30 Best Places to Visit in the U.S., Ranked

Looking for inspiration for your next vacation? Let this recent list of the best places to visit in the U.S. be your travel muse for the year.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the following destinations are the most spectacular in America, based on editor feedback, reader votes and expert opinions on attractions, restaurants, lodging and more. While, yes, travelers are “ready to take those bucket-list vacations to Europe and remote islands,” according to Elizabeth Von Tersch, senior travel editor at U.S. News, there are still a lot of travelers looking to keep their excursions domestic.

So, where are they heading exactly? Find out if your favorite U.S. destination made the cut — and start adding new places to your bucket list ASAP.

If you love pizza, hot dogs or Italian beef sandwiches, be sure to book your next weekend getaway to Chicago. This food-obsessed city takes these popular hometown dishes very seriously, so you won’t be disappointed. 

You’ll also want to explore the Windy City’s architecture via a river cruise and check out its many diverse neighborhoods, including Pilsen (home to a vibrant Mexican scene), Logan Square (once scrappy, now hipster), Chinatown (among the best in the U.S.) and Lincoln Park (an arts and culture hub). 

The country’s third-largest city has plenty of shopping as well, plus some impressive skyscrapers like the Willis Tower and the John Hancock Center, both among the tallest buildings in the world.

Note: This list comes from U.S. News and World Report’s 2023-24 report.

In this city where Puritans established colonies in the 1600s, Paul Revere set out on horseback to warn of the coming of the British troops and the Sons of Liberty protested high taxes by dumping tea into the harbor, history is everywhere. 

But make no mistake: Boston is also a modern city through and through, with a culture all its own. Cheer alongside some of the most impassioned sports fans on earth at a Boston Red Sox game, chow down on New England clam chowder and oyster shooters, and stroll cobblestone streets past distinguished brownstones. 

Be sure to visit the Museum of Fine Arts – Boston and the Paul Revere House for some arts and culture, and don’t forget to enjoy one of Boston’s urban parks, like the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, for a breath of fresh air.

This mountain town situated at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park has long attracted nature lovers and families alike. 

While people come for the national park, visitors stay a while to explore the downtown or take the SkyLift cable car to access the Gatlinburg SkyBridge. At 680 feet, it’s the longest pedestrian cable bridge on the continent.

Other highlights include Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and the Anakeesta theme park.

For domestic and international travelers alike, Las Vegas needs no introduction, but its attractions greatly exceed its “Sin City” reputation.

Yes, you’ll find the nightclubs and casinos for which it’s known, but there are also family-friendly Cirque du Soleil shows to attend as well as resorts that cater to all ages. Case in point: Mandalay Bay has an onsite aquarium, wave-in tidal pool and lazy river.

You also won’t want to miss delicious meals at the numerous celebrity-chef restaurants that range from burger joints like Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar to high-end steakhouses from Michael Mina.