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America
Preparing your journey

The Ultimate Travel Guide

Land of
Endless Wonder

From the Atlantic's crashing shores to Pacific sunsets, from Arctic tundra to subtropical keys โ€” the United States holds more landscapes, cultures, and stories than any single journey could capture.

Begin Exploring Top Destinations โ†“
50
Unique States
63
National Parks
3.8M
Square Miles
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About the United States

A Nation That
Defies Description

"America is not just a country. It is a mosaic of worlds โ€” each state its own nation, each city its own universe."

Stretching across 3.8 million square miles of North America, the United States is the world's third-largest country by area and fourth by population. It borders Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific to the west.

The landscape is staggering: ancient redwood forests tower on the Pacific coast; golden prairies roll across the heartland; the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain ranges divide east from west; the Mississippi โ€” among the world's greatest rivers โ€” carves through the continent's center; and the deserts of the Southwest glow red and orange beneath a blazing sun.

330M+
Population
50
States
63
National Parks
1776
Year Founded
$30T+
GDP
6
Time Zones
San Francisco, California
New York City
Yellowstone
Explore by Region

Five Faces of
One Country

Each region carries its own accent, cuisine, pace, and soul โ€” from the liberal Northeast to the Wild West.

01
โœฆ Region
The Northeast
Where American history was born. Cobblestone streets, Ivy League towers, blazing autumn foliage, and NYC.
New YorkBoston
02
โœฆ Region
The South
Gracious hospitality, legendary cuisine, blues and jazz, and magnolia-scented evenings.
New OrleansNashville
03
โœฆ Region
The Midwest
America's heartland. Vast prairies, the Great Lakes, world-class Chicago architecture.
ChicagoDetroit
04
โœฆ Region
The West
Tech empires and ancient forests. Pacific coastline, volcanic peaks, and the culture of California.
Los AngelesSeattle
05
โœฆ Region
The Southwest
Red canyon walls, ancient civilizations, saguaro forests, and the surreal neon of Las Vegas.
Las VegasPhoenix
Grand Canyon
Statue of Liberty
Yellowstone
Times Square
Golden Gate Bridge
Yosemite Valley
New Orleans Jazz
Route 66
Niagara Falls
Monument Valley
Grand Canyon
Statue of Liberty
Yellowstone
Times Square
Golden Gate Bridge
Yosemite Valley
New Orleans Jazz
Route 66
Niagara Falls
Monument Valley
Must-See Destinations

Cities That Changed
the World

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โœฆ The Global Capital
New York City
The city that never sleeps. Eight million stories packed into five boroughs โ€” from towering Manhattan to Brooklyn.
Best TimeAprโ€“Jun ยท Sepโ€“Nov
Budget$$$$
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โœฆ The Dream Factory
Los Angeles
A sprawling metropolis of cinema, surf, and perpetual sunshine. From the Hollywood hills down to the Venice boardwalk.
Best TimeMarโ€“May ยท Sepโ€“Nov
Budget$$$
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โœฆ The Second City
Chicago
The birthplace of the skyscraper, sitting on the shores of Lake Michigan. Unrivaled architecture, blues, and pizza.
Best TimeMay โ€“ September
Budget$$$
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โœฆ Sun & Coast
Miami
Art Deco glamour on South Beach, Wynwood's murals, Cuban coffee in Little Havana, and endless vibrant nightlife.
Best TimeNov โ€“ April
Budget$$$
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โœฆ The Big Easy
New Orleans
A city vibrating with jazz, voodoo history, and Creole flavor. There is truly no other place on earth like the French Quarter.
Best TimeFeb โ€“ May
Budget$$
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โœฆ Entertainment Capital
Las Vegas
An impossible mirage of neon rising from the Mojave desert. World-class dining, massive casinos, and endless spectacles.
Best TimeMarโ€“May ยท Sepโ€“Nov
Budget$$$
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โœฆ The Golden Gate
San Francisco
Rolling hills, cable cars, and the iconic bridge surrounded by fog. A global center for technology and counter-culture.
Best TimeSep โ€“ November
Budget$$$$
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โœฆ The Emerald City
Seattle
Surrounded by water, mountains, and evergreen forests. Famous for its coffee culture, Pike Place Market, and tech giants.
Best TimeJul โ€“ September
Budget$$$
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โœฆ Live Music Capital
Austin
Where Texas tradition meets weird, creative energy. Phenomenal BBQ, outdoor living, and an explosive live music scene.
Best TimeSepโ€“Nov ยท Marโ€“May
Budget$$
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โœฆ The Nation's Capital
Washington D.C.
The epicenter of American history and politics. Stunning neoclassical monuments and the world's best free museums.
Best TimeMarโ€“May (Cherry Blossoms)
Budget$$$
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โœฆ Tropical Paradise
Honolulu
Waikiki beach, volcanic craters, and deep Polynesian heritage. The gateway to the breathtaking Hawaiian islands.
Best TimeMid-Dec โ€“ March
Budget$$$$
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โœฆ Historic Hub
Boston
Cobblestone streets tracing the American Revolution, legendary seafood, and a fiercely loyal sports culture.
Best TimeJunโ€“Oct (Fall foliage)
Budget$$$
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Before You Go

Travel Essentials

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Getting There

Major gateways: JFK, LAX, O'Hare, Miami & Atlanta. Most visitors from visa-waiver countries need an ESTA online before departure.

Learn more โ†’
01
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Getting Around

Renting a car is essential outside major cities. Domestic flights are affordable. Uber and Lyft operate in virtually every metro area.

Learn more โ†’
02
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Money & Costs

Currency: US Dollar (USD). Tipping 18โ€“22% is standard. Budget travelers: $80โ€“120/day. Mid-range: $180โ€“280. NYC & SF are priciest.

Learn more โ†’
03
๐Ÿฅ

Health & Safety

Travel insurance is strongly recommended โ€” US healthcare is world-class but expensive. Emergency number is 911.

Learn more โ†’
04
When to Visit

Every Season,
A Different America

The U.S. spans such a range of climates that the best time to visit depends entirely on where you're going and what you want to experience.

Average Comfort Level
Spring
72ยฐF
Summer
88ยฐF
Fall
62ยฐF
Winter
38ยฐF
Best Value
๐ŸŒธ
Spring
March โ€” May
Cherry blossoms in D.C., wildflowers in Texas, perfect temperatures coast to coast. Moderate crowds.
Go to: D.C., New York, Nashville
Peak Season
โ˜€๏ธ
Summer
June โ€” August
National parks are stunning but crowded. Beach destinations thrive. Book accommodation far ahead.
Go to: National Parks, New England
Editor's Pick
๐Ÿ‚
Fall
September โ€” November
The finest season. New England foliage is breathtaking. Weather is crisp, cities feel most alive.
Go to: New England, Smoky Mountains
Ski Season
โ„๏ธ
Winter
December โ€” February
Colorado ski resorts peak. Florida, Hawaii & Southern California become warm refuges.
Go to: Florida, Hawaii, Rockies
Food, Music & Culture

A Culture
of Cultures

America's greatest cultural export is its diversity itself. No single cuisine, no single music, no single identity โ€” that boundless plurality is precisely what makes experiencing it so endlessly surprising.

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Rock & Country
Nashville's honky-tonks and Memphis' birthplace of rock
๐ŸŽท
Jazz & Blues
New Orleans' French Quarter breathes music constantly
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Tex-Mex
The magnificent fusion of Texas and Mexico
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New England Seafood
Lobster rolls and oysters straight from Cape Cod
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Broadway
The world's most celebrated stage in Manhattan
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American BBQ
Texas, Kansas City, Carolinas, Memphis โ€” each a religion
๐ŸŽจ
Street Art
Wynwood Walls, Detroit murals, SF's Mission District
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Sport Culture
NFL Sundays, baseball, and college football passion
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Hollywood
The global capital of cinema, stars, and stories
๐Ÿ•
NYC Pizza
The foldable thin-crust slice โ€” a true institution
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Free Museums
19 Smithsonian museums in D.C. โ€” all completely free
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Farm-to-Table
California leads America's culinary fresh revolution
Epic Road Trips

The Open Road
Awaits

America was built for the road trip. These legendary routes are rites of passage โ€” chapters in the great American story.

๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ
Route 66
Chicago โ†’ Los Angeles
2,448 mi
2โ€“3 Weeks

The "Mother Road" โ€” stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica. Neon signs, diners, and the Painted Desert.

Chicago, Illinois
St. Louis, Missouri
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Santa Monica, California
๐ŸŒŠ
Pacific Coast
Seattle โ†’ San Diego
1,650 mi
10โ€“14 Days

Highway 1 hugs cliffs above the Pacific. Arguably the world's most beautiful coastal drive.

Seattle, Washington
Redwood National Park
Big Sur cliffside
San Diego, California
๐Ÿœ๏ธ
Parks Loop
Utah ยท Arizona ยท Nevada
980 mi
10โ€“12 Days

Utah's "Mighty Five" plus the Grand Canyon form the greatest concentration of natural spectacle on Earth.

Las Vegas (base)
Zion & Bryce Canyon
Monument Valley
Grand Canyon South Rim
Insider Advice

Travel Smart in
America

America rewards the prepared traveler. These tips will save you time, money, and unnecessary stress.

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ
Book National Parks Early
Many parks require timed-entry reservations, released 6 months in advance. Yosemite and Zion fill instantly.
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Sales Tax Is Added at Register
Unlike Europe, prices shown exclude tax. Sales tax varies by state (0% to 10%+). Your bill will always be higher.
๐Ÿ“ฑ
Get a Local SIM Card
A prepaid eSIM costs $30/month. Verizon has the best rural coverage for national park travel.
๐ŸŒŽ
Distances Are Enormous
Americans think in hours, not miles. NY to LA is a 41-hour, 2,789-mile drive. Plan fewer stops done well rather than overstretching.
๐Ÿค
Tipping Culture
Tip 18โ€“22% at restaurants, $1โ€“2 per drink at bars. Many workers depend on tips โ€” it is expected, not optional.
๐Ÿž๏ธ
America the Beautiful Pass
At $80/year, this pass grants free entry to all 63 national parks. It pays for itself after just 2โ€“3 park visits.
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Eat Where Locals Eat
Best food is rarely in tourist zones. Use apps to find highly-rated mom-and-pop diners and ethnic eateries.
๐Ÿšฆ
Right Turn on Red
Unless posted otherwise, you may turn right at a red traffic light after stopping, in all 50 states.