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A desert landscape with rocks and clouds in the sky
North America

USA

Travelers come for national parks, city breaks in New York and the desert scenery of the Southwest, often combined into one long road trip.

Start with the essentialsWhere to stayPlan a trip to USA

The United States covers most of North America between Canada and Mexico, and its fifty states span very different climates. Snowy mountains, desert canyons, subtropical coasts and the volcanic islands of Hawaii all sit within one country. Few first trips cover all of it. Most travelers choose one region: the big cities of the Northeast such as New York, the desert parks of Utah and Arizona, or Hawaii, which is reached by air rather than by road.

The trip suits travelers who enjoy driving, outdoor days and a mix of city stops and open road. Plan at least a week for one region, and two or more weeks to cross between regions. Spring and fall are the easiest seasons for most western national parks, because summer heat in the desert Southwest can be extreme and the parks are busiest then. Visitors from visa waiver countries generally need an ESTA travel authorization before boarding a flight to the US.

Five things to know before USA

  1. Apply for ESTA before you book onward flights

    Visa Waiver Program passports need an approved ESTA to arrive by air or sea (not required at land borders, where entry is processed manually); other passports need a visa, and Canadian citizens need neither. Apply only on the official CBP site. Check your passport

  2. Tips are part of the price

    Plan on 18–20% at sit-down restaurants and $1–2 a drink at bars.

  3. Sales tax is added at the register

    Shelf and menu prices usually leave it out, and the rate varies by state and city.

  4. Check each park's reservations and fee

    Rules differ park by park: Rocky Mountain uses timed entry in peak season, Arches and Yosemite do not in 2026, and non-US residents 16 and over pay an extra $100 at the most visited parks. The nonresident park fee

  5. Rent a car for the parks

    Outside a few big cities, a car is the only practical way around. Book early for summer, and price one-way drop fees before you plan a loop. Utah national parks

USA travel guides

Practical guides from writers who live there.

National park fee for visitors

The extra nonresident charge and when an annual pass pays off

Read the guideNew York

Subway, neighborhoods and a first-week plan

Read the guideLos Angeles

Beach cities, Hollywood and getting around by car

Read the guideSan Francisco

Fog, cable cars and day trips to wine country and Yosemite

Read the guideUtah national parks

Zion to Arches by car, and the permits to book

Read the guideVisa checker

Check your passport against the USA entry rules

Read the guideESTA explained

Who needs it, how to apply and what to avoid

Read the guideGetting around the USA

Cars, trains, flights and long distances

Read the guide

Top places to visit in USA

See all attractions in USA
brown rocky mountain under white cloudy sky during daytimeSight · Zion National ParkAngels LandingWin the permit firstA river running through a narrow canyon filled with rocksHike · Zion National ParkThe NarrowsCheck the flow firstMorris Graves Museum of ArtSight · Redwood CoastMorris Graves Museum of Arta large rock sitting in the middle of a desertSight · UtahValley of the Gods

Destinations in USA

Where to stay in USA

Neighborhood first, hotel second.

All stay guides
a lake surrounded by trees and mountains under a blue skyWyomingWhere to stay near Yellowstone and Grand Teton: four bases comparedbrown rock formation under blue sky during daytimeSedonaWhere to stay in Sedona: Uptown, West Sedona, Oak Creek and the canyon
Find a room in USA

We earn a commission if you book. It never decides what we recommend.

Itineraries

brown rock formation under blue sky during daytime2 daysSedona in 2 days: trails, Red Rock Pass, Oak Creek and a heat planA two-day Sedona plan with the Red Rock Pass explained: early trailheads, Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock, Oak Creek Canyon, sunset viewpoints and a rain and heat backup.brown mountains with forest2 daysZion in 2 days, with or without a permitTwo days in Zion from a base in Springdale: the Narrows from the bottom, Angels Landing if you win the lottery, and three big views if you do not.The Space Needle and Seattle skyline with Mount Rainier in the distance3 daysSeattle in 3 days: market, Space Needle, ferry and a Rainier optionA 3-day Seattle plan by light rail and ferry: Pike Place and the waterfront, Seattle Center and Capitol Hill, then Bainbridge Island or Mount Rainier with checked rules.white concrete building under cloudy sky during daytime3 daysWashington, DC in 3 days: Capitol, Mall, museums and a rain planA three-day Washington, DC plan: Capitol and Air and Space on day one, the monument and memorials on day two, Ford's Theatre and a museum on day three.city near body of water during nighttime3 daysSan Diego in 3 days: Balboa Park, the harbor and the coastA three-day San Diego plan: Balboa Park and Old Town, the USS Midway and Coronado, then Point Loma and the coast, with checked hours and fares.aerial photo of buildings2 daysPhiladelphia in 2 days: a walkable plan around the closed daysA two-day Philadelphia plan: Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and Reading Terminal on day one, the art museum and Eastern State on day two.pathway between high rise buildings3 daysNew York City in 3 days: harbor, Midtown and the VillageA three-day New York City plan: harbor and Brooklyn Bridge, Midtown and Central Park, then the Village and High Line, with verified ferry and subway costs.a lake surrounded by trees and mountains under a blue sky5 daysYellowstone and Grand Teton in 5 days: a one-way loop from BozemanA five-day Yellowstone and Grand Teton plan: Mammoth and Lamar, the canyon, the geyser basins and the Tetons, with road dates, fees and a rain plan.green trees on brown rocky mountain beside blue sea under blue sky during daytime3 daysAcadia in 3 days: Park Loop Road, Cadillac Mountain and the quiet sideA 3-day Acadia National Park plan: the Park Loop Road and Cadillac Mountain, a big hike and carriage roads, then the quieter western side of Mount Desert Island.

What a day costs in USA

Per person, in USD

Work out your trip
Budget$93a day≈ $93 · per person

Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.

Bed a night
$60
Food
$30
Transport
$3
Sights
Free
Mid-range$290a day≈ $290 · per person

A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.

Bed a night
$150
Food
$90
Transport
$25
Sights
$25
Comfort$660a day≈ $660 · per person

A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.

Bed a night
$300
Food
$180
Transport
$80
Sights
$100
Checked Oct 3, 2026 by Nate HollowayA source for every line on the trip cost page. Flights not included. Rates By Exchange Rate APIWork out your trip

When to go

    • Best
    1. JanuaryCold, cheaper rooms
    2. FebruaryCold
    3. MarchThaw
    4. AprilBlossom
    5. MayMild, parks
    6. JuneWarm, long days
    7. JulyHot, humid
    8. AugustHot, humid
    9. SeptemberWarm, clear
    10. OctoberAutumn color
    11. NovemberCrisp
    12. DecemberLights, busy
    Free trip plannerPlan a trip to USAPut the places you like in USA on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

    Right now in USA

    Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

    Rain

    23

    Feels like
    19°
    Humidity
    75%
    Wind
    35 km/h
    Chance of rain
    84%

    USA

    02:05 PM

    Monday, November 2

    GMT-6

    1. Today22°16°84%Monday: Rain. High 22°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 84%.
    2. Tue18°11°70%Tuesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 70%.
    3. Wed18°10°1%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 1%.
    4. Thu16°9°28%Thursday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 28%.
    5. Fri16°6°5%Friday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 5%.
    6. Sat18°7°5%Saturday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 5%.
    7. Sun12°5°6%Sunday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 6%.

    Updated 12:30 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

    Money

    Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

    USD · US Dollar

    Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

    What's on in USA

    Big events, festivals and concert tours

    Events calendar
    group of people wearing purple and pink jacketJanuaryMardi Gras in New OrleansJan 6 – Feb 9, 2027red football helmet on green grass during daytimeFebruarySuper BowlFeb 14, 2027people watching football game during nighttimeFebruaryNBA All-Star WeekendFeb 19 – 21, 2027

    Festivals by month

    On tour in USA: Rush Fifty Something Tour Uncasville, Hollywood, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Glendale, Nov 1 – Dec 3, 2026 · Olivia Rodrigo The Unraveled Tour Philadelphia, Atlanta, Orlando, Sunrise, Nashville, Seattle, Oakland, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Inglewood, Brooklyn, Nov 7, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 · Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027 Pittsburgh, Allentown, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Knoxville, Hollywood, Tampa, Atlanta, Raleigh, Newark, Washington, Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Seattle, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Anaheim, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Feb 6 – May 1, 2027 · Def Leppard 2027 North American tour Allentown, Detroit, Newark, Boston, Nashville, Washington, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, Salt Lake City, Austin, North Little Rock, Fort Worth, Mobile, Wichita, Lincoln, Kansas City, Glendale, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Seattle, Spokane, San Antonio, Houston, Oklahoma City, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Louisville, Savannah, Tampa, Atlanta, Columbus, Cleveland, New York, Uncasville, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Mar 2 – Jul 2, 2027 · Calvin Harris 2027 North American tour Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Houston, Fort Worth, Austin, Saint Paul, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Oakland, Seattle, San Diego, Inglewood, Apr 1 – May 27, 2027 · Harry Styles Together, Together 2027 Glendale, Arlington, Pasadena, Atlanta, Chicago, Apr 2 – Jun 5, 2027 · Metallica M72 World Tour 2027 San Diego, El Paso, San Antonio, Fayetteville, Kansas City, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Orchard Park, Madison, Cleveland, Salt Lake City, May 13 – Jun 19, 2027 · Slipknot (sic)est Stadium Tour 2027 Washington, Queens, Chicago, Hershey, Boston, Nashville, Houston, Commerce City, Inglewood, San Francisco, Phoenix, Jul 16 – Aug 18, 2027 · Oasis Live '27 Foxborough, Las Vegas, Aug 10 – 24, 2027

    Before you go to USA

    Rental car for the parksCompare pickup and one-way feesCompare cars
    Check your ESTAOfficial CBP site onlyRead the guideeSIM for the USASignal drops in parks; load maps firstRead the guideTravel insurance for the USAMedical bills are the big US riskRead the guide

    We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

    Rules for USA, checked
    Visa Waiver Program travelers, including British citizens, need an approved ESTA before flying or sailing to the US. At a land border with Canada or Mexico an ESTA is not required. Canadian citizens do not need one.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Read more

    Stories from USA

    All stories
    white and black bus on road during daytimeField reportZion at 7am, 9am and noon: three shuttle queues, one permit-free dayNate Holloway · Oct 3, 2026

    USA FAQ

    Do I need an ESTA to visit the USA?

    Yes, if your passport is in the Visa Waiver Program and you are visiting for 90 days or less; other passports need a visa. Canadian citizens do not need an ESTA. Apply only on the official CBP site.

    How much should I tip in the USA?

    18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 per drink at bars, and 15–20% for taxis and app rides.

    Do I need a car in the USA?

    Not in New York, Boston, Chicago or San Francisco, where transit and walking cover most trips. For national parks, Utah, Hawaii's outer sights and most road trips, yes.

    Which national parks need a reservation in 2026?

    It varies by park. Rocky Mountain uses timed entry in peak season; Arches and Yosemite do not in 2026; Haleakalā sunrise needs a booking, and Angels Landing and Half Dome need permits. Check each park's NPS page.

    Do international visitors pay more at national parks?

    Yes. Since 1 January 2026, non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 per person at the most visited parks, unless they hold an annual pass. Read the fee guide before you buy a pass.

    DestinationsWhere to go, when to go and how to get around in 221 countries. Every practical fact shows the date we checked it and who checked it.Where to stayNeighborhoods walked end to end: who each area suits, how far it is from the airport train, and the hotels we would book ourselves.PlanVisas and entry rules, travel insurance, eSIMs and rail passes, explained in plain words and rechecked when the rules change.EventsFestivals, concerts and tours with confirmed dates, rooms near the venue and the fastest way on to the next city.StoriesField reports and data stories from the road. We time the queues, count the costs and say what changed since last year.

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