America: 50 States, Infinite Adventures
From the Grand Canyon to Times Square, here's how to plan the American trip you've always pictured.
Why The USA, Why Now
America doesn't do subtle. The Grand Canyon is deeper than you expect. The cities are louder. The road trips are longer. The portions are bigger. But that's kind of the whole point, you come here for scale, for variety, for the kind of trip where you can go from a Manhattan rooftop bar to a Utah desert in 4 hours on a budget airline. From the national parks to the neon-lit strips, the Deep South to the Pacific Coast, this guide covers all of it.
The trick with the USA is picking a region rather than trying to do all of it at once. NYC plus a couple of East Coast cities. LA, San Francisco and a national park on the West Coast. Route 66 through the middle. Pick a focus, go deep, and you'll come back wanting more rather than exhausted from airports.
Best Time To Visit
It genuinely depends on where you're headed and what kind of trip you want. The USA is too big for one single answer.
Spring (Mar to May)
Mild, blooming, quieterMild weather, blooming parks, and fewer crowds. Genuinely great for outdoor exploring and the national parks before the summer rush hits.
Summer (Jun to Aug)
Peak road-trip seasonPeak road-trip season with festivals everywhere. Genuinely hot in the South, so book early and consider the coasts over the interior desert states.
Autumn (Sep to Nov)
Foliage, comfortable tempsColourful foliage in the Northeast and comfortable temperatures for hiking and cities alike. Arguably the best season for New England specifically.
Winter (Dec to Feb)
Festive, ski, or sunshine southFestive December vibes and top-notch ski season in Colorado, or head south for Florida and Hawaii sunshine instead. Two very different winter trips under one roof.
Doing East and West Coast? Give yourself at least three weeks, or split the trip. Attempting both coasts in under two weeks turns into a sprint through airports rather than a holiday. For a full climate breakdown, see our Best Time to Visit the USA guide.
See the USA in 60 Seconds
A minute of Manhattan skyline, red rock canyons and open highway. Then read on for the full story.
The United States is a country of incredible diversity, where world-famous cities, breathtaking national parks, stunning coastlines, and iconic road trips stretch across an entire continent. In just 60 seconds, we’ll explore the bright lights of New York City, the Grand Canyon, the beaches of Hawaii and Florida, the towering peaks of the Rockies, and unforgettable destinations from California to New England. Whether you’re travelling for nature, culture, adventure, or legendary road trips, the USA offers an experience unlike anywhere else in the world.
Book The Essentials
The exact booking sites we use ourselves. Nothing here we wouldn't personally recommend.
What To Expect
The practical stuff, minus the waffle.
Capital
Washington D.C. is the capital, home to the Smithsonian museums (all free), the National Mall, and more monuments than you'll manage in one visit. Genuinely underrated against NYC and LA.
Language
The United States has no official language at federal level. English is by far the most widely used, and some states designate it as their official language regardless. You won't run into language barriers as a visitor.
Currency
The US Dollar (USD). Rough guide: £1 is about $1.35, and €1 is about $1.16. Check XE before you go since rates move.
Cards & ATMs
You can pay for almost anything with a credit or debit card here, and ATMs are everywhere, with most machines accepting Mastercard and Visa. Contactless via Apple Pay or Google Pay is widely accepted too.
Plugs
Types A and B, running at 120V and 60Hz. Grab a universal adapter before you go if your plugs don't match.
Safety
Generally a safe destination for solo travellers, though always stay aware of your surroundings and err on the side of caution. In bigger cities theft can be common, and if you're renting or driving a car, always lock away valuables out of sight.
Random Useful Tip
The Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C. are completely free, a genuinely rare thing in the USA. If you're passing through the capital, build in at least a full day for them.
Never Ever
Never skip tipping. Waiters and bartenders rely on it, and 15 to 20 percent of the bill is standard practice, not optional generosity. Factor it into your food budget from the start.
Live Weather in New York
Straight from the source, updated as you read this.
26°C
- Temperature
Explore the USA
From NYC skyscrapers to canyon sunsets. The essential six to start with.
5 Days in New York: The Ultimate City Escape
The full itinerary for the boroughs, the food, and everything in between. Enough time to actually settle in.
Read the guideConquer San Francisco in 5 Days: Iconic Sights & Local Gems
The Golden Gate, the hills, the fog. Five days is exactly enough to do San Francisco properly.
Read the guideRoute 66 Road Trip + Map: Chicago to Oklahoma City in 5 Days
The most iconic road trip in America. Diners, ghost towns, and the open highway. Map included.
Get the mapUtah Mighty 5 Road Trip + Map: 7 Days Across All Five National Parks
Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef in one trip. Genuinely one of the best drives on Earth.
Get the mapUSA Travel Tips For First-Timers
Everything we wish we'd known before our first trip. Tipping, distances, and the practical stuff nobody tells you.
Get the tipsESTA Essentials: Your 15-Minute Guide to Hassle-Free USA Entry
Everything you need to know before you apply, and exactly what it costs right now.
Sort your ESTALatest USA Articles
Every USA guide we publish lands here automatically.
City Guides
Itineraries + Maps
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do
Best Time to Visit
Travel Tips
Everything Else
How Much Does the USA Cost?
Not the cheapest destination, but more doable than people think. Here's a realistic breakdown, in pounds with dollars and euros alongside.
Backpacker
- Hostel dorms from £20 a night
- Diners, food trucks, and supermarkets
- Public transit and walking
- Free museums, national parks, and beaches
Mid-Range
- Private hotel or Airbnb
- Restaurants and occasional splurges
- Mix of public transport and Uber
- National parks, tours, experiences
Upscale
- High-end hotels and resorts
- Fine dining and steakhouses
- Private tours and first-class flights
- Broadway, Vegas, Napa Valley
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Real prices in pounds, with dollars and euros alongside. Pick a category.
Budget
Mid to Luxury
City Travel
Long Distance
Eat Cheap
Eating Out
Budget Fun
Big Experiences
10 Ways to Save Money in the USA
The USA isn't cheap, but there's real money to save if you know where to look.
Ditch the bottled water. Tap water is safe to drink right across the USA in virtually all cities and towns.
The whole run of them in Washington D.C. costs nothing. A rare thing here, and genuinely worth a full day.
Around £65 for unlimited entry to every national park for a year. Pays for itself after two or three parks.
City to city from £8. A fraction of flying, and genuinely fine for shorter hops between nearby cities.
Trader Joe's and Aldi are your friends. Self-catering even a few meals a week makes a real dent in costs.
Available in every major city, tip your guide at the end. Genuinely excellent value and a great orientation to a new city.
Spring and fall are cheaper and quieter across the board than summer's peak crowds and prices.
It's real and genuinely good value across the USA, often 4 to 7pm with discounted food and drinks.
The sweet spot for domestic prices. Prices spike noticeably closer to travel.
Cheap, stunning, unforgettable, and often the single best value experience the whole country has to offer.
Getting Around the USA
The USA is enormous, coast to coast is wider than most countries combined. Here's how to get between places without losing half your trip to bad transport decisions.
Domestic Flights
Best for coast-to-coast. LA to NYC is 6 hours by air, flying beats a 3-day drive every single time.
- Budget airlines from about £65 / $88 / €75
- A genuinely massive route network to choose from
- Add airport time and fees and it adds up fast
Car & Campervan
Best for national parks, Route 66, and anywhere that isn't a major city. Total freedom to go wherever you fancy.
- Access to national parks buses simply can't reach
- The classic American road trip experience
- Gas and insurance add up fast on longer routes
Public Transport
Best within cities. NYC subway is world-class, LA metro is improving. Genuinely varies a lot city to city.
- NYC, Chicago and DC all run excellent systems
- Unlimited day passes available in most major cities
- Useless for travel between cities, not built for that
Amtrak Trains
Best for the Northeast Corridor. New York to DC is genuinely great. LA to Chicago is an epic 2-day adventure in its own right.
- Scenic and comfortable on the main routes
- Overnight trains save you a night's hotel cost
- Slow and expensive outside the Northeast Corridor
Long-Distance Bus
Best for budget travel between nearby cities. Greyhound, Megabus and FlixBus are all solid, reliable options.
- From about £8 / $11 / €9 on short routes
- Overnight buses effectively give you free accommodation
- NYC to LA is not exactly your finest three days
Cycling
Best in Portland, San Francisco, NYC and DC. Bike-share schemes like CitiBike and Divvy are cheap and genuinely useful.
- CitiBike, Divvy and Lyft Bikes all widely available
- From about £10 / $14 / €12 for a day rental
- Not every city is bike-friendly, check before you plan around it
Which Is Right For You?
Use the metro or subway card.
Fly between them, it's worth it.
Rent a car. No question.
Overnight bus or budget airline.
Quick Tips
6 to 8 weeks out is the sweet spot. Prices spike closer to travel dates.
A travel card with no foreign fees. American prices rely on card use, this genuinely matters.
Long-distance drives? Break them up with a budget motel. Don't push through in one go.
AirTrain plus subway from JFK costs about £8. A taxi costs around £65. Easy choice.
Related Resources
Because good trips still hit bumps. Here's the backup plan.
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here's how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Read the GuidesTheft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won't see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Protect YourselfTravel Insurance
Don't skip this one, healthcare here has no safety net for visitors. We compare policies and explain what you actually need.
Find the Right PolicyUSA Travel FAQs
The questions we get asked most, answered honestly.
Do I need a visa to visit the USA?
Is the USA safe for tourists?
How long do you need in the USA?
When is the best time to visit the USA?
How expensive is the USA to visit?
Do I need travel insurance for the USA?
What's the best way to get around the USA?
Can I drink the tap water in the USA?
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