Country guide · United States
Best places to visit in United States
30 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ian Howard, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
For a first trip to United States, start with Boston: Revolutionary history, brownstone streets, harbour seafood and Fenway Park. For beaches, look at Boston, Chicago and Honolulu. San Antonio is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 30
- Best months overall
- April–May and September–October
- Start with
- Boston
- Least expensive here
- San Antonio
30 places to visit in United States
Best: May–June and September–October · 4 days
Boston
Revolutionary history, brownstone streets, harbour seafood and Fenway Park
Best: May–June and September–October · 4 days
Chicago
Skyscraper architecture, lakefront beaches, deep-dish pizza and blues clubs
Best: April–May and September–October · 6 days
Honolulu
Waikīkī surf, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor and year-round warm sea
Best: March–May and October–November · 4 days
Las Vegas
Themed resorts, big shows and the desert parks beyond the Strip
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Best: March–May and September–November · 6 days
Los Angeles
Beaches, Hollywood history, free museums and serious taco culture
Best: December–April · 5 days
Miami
Art Deco beaches, Cuban coffee windows and street art in winter sun
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Best: February–April and October–November · 4 days
New Orleans
Live jazz every night, Creole cooking, Mardi Gras and the French Quarter
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Best: April–June and September–October · 5 days
New York City
Skyline views, world-class museums, Broadway and food from every culture
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Best: January–February and October–November · 7 days
Orlando
Theme parks, spring-fed rivers and rocket launches an hour away
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Best: April–May and September–October · 4 days
San Francisco
Cable cars, steep hills and the Golden Gate Bridge in summer fog
Best: April–May and September–October · 4 days
Washington, D.C.
Free Smithsonian museums, monuments on the Mall and historic rowhouse neighbourhoods
Best: June–August · 4 days
Anchorage
Alaska's gateway city, with mountains, moose and glaciers on the doorstep
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Best: April–May and October–November · 3 days
Atlanta
Civil rights history, the BeltLine, Southern cooking and leafy in-town neighbourhoods
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Best: March–April and October–November · 4 days
Austin
Live music, brisket, spring-fed swimming and the Texas Hill Country
Best: March–May and October–November · 4 days
Charleston
Pastel row houses, Lowcountry cooking and harbour forts on a walkable peninsula
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Best: March–April and October–November · 3 days
Dallas
JFK history, a free downtown arts district, brisket and the State Fair
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Best: June–September · 4 days
Denver
Mile-high city of craft beer, museums and Rocky Mountain day trips
Best: March–April and October–November · 3 days
Houston
NASA's Mission Control, a world-class Museum District and the most varied food in Texas
Best: December–May · 4 days
Key West
Sunset at Mallory Square, Hemingway's house and reef trips at the end of US-1
Best: April–May and September–October · 7 days
Maui
Haleakalā sunrise, the Road to Hāna and winter humpback whales
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Best: April–May and September–October · 3 days
Nashville
Honky-tonks, the Ryman and Grand Ole Opry, and fiery hot chicken
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Best: May–June and September–October · 3 days
Philadelphia
Independence Hall, Rocky Steps, cheesesteaks and walkable colonial streets
Best: November–April · 4 days
Phoenix
Desert mountain hikes, saguaro gardens, resort pools and Sonoran food
Best: June–September · 4 days
Portland
Food carts, gardens, bookshops and the Columbia Gorge on the doorstep
Best: January–March, June and September · 3 days
Salt Lake City
Temple Square, mountain canyons and powder skiing 40 minutes from downtown
Best: March–April and October–November · 3 days
San Antonio
The Alamo, Spanish missions, the River Walk and Tex-Mex at its source
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Best: April–May and September–October · 5 days
San Diego
Year-round mild beaches, Balboa Park's museums and Baja-style tacos
Best: March–May and October–November · 3 days
Savannah
Live-oak squares, Spanish moss and a walkable riverfront in Georgia's oldest city
Best: June–September · 4 days
Seattle
Pike Place Market, Puget Sound ferries and mountain views on clear days
Best: March–May and September–November · 3 days
Sedona
Red-rock buttes, canyon trails, creekside swims and dark desert skies
Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Freedom Trail and American Revolution history | May–June and September–October | 4 days | $260–$420 |
| Chicago | Skyscraper architecture and Deep-dish pizza | May–June and September–October | 4 days | $250–$400 |
| Honolulu | Waikīkī Beach and Diamond Head | April–May and September–October | 6 days | $300–$500 |
| Las Vegas | The Strip and Casinos | March–May and October–November | 4 days | $200–$400 |
| Los Angeles | Hollywood and Beaches | March–May and September–November | 6 days | $250–$400 |
| Miami | South Beach and Art Deco architecture | December–April | 5 days | $230–$400 |
| New Orleans | Jazz and Mardi Gras | February–April and October–November | 4 days | $220–$350 |
| New York City | Statue of Liberty and Central Park | April–June and September–October | 5 days | $300–$500 |
| Orlando | Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando | January–February and October–November | 7 days | $250–$450 |
| San Francisco | Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz | April–May and September–October | 4 days | $270–$450 |
| Washington, D.C. | National Mall and Smithsonian museums | April–May and September–October | 4 days | $250–$400 |
| Anchorage | Gateway to Alaska and Chugach Mountains | June–August | 4 days | $240–$400 |
| Atlanta | Martin Luther King Jr. and Civil rights history | April–May and October–November | 3 days | $200–$350 |
| Austin | Live music and Texas barbecue | March–April and October–November | 4 days | $200–$330 |
| Charleston | Rainbow Row and Fort Sumter | March–May and October–November | 4 days | $250–$400 |
| Dallas | JFK history and Arts District | March–April and October–November | 3 days | $200–$350 |
| Denver | Mile High City and Red Rocks Amphitheatre | June–September | 4 days | $210–$350 |
| Houston | NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District | March–April and October–November | 3 days | $190–$330 |
| Key West | Mallory Square sunset and Ernest Hemingway | December–May | 4 days | $320–$520 |
| Maui | Haleakalā and Road to Hāna | April–May and September–October | 7 days | $350–$600 |
| Nashville | Country music and Honky-tonks on Broadway | April–May and September–October | 3 days | $220–$360 |
| Philadelphia | Independence Hall and Liberty Bell | May–June and September–October | 3 days | $220–$380 |
| Phoenix | Sonoran Desert and Camelback Mountain | November–April | 4 days | $200–$380 |
| Portland | Food carts and Powell's City of Books | June–September | 4 days | $200–$340 |
| Salt Lake City | Temple Square and Powder skiing | January–March, June and September | 3 days | $200–$330 |
| San Antonio | The Alamo and River Walk | March–April and October–November | 3 days | $180–$320 |
| San Diego | San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park | April–May and September–October | 5 days | $230–$400 |
| Savannah | Historic squares and Spanish moss | March–May and October–November | 3 days | $220–$360 |
| Seattle | Pike Place Market and Space Needle | June–September | 4 days | $250–$420 |
| Sedona | Red rock buttes and Hiking | March–May and September–November | 3 days | $260–$450 |
When to visit United States
Across these destinations the most reliable months are April–May and September–October. Timing still varies by place: Boston is best in May–June and September–October; Chicago is best in May–June and September–October; Honolulu is best in April–May and September–October.
Signature dishes across United States
| Destination | Try first | Also try |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | New England clam chowder | Lobster roll and Fried clams |
| Chicago | Deep-dish pizza | Tavern-style thin-crust pizza and Chicago-style hot dog |
| Honolulu | Poke | Plate lunch and Loco moco |
| Las Vegas | Resort buffet | Shrimp cocktail and Steakhouse dinner |
| Los Angeles | Tacos al pastor | French dip sandwich and Korean barbecue |
| Miami | Cuban sandwich | Cafecito and colada and Croquetas |
| New Orleans | Beignets | Gumbo and Jambalaya |
| New York City | New York pizza slice | Bagel with lox and Pastrami on rye |
| Orlando | Dole Whip | Butterbeer and Smoked turkey leg |
| San Francisco | Mission burrito | Sourdough bread and Clam chowder in a bread bowl |
| Washington, D.C. | Half-smoke | Mumbo sauce and Ethiopian injera and wot |
| Anchorage | Wild salmon | Halibut and King crab |
| Atlanta | Lemon pepper wings | Fried chicken and the meat-and-three and The Varsity chili dog |
| Austin | Central Texas brisket | Breakfast tacos and Queso |
| Charleston | Shrimp and grits | She-crab soup and Lowcountry boil |
| Dallas | Smoked brisket | Frozen margarita and Tex-Mex with queso |
| Denver | Green chile | Smothered breakfast burrito and Denver omelette |
| Houston | Viet-Cajun crawfish | Fajitas and Smoked brisket |
| Key West | Key lime pie | Conch fritters and Key West pink shrimp |
| Maui | Poke | Plate lunch and Loco moco |
| Nashville | Nashville hot chicken | Meat-and-three and Biscuits |
| Philadelphia | Cheesesteak | Roast pork sandwich and Hoagie |
| Phoenix | Sonoran hot dog | Chimichanga and Cheese crisp |
| Portland | Food cart meals | Craft doughnuts and Marionberry pie |
| Salt Lake City | Fry sauce | Pastrami burger and Utah scones |
| San Antonio | Puffy taco | Breakfast tacos and Barbacoa and Big Red |
| San Diego | California burrito | Baja fish tacos and Carne asada fries |
| Savannah | Shrimp and grits | Southern fried chicken, family style and Lowcountry boil |
| Seattle | Wild Pacific salmon | Dungeness crab and Pacific Northwest oysters |
| Sedona | Prickly pear margarita | Navajo taco and Elote |
Events through the year in United States
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Boston: Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown (January or February); Chicago: Chicago Restaurant Week — prix-fixe menus across the city (usually late January into February) |
| February | Boston: Beanpot college ice-hockey tournament (usually the first two Mondays of February); Chicago: Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place (usually February) |
| March | Boston: South Boston St Patrick's Day Parade (usually the Sunday nearest 17 March); Chicago: Chicago River dyed green and downtown St Patrick's Day parade (usually the Saturday before 17 March) |
| April | Boston: Boston Marathon (Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April); Chicago: Cubs and White Sox home openers (usually early April) |
| May | Boston: Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum (usually Mother's Day, mid-May); Chicago: Chicago beaches open for the season (usually Memorial Day weekend, late May) |
| June | Boston: Bunker Hill Day parade in Charlestown (usually mid-June); Chicago: Chicago Blues Festival — free concerts (usually June) |
| July | Boston: Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade (4 July); Chicago: Independence Day fireworks along the lakefront (4 July) |
| August | Boston: Saint Anthony's Feast in the North End (usually the last weekend of August); Chicago: Chicago Air and Water Show over North Avenue Beach (usually mid-August) |
| September | Boston: Student move-in weekend around 1 September, when streets fill with moving vans; Chicago: Chicago Jazz Festival — free, in Millennium Park (usually around Labor Day weekend) |
| October | Boston: Head of the Charles Regatta (usually the second-to-last weekend of October); Chicago: Chicago Marathon (usually early-to-mid October) |
| November | Boston: Thanksgiving celebrations in Plymouth (usually the weekend before Thanksgiving); Chicago: Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (usually the Saturday before Thanksgiving) |
| December | Boston: Boston Common Christmas tree lighting — the tree is a yearly gift from Nova Scotia (usually early December); Chicago: Christkindlmarket (until about Christmas Eve) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | Chicago | 1,366 km |
| Boston | Honolulu | 8,178 km |
| Boston | Las Vegas | 3,813 km |
| Boston | Los Angeles | 4,170 km |
| Boston | Miami | 2,025 km |
| Chicago | Honolulu | 6,838 km |
| Chicago | Las Vegas | 2,448 km |
| Chicago | Los Angeles | 2,804 km |
| Chicago | Miami | 1,917 km |
| Honolulu | Las Vegas | 4,438 km |
| Honolulu | Los Angeles | 4,120 km |
| Honolulu | Miami | 7,817 km |
| Las Vegas | Los Angeles | 368 km |
| Las Vegas | Miami | 3,505 km |
| Los Angeles | Miami | 3,759 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to United States?
Boston: Boston is one of the oldest cities in the US and one of the most walkable: the 4-km Freedom Trail links sixteen Revolutionary-era sites from Boston Common to Bunker Hill, and most central neighbourhoods are within a…
+When is the best time to visit United States?
Generally April–May and September–October, though it varies by region.