Places to Visit in the USA
From coastal highways to national parks, the US has more geographic variety than almost any country on Earth. Below: a starting list of iconic destinations by region, with links to deeper state guides.
A Region-by-Region Starting Point
The West covers Pacific coastline, desert parks like Joshua Tree, and the Rocky Mountains. The Midwest centers on the Great Lakes and open farmland. The South ranges from Gulf Coast beaches to Appalachian music cities. The Northeast packs dense history and fall foliage into the shortest distances between major cities.
For a deeper dive with actual routes and timing advice, GeoMapGuide publishes route-tested travel guides for a handful of states, starting with California, Texas, and New York.
Where to Start
If you only have a few days, national parks and major coastal cities tend to deliver the most per mile driven — see the National Parks in the USA page for the full list.
Places to Visit in the USA — Quick Facts
- Regions Covered
- West, Midwest, South, Northeast
- National Parks
- 63 (see full list)
- State Travel Guides Live
- California, Texas, New York
- Most-Visited National Park
- Great Smoky Mountains
- Most Iconic Coastal Drive
- Pacific Coast Highway 1, CA