20 Best States To Visit In The USA 2024
If you’re traveling in the USA and overwhelmed about which are the best states to visit first, fret no more! We’re here to help! While there are 50 states in the country, all well worth a look, here is our list of the 20 best states to visit in the USA.
Best States In The USA 2024
20. Idaho
“The Gem State” is one of the best states in the USA. Highlights include the Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site and the Sun Valley Resort. There’s also Lake Coeur d’Alene, 212-foot-high Shoshone Falls, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, and Craters of the Moon National Monument.
19. New York
New York State, a.k.a. “The Empire State” includes New York City, home to the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Central Park. Upstate New York has the Adirondacks, and the Finger Lakes Region with 100+ wineries, breweries, and distilleries. Visitors can also enjoy Niagara Falls too.
18. Maine
“The Pine Tree State” offers outdoor adventure in Baxter State Park and Acadia National Park. Kennebunkport is the ideal destination for beach bums while Quoddy Head State Park is the perfect place for whale watching. Stop to shop for souvenirs in Freeport.
17. Michigan
“The Wolverine State” includes the towering dunes of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, while Mackinac Island is famous for its horse-drawn carriages. Detroit Institute of Arts houses over 60,000 works of art and Mission Point Lighthouse is found on Old Mission Point.
16. Wyoming
Wyoming, also known as “the Cowboy State”, is home to Yellowstone National Park complete with its extraordinary geysers and wildlife-abundant plains. Along with Grand Teton National Park and Hot Springs State Park, Wyoming is perfect for hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, swimming, and skiing.
15. Pennsylvania
“The Keystone State” is one of our best states. Philadelphia features such historic landmarks as the USA–the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Hershey is famous for chocolate and its amusement park. There’s also Gettysburg National Military Park and the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
14. Colorado
The nation’s highest elevated state, “the Centennial State” has the world’s largest hot spring pool, the earth’s deepest hot spring, and the highest paved road in the USA. Travelers come here to go skiing in Aspen and Vail. Visit Denver for its craft breweries.
13. Utah
Visit Salt Lake City in “the Beehive State” for a taste of the contemporary food and drink scene complete with memorable mountain views. Explore the Big Five national parks, including Zion and Arches, and ski in Park City, home of the Sundance Film Festival.
12. Tennessee
Next on our list of best states is “the Volunteer State.” Visit Nashville, the Music City. See the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Explore Memphis, the Barbecued Pork Capital of the World, and Chattanooga, Knoxville for the scenery.
11. Alaska
The largest state in the USA is Alaska or “the Last Frontier.” Explore thousands of glaciers and millions of lakes. Witness the Northern Lights for over 240 days of the year. Go on expeditions to see Alaskan wildlife such as wolves, whales, and Kodiak bears.
10. Hawaii
Our top 10 best states in the USA include “the Aloha State.” Highlights of the island state include the waterfalls of Kauai, the beaches of Oahu, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and historic Pearl Harbor. Hawaii’s also a surfer’s paradise, with some of the world’s best waves.
9. Washington
This is the only state in the USA named after a U.S. president. Nicknamed “the Evergreen State,” highlights here include the famous Space Needle, majestic Mount Rainier, and the lively city of Seattle. Get away from the mainland and visit the San Juan Islands.
8. Oregon
“The Beaver State” is one of the best states to see natural wonders. See Mt. Hood, the Tillamook Rainforest, and the Pacific Coastline. Visit Bend, the Lava Lands in the Deschutes National Forest, Trillium Lake, the dunes in Florence, and Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach too.
7. California
“The Golden State” is home to some of the most famous places in the USA. Anaheim’s Disneyland Park, Hollywood, and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, for example. Other must-visit places include Yosemite National Park, SeaWorld, Death Valley, Alcatraz Island prison, San Diego, the wineries, and beaches too.
6. North Carolina
“The Tar Heel State” is home to scenic locations like Ocean Isle Beach, and Stone Mountain State Park, with its exposed granite dome. There’s also Emerald Isle Beach, with its crystal-clear waters, vibrant Asheville, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
5. Georgia
“The Peach State” is home to the Savannah College of Art and Design and Providence Canyon State Park, a.k.a. “the Little Grand Canyon,” in Lumpkin. Other highlights include the World of Coca-Cola Museum, the Georgia Aquarium, and Helen, “Georgia’s Little Bavaria.”
4. Florida
“The Sunshine State” is home to Universal Studios, Walt Disney World, the Florida Keys, and Miami’s white-sand beaches, beach resorts, and diving oases. Florida also has Everglades National Park, the Hardee County Wildlife Refuge, and more golf courses than any other place in the USA.
3. Texas
“The Lone Star State” is famous for its oil, ranches, and Tex-Mex cuisine. The state is home to such iconic landmarks as the Alamo, the San Antonio River Walk, and the Space Center Houston. Other highlights include the beaches on South Padre Island and lively Clayton’s Bar.
2. Montana
Visit the stunning “Treasure State.” It’s well-known for its naturally beautiful Rocky Mountains and striking Glacier National Park. Other highlights include the American Prairie Reserve, Beartooth Mountains, Bighorn Canyon, Grinnell Glacier, The Medicine Rocks, the Lewis and Clark Caverns, Morrell Falls, and The Badlands of Makoshika State Park.
…and the best state in the USA is…
1. Arizona
The Grand Canyon State is most famous for the gorgeous Grand Canyon, Saguaro National Park, and starkly beautiful Sonoran Desert. Flagstaff is home to the San Francisco Peaks and Lowell Observatory. Scottsdale is known for its vibrant nightlife, Lake Havasu is a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts, and Phoenix is the place for world-class spas.
