The United States of America is one of the most vast and biodiverse nations on the face of the planet. It encompasses massive swaths of forest woodlands, icy tundras, tropical paradises, and much more. You could easily spend an entire lifetime traveling the U.S. never fully seeing everything the gorgeous nation has to offer. With this guide, you won’t need to waste time throwing darts at the map figuring out where to go next. We’re rattling off a list of the most beautiful places in the entire country.
While this list barely scratches the surface of all the beauty contained within the borders of the U.S.A., it will hopefully provide you with a few unique starting points. This handy tour allows you to craft a comprehensive travel plan, getting the most out of your trek across the 3.8 million square miles of American territory. Whether you’re interested in taking a dip in the oceans or Great Lakes, hiking the Appalachian trail, or aerial tours of New England as the leaves shed their chlorophyll and turn a beautiful shade of yellow, these are some of the most stunning locales in all of the United States.
Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
The Bonneville Salt Flats are an otherworldly locale unlike any other. Therefor, this captivating sight is the perfect spot to kick off our list of most beautiful places in the country. The densely-packed salt pans found in this 30,000 acre space along the Utah-Nevada border create a chalk-white landscape with a thick, crusted ground, reaching depths of several feet. While there’s not a ton of tourist attractions lining the edges of the salt flats, the area is great for taking photos, or enjoying a long, if dehydrating walk. Additionally, it is sometimes home to special events.
The Bonneville Salt Flats specifically have served as the site of several land-speed records. Such accolades include the record for wheel-driven vehicles in 2018, as well as the jet propelled vehicles record in 1970.
The landscape stretches far enough into the horizon that you can visualize the curvature of Earth’s surface from afar. That alone makes the salt flats one of the most interesting attractions on this list — especially for those seeking some truly knock-out Instagram efforts.
Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Those who’ve spent any time checking out ideal hiking destinations online, or ever used an Apple computer, may have already seen glimpses of Arizona’s stunning Antelope Canyon. The swirling, slotted landscape accumulates in vivid rock patterns for hikers bold enough to venture the trails of Page, Arizona. Composed of eroded sandstone rock, the canyon serves as the main attraction of the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park. While some sections of Antelope Canyon are accessible exclusively through guided tours, others are open to the public for hikes, walks, and a few prime photo opportunities. Visitors can expect to see some truly stunning rock formations in the Upper Canyon especially. Keep an eye out for a few slotted areas where sunlight beams through in biblical fashion.
Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts
While there are tons of beautiful places all over New England to explore, our favorite pick for this list is Massachusetts’ own Cape Cod National Seashore. This federally protected landscape contains a vast assortment of complex ecosystems. Those include cranberry bogs, woodlands, and marshes. Visitors will also find one of the final remaining vestiges of the nearly extinct Atlantic coastal pine barrens. Located right at the edge of the forest, the shore is home to carefree hikes, sun, surf, and sand. It’s an idyllic destination for those interested in a good old fashioned beach getaway. Boating is a major pastime for Cape Cod natives. Therefor, visitors interested in whale watches, fishing tours, or ferry rides to the neighboring islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket have plenty of options.
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
White Sands National Park is a massive swath of sand dunes and Ice Age era fossils located within the Tularosa Basin. Military testing grounds and eroded seascapes surround the park. The distinct dunes of the newly minted national park formed over 12,000 years ago when gypsum-heavy soil integrated into the landscape following glacial melt. As a result, visitors to the region can study the fossilized remains of ancient humans and animals alike. Once you’ve explored human history, take part in exciting excursions like off-roading and hiking. Or, lend a hand and join the citizen ranger program.
Gift shops and visitor centers are available for those looking for additional information on the park, and leashed pets are welcome to the beautiful location as well. Like any other locale on this list, check weather conditions and other shifting factors before booking your trip. The White Sands National Park periodically closes for routine maintenance or military testing drills.
Cumberland Island, Georgia
If beaches are your thing, but you’re not a fan of the freezing temps sometimes offered in Northern Atlantic locales such as New England, try your hand at coastal Georgia, with the positively gorgeous destination of Cumberland Island. This beautiful place has a little something for everyone, including wild horses and ample bird-watching opportunities for nature lovers, historic sites leftover from the dawn of American colonization, and plenty of protected beaches perfect for laying out and catching some sunshine. Kayaking and other water sports are readily available through a number of local guides. Stays at the beachfront location are, for the most part, reasonably priced when compared to neighboring areas such as Florida and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The views from Cumberland Island are entirely unmatched, making it one of the most fun and exciting travel destinations on this entire list.
Crater Lake, Oregon
Everyone knows that Portland, Oregon is home to some of the finest cultural hubs in the contiguous U.S.. However, some overlook one beautiful little gem tucked away just 4 hours South of the City of Roses. Crater Lake, Oregon is the deepest lake in the entire United States. Supplied by the icy runoff waters of Northern glaciers and natural rainfall, the lake boasts a maximum depth of nearly 2,000 feet. According to the National Park Service, Crater Lake was formed “7,700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak.”
Expect summer visits to feature super-blooms of various species of vibrant wildflowers, setting a picturesque scene around the intense blue hue of the water itself. While most areas surrounding the lake do not permit vehicle entry, numerous recreational options await those willing to hike their way across Cleetwood Cove trail. Such outdoor fare includes swimming, fishing, and boat tours, run by local Park Rangers.
Yosemite National Park, California
As one of the U.S.A.’s most popular national parks, Yosemite may be something of a no-brainer for experienced travelers. Still, we would be remiss if not to include the stunning locale, which offers five of the planet’s highest waterfalls, fascinating wildlife, and groves of massive sequoia trees that will make you feel like an ant in comparison. While Yosemite offers tons of opportunities to get close to nature, it also includes a lot of amenities for tourists, including nearby museums, restaurants, and shops, located within Yosemite Village. Whether you’re happiest kicking back with a mug of cocoa or actually exploring the highs and lows of the granite stone mountains, Yosemite will surely offer droves of Instagram-worthy moments.
Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
Known for its serene mountains and quiet cities, Wyoming also houses a sizable portion of Yellowstone National Park. While the entirety of Yellowstone is awe-inspiring and well worth exploring, the number one attraction has got to be the Grand Prismatic Spring, located just 15 minutes North of Old Faithful. As you may have gleaned from the title alone, the Grand Prismatic Spring is an enormous hot spring, the largest in the entire United States, in fact, characterized by a rainbow ring of vivid colors. This beautiful place is truly unlike anything else in the entire country, and offers some of the most unbelievable views. Do be advised, however, that swimming or wading of any kind is entirely restricted within the Prismatic Spring. The extreme heat and thermal features of the water are dangerous or even fatal to the human body.
Na Pali Coast, Hawaii
If you’re looking to swim in crystal clear waters that are warm enough to be inviting but not scalding hot like the Prismatic Spring, your best bet is to leave the contiguous United States entirely and check out the Na Pali Coast in Hawaii. Referred to as the most striking coastline in the world, the Na Pali Coast features high cliffs perfect for hiking, waves ideal for surfing, and narrow valleys with towering waterfalls. Truly adventurous travelers can even inspect a series of sea caves just off the coastline for a truly once-in-a-lifetime adventure. There are tons of different approaches to enjoy your time in this beautiful place, including boating trips, helicopter rides, and kayaking, all of which offer a unique view of the mountainous scenery and crashing waves.
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Often left out of the discussion of the most beautiful places in the United States, the Bluegrass State of Kentucky has a ton of delightful scenic views on display for those bold enough to make the pilgrimage. One such marvel of nature is Mammoth Cave, part of the longest known cave system in the entire planet. The enormous network of limestone caverns is so large, in fact, that much of the territory remains unexplored and unmapped by the National Park Service. According to the NPS official website, Mammoth Cave “is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, earning it the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.”
With thousands of acres of land both above and below Mammoth Cave to explore, visitors are treated to hiking, biking, fishing, and horseback riding excursions across the massive valley. Two major rivers flow through the area, offering canoeing and kayaking experiences for those who wish to partake, and certain parts of the cave system even allow for RV campers to set up shop. While some visitors may be scared of the claustrophobic caverns left unexplored by man, others will surely enjoy all of what Mammoth Cave has to offer.
Denali National Park, Alaska
Closing out our list of the most beautiful places in the U.S., we have Denali National Park in Alaska, the land once known as mankind’s final frontier. The massive park, which touts a landscape of millions upon millions of acres, sees over 500,000 tourists per year flocking for a chance to visit the stunning locale’s ice caves, glaciers, and mountains of all shapes and sizes. The grand centerpiece of the entire park is Denali itself, a staggering 20,310-ft-high mountain regarded as the tallest peak in America.
The arctic tundra of Alaska is quite stunning, but also serves as a home to harsh environmental factors, grizzly bears, and roving packs of wolves, so it’s worth holding off on visiting this dangerous locale until you’re certain that you’re up to the task. Still, if you’ve managed to explore all the previously listed entrants into this list and more, you’re more than likely willing to take on anything life throws your way!
