Destinations · North America

United States.

National parks, great cities & open road.

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The country

The United States is a country of superlatives: the soaring canyons of the Southwest, the redwood coast of California, the jazz and cuisine of the Deep South, and the skylines of New York and Chicago.

Whether you dream of a great American road trip, a national-parks circuit, or a long weekend in a single iconic city, we craft itineraries that match the country’s scale to your own pace.

Capital: Washington, D.C.
Currency: US dollar ($)
Ideal trip: 7–14 nights
Best for: Parks & cities

When to go

The best time to visit the United States.

The United States is closer to a continent than a country, so timing is really about the region you choose. This is the broad-brush calendar as we'd sketch it across the desk — when most of the map lines up, and when you follow the weather to one corner of it.

Prime season Shoulder Quieter & better value

April–June

Spring brings mild, settled weather to most of the country, wildflowers in the desert Southwest and the national parks waking up before the summer crowds. Our favorite all-rounder for a multi-region trip.

September–October

Fall delivers warm days, cool evenings and brilliant foliage in the Northeast, with thinner crowds at the parks and comfortable city weather coast to coast.

July–August

High summer is peak season: long days and ideal conditions for the national parks and the Pacific Northwest, though it is hot and humid across the South and busy almost everywhere.

November–March

Winter varies widely by region: warm and sunny in Florida and the desert Southwest, ski season in the mountains, and quiet, atmospheric rates in the big cities, while the far north slows down.

Where to go

The regions of the United States.

The United States is vast, closer to a continent than a single country, so the secret is to choose a few regions and let domestic flights link them rather than trying to see it all at once. These are the areas we weave together most often, each with its own landscape, cities and rhythm, from the skylines of the Northeast to the coasts and canyons of the West.

Region

New York & the Northeast

The energy of Manhattan, world-class museums, theater and dining, with New England's historic towns, coastline and fall foliage an easy reach beyond the city.

Region

Washington, D.C. & the Capital Region

The nation's capital lays out its monuments, memorials and Smithsonian museums along the National Mall, with Virginia's history and the Blue Ridge close at hand.

Region

Florida & the Southeast

Miami's beaches and Art Deco glamour, the Florida Keys and the Everglades, plus the gracious charm of Charleston and Savannah further up the coast.

Region

The Southwest & the National Parks

The Grand Canyon, red-rock country and a string of legendary parks, with Las Vegas, Route 66 and dramatic desert drives tying it all together.

Region

California & the Pacific Coast

San Francisco and the Golden Gate, the cliffs and vineyards of the coast, Yosemite's granite walls and the long, sun-soaked drive south toward Los Angeles.

Region

The Pacific Northwest

Seattle beneath Mount Rainier, evergreen forests and island-dotted waters, with Oregon's coast and the wines of the Willamette Valley a scenic drive away.

Signature experiences

Our favorite ways to experience the United States.

A sample journey

One way to spend a week in the United States.

1

Days 1–3
New York & the Northeast

Open in Manhattan with the skyline, the museums and a Broadway evening, with time for Central Park and a neighborhood or two beyond the obvious sights.
2

Days 4–5
Washington, D.C.

A short hop or train ride south to the capital, for the monuments and memorials of the National Mall and the Smithsonian museums, most of them free.
3

Days 6–8
The Southwest & Grand Canyon

Fly west to the desert: the vast scale of the Grand Canyon, red-rock drives and starlit nights, with Las Vegas or Sedona as a base.
4

Days 9–10
California & the Pacific Coast

On to San Francisco for the Golden Gate, the cable cars and the bay, with a day out to the wine country or down the coast.
5

Days 11–12
The Pacific Northwest

Finish in Seattle beneath Mount Rainier, with Pike Place Market, the waterfront and an easy escape to the forests and islands of Puget Sound.

Every itinerary we build is bespoke: this is a starting point, not a package.

Getting around

By domestic flight: Distances are continental, so we use the domestic network to jump between regions rather than burning days on the road. A single flight links a coast to a far-off canyon, and we build those connections into every plan.
By car & the great drives: For the national parks and the legendary coastal drives, a rental car is the whole point — the freedom to pull over at an overlook or a one-street town. We arrange the vehicle, the route and the stops before you set off.
By rail in the Northeast: Amtrak and the high-speed Acela link the eastern cities station to station, no airport hassle. It's the easy, civilized way to string together New York, Washington and Boston.
In the cities: New York, San Francisco and Washington are best left to walking, transit and the occasional ride-hail. We book hotels so the neighborhoods you came for are outside the door.

Where to stay

New York City: We favor characterful hotels in Midtown for the theaters and museums, or a quieter base downtown in SoHo or Tribeca, with grande-dame addresses overlooking Central Park for a classic stay.
Washington, D.C.: A hotel near the National Mall, Georgetown or Penn Quarter keeps the monuments and museums within easy reach, many of them free to enter.
The Southwest: We pair the comfort of Scottsdale or Sedona resorts with the rim lodges inside Grand Canyon National Park, where staying overnight earns you sunrise and sunset without the day-trip crowds.
California: Boutique hotels in San Francisco, a wine-country retreat in Napa or Sonoma, and coastal stays in Carmel or Santa Barbara, matched to the pace of your drive south.

Domestic flights, rental cars, rail tickets, park lodges and the timed-entry reservations several parks now require are all arranged as part of every itinerary — the logistics are handled before you arrive.

Good to know

United States travel questions.

How should we structure a first trip to the USA?

Choose a region or two rather than trying to see the whole country, since the United States is roughly the size of a continent. A classic first visit pairs an East Coast city such as New York or Washington, D.C. with a western highlight like the Grand Canyon, California or the national parks, linked by a domestic flight. We build the route so each stop has room to breathe.

When is the best time to visit the United States?

Spring, from April to June, and fall, from September to October, are ideal almost everywhere: mild weather, lighter crowds and beautiful light. Summer is peak season and excellent for the national parks and the Pacific Northwest, though hot and humid in the South. Winter is quiet and varies by region, warm in Florida and the desert, ski season in the mountains.

Is it better to fly or drive between regions?

Both, and we usually combine them. Distances between regions are huge, so domestic flights are the sensible way to move from coast to coast or from a city to a far-off park. Once you arrive, a rental car unlocks the road trips and the national parks, while in the Northeast the Amtrak and Acela trains are an easy way to link New York, Washington, D.C. and Boston.

How far ahead do we need to plan a national parks trip?

Well ahead for the famous parks. In-park lodges at the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone book up months in advance, and several parks now require timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season. We secure the lodging, the permits and the timing as part of your itinerary so the days flow smoothly.

What practical things should we know, like tipping?

Tipping is customary and expected: around 18 to 20 percent in restaurants, a few dollars for taxis and porters, and a dollar or two per drink at a bar. Sales tax is added at the register rather than shown on the price tag, distances and gas are measured in miles and gallons, and most visitors will need an ESTA or visa, which we will flag and explain before you travel.

From the journal

Reading on the United States.

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Ways to Explore

How to travel the United States.

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