USA travel guide: regions, itineraries and budget

The United States is a country the size of a continent: 50 states, cities such as New York and Los Angeles, spectacular national parks, Florida beaches and legendary roads. You cannot see it all in one trip. This USA travel guide helps you choose what to see and which region to focus on, plan your itinerary and estimate your budget. Among these regions, Alaska deserves a trip of its own: our guide to things to do in Alaska covers parks, itineraries and seasons.

To locate towns, regions, terrain, national parks and airports, see our map of the United States.

When to go to the United States

There is not one but several good seasons, depending on the region. For New York and the Northeast, aim for late April to June or September to early November: in July, the average afternoon high in Central Park is 29.4 °C (85 °F), and barely 4 °C (39 °F) in January. Florida is ideal from December to April, before the hot, rainy season and the hurricane season (June to November). California can be visited all year, with dry summers. In the Western deserts, summer is scorching (an average July high of over 40 °C, or 104 °F, in Las Vegas): spring and fall are better. According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 18 August 2026), the Atlantic hurricane season normally runs from June to November and the Pacific season from May to November. All the details for Manhattan are in our article best time to visit New York. Scorching in the desert in summer, the West is best in the shoulder seasons: the best time to visit California often follows the same pattern.

What to see in the United States: the highlights

New York

The gateway for most trips. Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the great museums, the Brooklyn Bridge and the observation decks at the top of the skyscrapers justify 4 to 5 days. The city is expensive, but many of its best sights are free. Our New York guide covers neighborhoods, sights and a day-by-day itinerary.

Washington, Boston and Philadelphia

On the East Coast, these three cities tell the story of the country. In Washington, the National Mall lines up the Capitol, the White House, the great memorials and the Smithsonian Institution museums, most of them free. Philadelphia has Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Boston, with a more European feel, is best discovered along the Freedom Trail. All are linked to New York by train. To follow the Freedom Trail and explore the historic districts, our Boston travel guide suggests a multi-day itinerary.

Florida: Miami, the Keys and the Everglades

South Florida offers mild winters, the Art Deco buildings of Miami Beach, the Cuban food of Little Havana and the Overseas Highway, which hops from island to island to Key West. Everglades National Park, a vast wetland, is explored by boat or on foot along boardwalks, with a good chance of seeing alligators. Orlando, further north, is the theme park capital. Everglades, Keys, Orlando: the Florida weather by month helps you place each stop in the right season.

California: Los Angeles, San Francisco and the coast

Los Angeles sprawls over dozens of miles, between Hollywood, the beaches of Santa Monica and Venice, and museums such as the Getty Center. San Francisco charms with its hills, cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, which must be booked in advance. Between the two, the coast road runs through Big Sur. Inland, Yosemite National Park is famous for its granite cliffs and giant sequoias. Golden Gate, Alcatraz, Big Sur on the way: for things to do in San Francisco before heading down the coast, see our guide.

The West and its great parks: Grand Canyon, Utah and Las Vegas

The great Western loop links Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Utah parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches). Distances are long and covered by car. According to the National Park Service (nonresident fees page, read on 24 October 2026), since 1 January 2026 non-US residents aged 16 and over pay a US$100 fee on top of the entrance fee at 11 of the busiest parks, including Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone, unless they hold the US$250 America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass. Check the rates on the NPS website. Annual pass or not, the parks itinerary often goes through Nevada: our Las Vegas travel guide helps you plan that stop.

In the American West, our page visiting Monument Valley covers entry fees, opening hours and Navajo rules.

Louisiana and the South: New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville

New Orleans, with its French Quarter, houses with wrought-iron balconies and jazz scene, is the starting point of a music road trip to Memphis (blues, Graceland) and Nashville (country). It is also a journey through the history of the South, with the former plantations along the Mississippi. The climate is hot and humid much of the year. This hot, humid South extends west: our guide to things to do in Texas helps you choose between cities, Hill Country and deserts.

Yellowstone and the Rockies

Yellowstone, straddling Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, is the world’s first national park. Geysers, colorful hot springs, bison and elk are easy to spot. It combines well with neighboring Grand Teton National Park. Some roads close in winter: the visiting season runs mainly from late May to early October, with accommodation to book very early. Roads closed in winter, lodging to book early: our guide to things to do in Yellowstone covers access, sights and the best time to go.

Hawaii and Alaska

Two destinations apart. Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific, combines volcanoes, beaches and tropical hikes, more than 5 hours’ flight from California. Alaska, huge and wild, is visited mainly in summer for its glaciers, fjords and wildlife. Both call for a dedicated trip rather than a stop on a tour. As the islands call for a dedicated trip, knowing when to go to Hawaii helps you plan around those extra 5 hours of flying.

Itinerary ideas for the United States (10 days, 2 weeks)

10 days: New York and the East Coast

1. Days 1 to 5: New York (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Harlem)
2. Days 6 and 7: Philadelphia, then Washington by train
3. Days 8 and 9: Washington (National Mall, Smithsonian museums)
4. Day 10: back to New York, or fly home from Washington depending on availability

2 weeks: the American West by car

1. Days 1 to 3: Los Angeles and the coast (Santa Monica, Malibu)
2. Days 4 and 5: drive to Las Vegas via the Mojave Desert or Joshua Tree National Park
3. Days 6 and 7: Zion and Bryce Canyon
4. Days 8 and 9: Monument Valley, Page (Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell)
5. Days 10 and 11: Grand Canyon (South Rim)
6. Days 12 to 14: back to Las Vegas or Los Angeles for the flight

2 weeks: New York and Florida

1. Days 1 to 5: New York
2. Days 6 to 8: flight to Miami, Miami Beach and Little Havana
3. Day 9: the Everglades
4. Days 10 to 12: the Overseas Highway to Key West
5. Days 13 and 14: back to Miami for the flight

Distances are huge: a flight between New York and Los Angeles takes about 6 hours. For a first trip, focus on one or two regions. Those 6 hours of flying from New York are a good reason to target one region: our Los Angeles travel guide helps you build a West Coast stop.

The United States: who is it for?

Our verdict by profile, based on the information in this guide:

Profile	Our verdict	Why
First trip	✅ Ideal	New York and the East Coast, with Washington, Boston and Philadelphia: the gateway for most trips.
Road trips and nature	✅ Ideal	Grand Canyon, the Utah parks, Yellowstone: the great Western loop is done by car.
Families	✅ Yes	Florida with its mild winters, national parks, big cities; focus on one or two regions.
Beaches	✅ Yes	Florida and the Keys, California, Hawaii.
Music and culture	✅ Yes	New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville, the museums of New York and Washington.
Budget travelers	❌ Difficult	Roughly US$130–245 per day on a budget, more in New York; add tips, sales taxes and, for visitors, the ESTA.

Budget for a trip to the United States

The United States is an expensive destination, especially for accommodation in big cities and parks. Indicative amounts per person per day, excluding international flights:

Item	Budget	Comfort
Accommodation (shared double room)	roughly US$55–100 (motels, budget chains)	roughly US$135–280
Meals	roughly US$35–55	roughly US$80–135
Transport (shared car rental, gas, city transit)	roughly US$20–45	roughly US$45–90
Activities and park fees	roughly US$15–45	roughly US$45–110
Total per day	roughly US$130–245	roughly US$300–615

Add tips (around 18 to 20% in restaurants), sales taxes not included in displayed prices and national park fees, which have been higher for non-residents since 2026. Visitors from abroad should also budget for the ESTA, which does not suit every traveler: our page on US visas explains when a regular visa application becomes necessary.

Getting around the United States

• Car rental: essential in the West, Florida and the South. Book before you leave, check the insurance included and driver age conditions (a surcharge is common under 25). According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 18 August 2026), British visitors can drive with a UK photocard licence, but may also need the 1949 International Driving Permit depending on the state; it cannot be bought outside the UK, and rental companies may require one. GOV.UK also advises not leaving passports in rental cars and checking fuel prices, as gas stations that do not display them often charge much more.
• Domestic flights: the way to link the coasts or the big regions. Checked bags are often extra.
• Train: very practical on the East Coast, between Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington. Elsewhere, Amtrak trains are more of a slow travel experience.
• City transit: efficient in New York, Washington, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco. In other cities, ride-hailing apps (Uber, Lyft) are often the simplest option.
• Long-distance buses: cheap but slow; bus stations are sometimes far from downtown.

Where to stay in the United States

Roadside motels and budget hotel chains are the easiest option for a road trip: you can often book the day before, except near national parks in summer. In big cities, hotels are expensive and taxes are added to the displayed price; in New York, short-term rentals of entire apartments are tightly regulated. In national parks, in-park lodges and campgrounds are booked several months ahead, sometimes a year for the most popular. In cities, choose a well-connected neighborhood rather than the cheapest hotel on the outskirts.

Entry requirements for the United States

US citizens

For US citizens, a trip within the 50 states is domestic travel: no entry formalities apply. Dual nationals must enter and leave the United States on their US passport, as GOV.UK (updated 18 August 2026) reminds British-US dual nationals.

UK citizens

According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK foreign travel advice, updated 18 August 2026), you must have either an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization, under the Visa Waiver Program) or a visa before you travel, including for transit and for land and sea arrivals. Apply for an ESTA only through the official ESTA website or the ESTA Mobile app. You may not be eligible if you have been arrested or have a criminal record, have previously overstayed or been refused entry, have been in Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since March 2011, or in Cuba since 12 January 2021; in that case you need a visa from the US Embassy, where appointments are limited. If your ESTA does not include the selfie photograph now required by US Customs and Border Protection, you may need to apply again. Your passport must be valid for the length of your stay. A valid ESTA does not guarantee entry, officials may inspect your electronic devices, and overstaying can lead to detention and future bans. Children aged 17 and under traveling without both parents should carry a consent letter.

Entry requirements checked on 24 October 2026; check them again before you travel.

Health and safety

• Health: GOV.UK (updated 18 August 2026) lists Zika and West Nile virus among health risks, as well as altitude sickness in parts of the country. Medical treatment is expensive, with no special arrangements for British visitors, and some hospitals ask non-residents for a deposit on admission: travel insurance covering medical costs, hospitalization and repatriation is essential. UK prescriptions are not valid in the US, and some prescription drugs cannot be brought in (check the FDA’s guidance).
• Natural hazards: hurricanes (Atlantic June to November, Pacific May to November), tornadoes, wildfires in dry areas, flash floods, and a higher earthquake risk in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and the Mississippi River Valley (GOV.UK). Follow the instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders.
• Safety: according to GOV.UK, violent crime and gun crime rarely affect tourists, but take care in unfamiliar areas and avoid walking alone through quiet areas, especially at night. Do not leave anything on display in your car, do not sleep in your car by the road and stay on main roads. Protests are common and can turn violent.
• Local laws: laws vary from state to state. The legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 21 nationwide; illegal drugs, including cannabis under federal law, carry severe penalties (GOV.UK). Always carry a passport showing your permission to be in the US.
• Emergencies: 911 (ambulance, fire, police), according to GOV.UK.

Practical tips for the United States

• Money: the US dollar. Keep a few bills for tips. Our currency converter helps you convert prices.
• Tips and taxes: tipping is all but expected in restaurants (around 18 to 20%), in taxis and for services. Sales tax, which varies by state and city, is added at the register.
• Internet: good coverage in cities, much patchier in national parks and deserts: download offline maps before you go. Visitors can check their provider’s roaming terms or use a US eSIM.
• Etiquette: drinking in public is generally prohibited and ID is often requested when buying alcohol. If you are stopped by the police while driving, stay in your vehicle with your hands on the wheel.
• Customs: visitors must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to duty (GOV.UK); on the way home, check HMRC allowances for the UK.

Read more to plan your trip

The season depends a lot on the region: see when to go to New York, when to go to California, when to go to Florida and when to go to Hawaii. Our page on US time zones details the different zones.

The United States also appears in our ideas for where to go in September and in October, and our Washington guide completes an East Coast tour.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• Entry, safety, health and driving information for UK visitors read on 24 October 2026: UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for the USA (GOV.UK, updated 18 August 2026)
• National Park Service: nonresident fees and the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass, read on 24 October 2026
• Climate normals: 1991–2020 normals for the Central Park station (Belvedere Castle), NOAA / National Weather Service; Miami and Las Vegas (airports), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
• Our methodology

Updated October 2026.

Find our regional guides to Florida, California and Hawaii, our page on when to go to New York, neighboring Canada and our other destinations in the Americas, as well as our Mexico guide.