. Types: Hotels and Resorts.
Domestic flights are the fastest way to cover long distances and run frequently between major cities. For national parks and scenic routes, rent a car, which usually needs a credit card and a driver over 21 or 25. Amtrak works best on the Boston to Washington corridor, and public transport works well in New York, Washington, Chicago and San Francisco.
Prices & payment
The currency is the US dollar. Cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere. Sales tax is added at the till, and tipping of 18 to 20% is expected in restaurants.
Daily travel costs in United States are very high. One of the more expensive destinations.
Getting there
Most international visitors fly into New York JFK, Los Angeles (LAX), Miami, Chicago O'Hare, San Francisco, Atlanta, Washington or Houston, then connect onward on domestic flights. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson is the busiest hub. Land crossings come from Canada and Mexico.
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