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Last Updated on December 28, 2023 by sydabroad
Keep reading to discover all of the best USA bucket list destinations!
I’m excited to share with you my third and final article from my “road trip series,” the best USA bucket list destinations by state.
I’ve got the perfect resource for you! This guide highlights three bucket list road trip stops in every state. You will find it all in this article, from national parks and museums to photography spots and everything in between.
I have visited some of these places myself and others are on my bucket list. Make sure you check out my other two articles from the series. Alright, let’s get into the guide.
Looking for more USA travel guides?
- How to Plan a Road Trip Step-by-Step
- The Best Healthy Road Trip Snacks
- The Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip Itinerary
This post is all about the best USA bucket list destinations.
Alabama
- Autauga County Sunflower Field: Located at 3301 Hwy 14 West, Autaugaville, AL 36003
- Dismals Canyon: Dismals Canyon is a sandstone gorge near Phil Campbell in Franklin County. It is located at 901 County Rd 8, Phil Campbell, AL 35581
- Sloss Furnace: This is a National Historic Landmark in Birmingham. My friends and I visited and it was an interesting experience! The place was massive, and we spent the afternoon exploring and taking photos. If you’re looking for something unique to see, this is it.
Alaska
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Northern Lights in Fairbanks: You can see the famous northern lights in Fairbanks, Alaska from August 21st to April 21st. The lights will usually be visible in 4 out of 5 nights.
- Katmai National Park and Preserve: See the bears here!
Arizona
- The Grand Canyon: Arizona is stunning and the Grand Canyon is unreal. It’s a MUST to add to your USA road trip destinations list. I visited the Grand Canyon on my road trip, you can find my itinerary here.
- Antelope Canyon
- Sedona: A perfect little town. I highly recommend stopping here during your road trip and hiking the Devil’s Bridge, it’s absolutely beautiful.
Arkansas
- Hot Springs
- Crystal Bridges Museum of Art
- Fayetteville: Fayetteville is beautiful, I went to visit a friend who goes to school in Arkansas and I was speechless. Enjoy all that this town has to offer including the cute coffee shops, to the hiking trails!
California
- Joshua Tree: You can camp, hike, and climb here.
- Yosemite National Park
- Cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway: Do it for the views.
Colorado
- Rocky Mountain National Park: Alright, Colorado is gorgeous no matter where you go, so you really can’t go wrong stopping anywhere. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of Colorado’s four national parks. It’s something to check out if you find yourself in northern Colorado.
- Estes Park: Some of the region’s best rock-climbing
- Boulder: Fun college town with a cool vibe
Connecticut
- Saville Dam: A unique road trip stop for some cool photos!
- Gillette Castle State Park: Located at 67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423
- Stop for a Connecticut-style lobster roll: I promise there is no shortage of great food in Connecticut.
Deleware
- Dover International Speedway
- Hagley Museum & Library
- Rehoboth Beach
Florida
- Everglades
- Three Sisters Springs: This is a warm-water refuge for endangered Florida Manatees and the water is stunning.
- Dry Tortugas: This is a national park located in the Gulf of Mexico in Key West, Florida. It’s made up of seven islands, this is a spot you have got to check out if you are spending some time in Florida!
Georgia
- Savanna: This has been on my USA bucket list for a while! Savannah looks like an amazing city to visit.
- Amicalola Falls
- Cloudland Canyon State Park
Hawaii
- Hawaii Volcanoes
- Haleakala National Park: This is a dormant shield volcano with one of the largest volcano craters.
- Waikiki Beach
Idaho
- Shoshone Falls
- Sawtooth National Forest
- Sawtooth Mountain Range
Illinois
- Get your city fix in Chicago: Enjoy some Chicago-style pizza & snap photos in front of the bean!
- Garden of the Gods: Located in Shawnee National Forest
- Starved Rock
Indiana
- Funky Bones: Funky Bones is a public art piece that you might recognize from “The Fault In Our Stars.”
- Indiana Dunes National Park
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Iowa
- Maquoketa Caves State Park
- Ackerman Winery: Stop overnight and enjoy an evening at the winery!
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Kansas
- Monument Rocks National Landmark
- Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
- Wichita Art Museum
Kentucky
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- Kentucky Horse Park
- Daniel Boone National Forest
Louisiana
- New Orleans: Explore the French Quarter and eat beignets at Cafe Du Monde.
- New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park
- National World War II Museum
Maine
- Cadillac Mountain
- Acadia National Park
- Portland Head Lighthouse
Maryland
- Ocean City: Ocean City is famous for its boardwalk, check it out!
- National Aquarium
- Baltimore Museum of Art
Massachusetts
- Cape Cod: Visiting Cape Cod is a must to add to your USA bucket list destinations! Chill at the beautiful beaches and explore the laid-back town.
- Whale Watch at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
- Martha’s Vineyard
Michigan
- The Henry Ford Museum
- Mackinac Island
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Minnesota
- Mall of America
- Minnehaha Falls
- Voyageurs National Park
Mississippi
- Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum
- Windsor Ruins
- Explore Oxford
Missouri
- The Gateway Arch
- Forest Park
- Lake of the Ozarks
Montana
- Glacier National Park: A dream destination. A stunning place.
- Visit Big Sky: There are also incredible day trips from Big Sky, Montana.
- National Bison Range: Take a tour through the park with your vehicle and see all sorts of wildlife.
Nebraska
- Carhenge: You might find Carhenge familiar because it is a replica of England’s Stonehenge
- Scotts Bluff National Monument
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Nevada
- Lake Tahoe
- Seven Magic Mountains: You have probably seen these colorful rocks on Instagram. They are located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and make a unique photography spot.
- Great Basin National Park
New Hampshire
- Mount Washington: Oh, and while you are here don’t forget to check out Mount Washington’s haunted hotel!
- Franconia Notch State Park
- Flume Gorge
New Jersey
- Atlantic City & The Boardwalk
- Old Victorian Cape May
- Liberty State Park
New Mexico
- White Sands National Park
- Carlsbad Caverns
- Albuquerque Balloon Festival: The Festival takes place during October for one week.
New York
- New York City: Check out my New York City guide here.
- Coney Island
- Niagara Falls
North Carolina
- City tour of Charlotte
- Biltmore: Biltmore Estate is a historic house museum and attraction located in Asheville, North Carolina.
- The North Carolina Arboretum
North Dakota
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- North Dakota Heritage Center
- Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
Ohio
- Cedar Point Amusement Park
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Hocking Hills State Park
Oklahoma
- National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
- Oklahoma City Museum of Art
- Lake Hefner
Oregon
- Crater Lake National Park: This is the only national park in Oregon and it was formed by a collapsed volcano! It’s also the deepest lake in America. A great USA bucket list destination for your road trip if you are driving through Oregon.
- Thor’s Well: If you’re into photography, this stop is for you.
- Astoria-Megler Bridge: Drive across the longest continuous truss bridge in America! This bridge connects Oregon to Washington.
Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Longwood Gardens
- Reading Terminal Market
Rhode Island
- Block Island: When I lived in New York, Block Island was somewhere I wanted to visit. However, I never got the chance to go so I guess I’ll just have to go back!
- Mohegan Bluffs
- The Breakers
South Carolina
- Historic Charleston City Market
- Charleston
- Congaree National Park
South Dakota
- Badlands National Park
- Mount Rushmore
- Custer State Park
Tennessee
- Great Smoky Mountains
- Explore Nashville
- The Titanic Museum
Texas
- Big Bend
- Marfa: I stopped in Marfa during my Route 66 road trip and I have to say this little town is amazing! I wish we had more time to explore but we got the chance to visit the Prada, grab some lunch, and coffee, and drive around town. Marfa has got to be on your USA bucket list destinations itinerary!
- Cadillac Ranch
- Magnolia Silos: Alright, I’m from Texas so I had to add another. Visit the Magnolia Silos in Waco, it’s a fun spot to hang out for the afternoon!
Utah
- Monument Valley
- Zion National Park
- Bryce Canyon
Vermont
- Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour
- Smugglers’ Notch Resort
- Green Mountain National Forest
Virginia
- Virginia Beach
- Chincoteague Island
- Shenandoah National Park
Washington
- Mount Rainer National Park
- Olympic National Park
- Space Needle
West Virginia
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- The Greenbrier: Spend some time at this hotel and casino!
- Blackwater Falls State Park
Wisconsin
- Milwaukee Art Museum
- Devil’s Lake State Park
- Harley-Davidson Museum
Wyoming
- Grand Tetons
- Grand Prismatic Spring
- Yellowstone
Well, now you have the ultimate USA bucket list destinations to add some fun stops to your road trip! Let me know what your favorite USA destination is.
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This is such a great list! The Albuquerque Balloon Festival has always been on my list! One day I’ll get there!
Thank you! Me too, the balloon festival seems incredible!
Always dreamed of US road trip so this will definitely come in handy!
I’m glad you enjoyed the article 🙂
This post is a nice highlight of things to in every state! There’s so many National Parks that are on my list.
Thank you! Me too, so many beautiful national parks to visit here!
This is a great list! I am proud to say I’ve been to a lot of the places you listed in this article. I still have a lot more to see. Thank you for inspiring me 🙂
Thats amazing! I’m glad you liked the article!
I’ve been to all 50 states so it was fun to see what sights you highlighted in each state. I have to say, you nailed it. Most of these were exactly the places I did or wanted to visit. Great job.
Thank you so much! I tried really hard to add the best places, although I know there are so many more amazing sites!!
Great list! Thor’s Well is one of my favorite spots in Oregon. Thanks for sharing!
I am dying to visit Oregon!! Thor’s Well is at the top of my bucket list!
Wow this is so indepth! There’s everything you need in here.
Thank you so much! I tried so hard to include all the best spots 🙂
What a list!!! It’s so hard to pick just a couple of destinations.
The US is immesity and an endless discovery 🙂
Right?! There are just too many great places to visit! It was definitely hard to narrow down
Love your NE suggestions!!
Thank you!
Great idea for a blog considering I haven’t put a dent into the U.S.
We’re from Kentucky and mammoth cave is definitely a month!!
I would love to check that out!!