r/usatravel

Currently living in South FL and would love to experience fall somewhere. Will be traveling with 3 yr old, husband, and less than 1 yr old, and grandparents. We love good food, tourist attractions, but also love nature, outdoor, fall time, and things to do with our kids. Probably 3-7 days. Anyone have the perfect place in mind? EDIT: we will be flying

I'm in the very early stages of planning a trip from the UK to visit some American friends who are geographically spread out (Raleigh, Portland OR, SLC, Dallas).

I'm well aware of the distances between these cities, and that trains are either non-existent or will take a long time, so obviously I'll be flying.

In the UK, there are 'Rover' or 'Ranger' tickets for trains, where you can travel on as many trains as you want within a certain period e.g. 14 days. They're a fixed price, so the more trains you travel on, the better value it is.

Does such a thing exist for US internal flights, even if tied to a specific airline?

I'm looking for recommendations in the USA (can include US territories) to go on vacation mid-August. Preferably, I'm really looking for areas that involve leisure, like beaches or really anything with a relaxation vibe, while still enjoying tourist attractions nearby wherever I travel. I'm not really looking for any intensive activities, just looking to get away and find places that encourage relaxation but still have a lot to explore in the area.

Any recommendations?

I'd love a recommendation for where you'd go if the starting point is Vegas and the ending point is San Francisco, and I have 5 days (no need to include visiting Vegas or San Francisco). A family with older kids ages 16-26. We don't like extreme adventures or very long hikes. We'll be traveling in late September or early October. What shouldn't we miss?

Hi! I live in Dallas and have family visiting me in mid July. Our itinerary includes 6 days in NYC and Upstate. 10 days in Dallas. Out of these 10 days, I’d like to fly them out to someplace for maybe 3 days. Do y’all have any ideas of where we could go? I know that’s super vague but I’m genuinely so confused. There’s so many places that look lovely! I’m hoping to go somewhere with a bit of nature/ good views. I want to avoid renting a car while there and it looks like most parks need a car (Not completely opposed to it, however). My family includes a parent in their early 60s and a sibling in his 20s.
Looking for a nice place to visit for 3 days that won’t break the bank! I’d be very grateful for any advice. Thank you!

Hi, I'll be flying to California in a few days and need a travel E-SIM. I read a lot about different providers but wanted to ask to be sure. Because I will als be visiting national parks and places like the grandcanion. Our travel route aproxiamtely ist starting in LA, then to Las Vegas, then to San Francisco. But with many stops in between. And we will be there for 23 days.

So I wanted to ask wheter you have recommendations coverage wise and it shouldn't be to costly. I also want to mention that I plan on getting an unlimited data Plan for the drives and being on social media and stuff.

Thanks for your advice :)

Would appreciate a few things to do for a 14 day trip to the Carolinas and then up to Nashville.

Would like 5/6 days by the ocean in a nice town close to a large town and then 3/4 nights in Nashville. No idea what to do there. Anything else for a night or two in the area? Fort Knox open to visitors? Folly Beach in South Carolina was mentioned to me.

My husband and I are wanting to see some east coast fall foliage! Planning for the second week of October. What are some towns and routes you would suggest? We want a laid back, cozy fall vibe with good food, cute towns and beautiful views. Plan is to fly in and out of Boston and rent a car. Definitely want to do Maine for some lobster! Mystic CT looked very cute as well. I also thought Salem would be interesting. My husband likes history. I would maybe like to look at a couple antique stores, but not a must. A light house would be nice. Any ideas on the sweet spot for how long to stay? We are from AZ and I’m a whimp with cold 🥶 so maybe not too long of a trip or more indoor activities. Any advice is so appreciated! I’d love to see some pictures :)

Hello! I am planning a trip to the US end of October this year with a friend (we‘re from Europe) for around 10 days. We especially want to experience some sport events Like nfl, nhl, nba. However we are not exactly sure which state/city would be the best in terms of prices/experience. Any recommendations would be much appreciated!!

I’m in the MW and want to take a short trip with the family at the end of July. We’re looking at Seattle, Sam Francisco, and San Diego. Wife doesn’t want anywhere hot or humid. College-age daughter wants a beach or something like that and recent college-grad son likes outdoors. Seattle seems like the best option. But curious if anyone has thoughts on any of these cities.

Hello, travelers.

I'm 18, from Chicago, looking to make my first solo trip. Here's some criteria:

\- I'm looking to keep my budget around $1000 (Preferably lower, but higher is fine if needed)

\- Looking to stay somewhere for 3-5 days.

\- My top interests are history, sports, animals, and paleontology. I can find a lot of enjoyment in nearly anything revolving around these hobbies.

\- Obviously, I'm traveling SOLO. Don't really have anybody that would go with me anyway.

\- Not sure just when exactly I would make the trip, but looking to do so soon.

\- This criteria led me to Washington D.C. as my top candidate. Supposedly the best natural history museum in the country. Seeing the African-American history museum would be a great experience for me. And obviously all the other historical significance of the city. Would definitely be a great experience for me. Just wanted some thoughts. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone. I am hoping to find the information I’m looking for. I’m planning a trip to Oregon this September with my girlfriend for her birthday. Just planning on going to national parks and explore the city. I’ll be coming from Dallas, I’m planning on going down I-20, which eventually turns to I-10, and then 1-5 thru California and then all the way up to Oregon. I have been here since I was 2, and applied for daca when I turned 16 and have had it ever since. I speak English perfect and Spanish as well. I only have a valid Texas ID (which says limited term) my work authorization card, my ssn paper and Mexican passport. I’m scared of the checkpoints and what they’ll ask since I’ve never been through there. Will I be good to pass or will I have any issues? Or should I just play it safe and take the north route? My girlfriend is a United States citizen and has a valid license. I am kinda light skinned, should I just say us citizen and hope I pass? Someone that has taken this route please help me.

Hello all!

We are doing an 18-day USA Southwest and West Coast family road trip in September 2026. We are a family of four, travelling from India.

We have never visited USA before and this is our first trip.

I’d mainly appreciate feedback on major red flags:

• unrealistic drive days or timing issues
• seasonal/weather concerns for September
• road closure risks
• places where we need extra buffer/days
• any specific "do not miss / do not bother" advice

Rental car: SUV, picked up at LAS and returned at SFO.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Las Vegas

Land in Las Vegas, meet up. Pick up a rental SUV and check into the resort. Walk the Strip to see the Fountains of Bellagio.

Drive Time: 0.5 hours

Night in Las Vegas, NV.

Day 2: Grand Canyon

Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim. Take a scenic flight tour to see the canyon's scale without strenuous hiking. Walk the paved, flat South Rim Trail at sunset, keeping the pace easy.

Drive Time: 4.5 hours

Night in Tusayan, AZ (or Grand Canyon South Rim).

Day 3: Page (Antelope Canyon)

Drive north to Page, Arizona. Take a guided Navajo walking tour through the flat slot canyons of Antelope Canyon. Take the short, mostly flat walk to the Horseshoe Bend overlook.

Drive Time: 2.5 hours

Night in Page, AZ.

Day 4: Bryce Canyon

Drive to Bryce Canyon National Park and watch the sunset light up the hoodoos from Sunset Point. Take the short, paved walk between Sunrise and Sunset points.

Drive Time: 2.5 hours

Night in Bryce Canyon City, UT.

Day 5: Zion National Park (Arrival)

Drive down into Zion Valley. Ride the park shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava and hike The Narrows, wading directly through the Virgin River to explore the towering slot canyon.

Drive Time: 2 hours

Night in Springdale, UT.

Day 6: Zion National Park (Angels Landing & Scenic Drive)

Take the early shuttle to hike the challenging Angels Landing trail for panoramic canyon views (assuming permit). In the afternoon, drive the Mount Carmel Highway, stopping at the Canyon Overlook trail.

Drive Time: 1 hour

Night in Springdale, UT.

Day 7: Return to Vegas

Drive back to Las Vegas.

Drive Time: 2.5 hours

Night in Las Vegas, NV.

Day 8: Vegas to Mammoth Lakes

Drive through Death Valley National Park in the morning, making brief stops at Zabriskie Point and Badwater Basin. Continue to Alabama Hills for a quick, flat walk to the Mobius Arch, with Mount Whitney in the background. Arrive in Mammoth Lakes to sleep in the cooler air.

Drive Time: 5.5 hours

Night in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Day 9: Mammoth to Yosemite via Tioga Pass

Drive over Tioga Pass into Yosemite National Park. Stop at Tenaya Lake for a flat walk along the water. Descend into Yosemite Valley and check into lodging.

Drive Time: 2.5 hours

Night in Yosemite Valley, CA.

Day 10: Yosemite Valley & Glacier Point

Drive up to Glacier Point in the morning for a panoramic view of Half Dome without hiking. Return to the Valley floor for the flat, paved walk to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls.

Drive Time: 1.5 hours

Night in Yosemite Valley, CA.

Day 11: Sequoia

Leave Yosemite and drive south to Sequoia National Park. Walk the paved, accessible path to the General Sherman Tree. Drive out of the mountains to cut down tomorrow's drive.

Drive Time: 4 hours

Night in Bakersfield or Visalia, CA.

Day 12: Hollywood & Beverly Hills

Drive into Los Angeles. Spend the afternoon driving through Beverly Hills and doing a relaxed walk down Rodeo Drive. Head up to the Griffith Observatory before sunset for paved panoramic views of the LA basin and the Hollywood sign.

Drive Time: 2.5 hours

Night in Los Angeles, CA.

Day 13: Universal Studios

Spend the day at Universal Studios Hollywood. The Studio Tour tram ride mixes working sets with 3D rides, which requires less walking.

Drive Time: 0.5 hours

Night in Los Angeles, CA.

Day 14: Santa Barbara & the Central Coast

Leave LA and drive north up Highway 101. Stop in Santa Barbara for lunch and a flat walk along the beachfront and Stearns Wharf. Continue north along the coastal route.

Drive Time: 3.5 hours

Night in Pismo Beach or Morro Bay, CA.

Day 15: Silicon Valley

Drive north into San Jose and Palo Alto. Visit the Apple Park Visitor Center to see the campus from the roof deck. Take a relaxed stroll through the flat Stanford University campus before checking into a hotel.

Drive Time: 3 hours

Night in Palo Alto or San Jose, CA.

Day 16: San Francisco

Drive into the city. Visit Alamo Square to see the Painted Ladies and the city skyline. Walk around the Palace of Fine Arts, then grab dinner at the nearby Ferry Building.

Drive Time: 1 hour

Night in San Francisco, CA.

Day 17: The Golden Gate & Wharf

Spend the morning at Fisherman Wharf to see the sea lions at Pier 39. Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge in the afternoon, stopping at the Marin Headlands for a photo op without hiking.

Drive Time: 1 hour

Night in San Francisco, CA.

Day 18: Fly Home from SFO

Drop off the rental SUV at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and catch the flight back home.

Drive Time: 0.5 hours

Hello everyone! About a year ago, I had posted here my questions for my first trip ever to the USA, and one of those questions was about the budget I had to prepare for.

My initial thought (and after some rough estimates) was to have a budget of about $600 to $700, but quite a number of people here seemed to say that this was too little and that I needed closer to $1,000, with one person even advising I bring $2,000. With this in mind, I took $900 with me for my budget.

Now that I'm back from my trip, which lasted 10 days, I've done the calculations of everything I've spent. I spent $275 on souvenirs, $150 on food and $70 on entertainment, which brings me to a total of $495 spent, which is a bit more than half of my budget.

My question is now: why did so many people told me my initial estimates wouldn't be enough? I even had stated in my post that I wasn't a huge spender, so why such a huge difference in estimates? I'm genuinely curious because of the huge difference in viewpoints

Thank you in advance for your inputs!

Would love to know what towns are good to visit near Christmas from NYC. Will be there in the second week of December.
Would ideally like the journey to be under 2hrs from NYC. Looking for towns that have that Christmas hallmark vibe. Nice boutique shops, well decorated for Christmas, small town atmosphere. Probably going to hire a car to get there.

Thanks in advance!

Hello there.

28M from PA USA

3 years ago, I went on a trip during the spring to Vancouver CA, that I really enjoyed. I found the nature to be really unique and diverse. There was ocean side cliffs and beaches, a couple of different types of forests nearby to hike in. The city life was also just across the bridge, and it had a really fun multicultural food scene. I can't wait to go back. But I had a complex medical procedure recently and am not supposed to leave the country(although I'll keep asking for permission). I also went to Vermont in October on a solo trip but it was a massive failure. I almost died due to a gradual illness I had no clue I had and spent most of the trip ill in my air B&B and later collapsed on the smallest mountain trail. Before that I went to Asheville, North Carolina which I also enjoyed but it was too much of a beer/hip town if you get me. Also I was with my ex so I'd rather not go back soon. Prior to that, I think I had a few Caribbean trips buit I was way to young to remember them well and currently I dont care for hot Caribbean beach environments.

My trip is scheduled for 5 days in early September. It will be a solo trip. Money is not really much of a concern, plan to spend 2 grand. More is okay.

Is there anywhere in the USA that checks a few of those boxes?

I love to hike and explore. I'm a real foodie and really love seafood(can't eat raw foods due to health issues), but really anything new, culturally or regionally, is interesting. I have not been able to take a vacation in several years, so this is quite important to me. I'm largely recovered from my health issues and can hike normally now without collapsing haha.

Lately I've been looking at Maine but haven't really found my main attraction there other than Acadia National Park.

Let me know if you need more info. Thanks!