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TOP 100 ATTRACTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES


Zion National Park Morning Glory Pool, Yellowstone National Park Skyline Loop, Mount Rainier National Park

Welcome to Bigroads.com's guide to the top 100 attractions in the USA!

There are literally thousands of amazing attractions in the United States, so perhaps it's a bit silly to narrow them down into a top 100 list like we have done here. After all, the concept of "top" or "best" is very subjective from person to person. However, some attractions are just so magnificent, so potentially life-altering, that they deserve at least some special recognition The purpose of this list, then, is to highlight many of the most memorable attractions found across this amazing and diverse country.

This top 100 list is sorted alphabetically by state (and not by scenic rank or quality).

Author/Contributor: Greg Parsons

STATE ATTRACTION NAME ATTRACTION TYPE TOWN / CITY / PARK
Alaska Denali National Park Glaciers / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views / Wildlife Viewing / Backpacking Denali National Park
Alaska Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve Glaciers / Boat Tours / Scenic Views / Sea-kayaking Glacier Bay National Park
Alaska Kenai Fjords National Park Glaciers / Boat Tours / Scenic Views / Sea-kayaking Kenai Fjords National Park
Arizona Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Zoo / Botanical Garden / Natural History Museum Tucson
Arizona Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Canoeing / Kayaking / Outdoor Activities-Lakes / Boat Tours / Hiking Trails Multiple towns
Arizona Grand Canyon National Park Geologic Attractions / Scenic Views / Hiking Trails / Whitewater Rafting Grand Canyon National Park
Arizona Havasupai / Havasu Falls / Mooney Falls Waterfalls / Swimming Holes / Hiking Trails / Backpacking Havasupai Reservation
Arkansas Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Art Museum Bentonville
California Alcatraz / Alcatraz Island Prison Museum / Prison Tours / Boat Tours / Scenic Views San Francisco
California Death Valley National Park Geologic Attractions / Scenic Views / Hiking Trails / 4WD-ing Death Valley National Park

Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona
Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona

South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

STATE ATTRACTION NAME ATTRACTION TYPE TOWN / CITY / PARK
California Getty Center, The Art Museum / Botanical Garden / Scenic Views Los Angeles
California Monterey Bay Aquarium Aquarium Monterey
California Pacific Coast Highway (US 1) / Big Sur Highway Scenic Drive / Scenic Views / Hiking Trails Multiple towns
California Point Lobos State Reserve Nature Park / Wildlife Viewing / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Carmel-by-the-Sea
California Point Reyes National Seashore Nature Park / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Multiple towns
California Redwood National Park Hiking Trails / Big Trees / Redwood Trees Redwood National Park
California San Diego Zoo Zoo San Diego
California Sequoia National Park Hiking Trails / Big Trees / Cave Tours Sequoia National Park
California Yosemite National Park Hiking Trails / Rock Climbing / Geologic Attraction / Waterfalls Yosemite National Park
Colorado Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum Scenic Railroad Durango

ferns & redwood trees in Redwood National Park, California
ferns & redwood trees in Redwood National Park, California

Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, California

STATE ATTRACTION NAME ATTRACTION TYPE TOWN / CITY / PARK
Colorado Great Sand Dunes National Park Sand Dunes / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Great Sand Dunes National Park
Colorado Maroon Bells Mountain / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Aspen
Colorado Mesa Verde National Park Cliff-Dwellings / Ancient Ruins / Scenic Views Mesa Verde National Park
Colorado Red Rocks Amphitheatre Outdoor Concerts Morrison
Colorado Rocky Mountain National Park Hiking Trails / Scenic Views / Wildlife Viewing Rocky Mountain National Park
Florida Everglades National Park Bird-Watching / Canoeing / Kayaking / Wildlife Viewing Everglades National Park
Florida National Naval Aviation Museum Aviation Museum / Military Museum Pensacola
Florida Stetson Mansion Historic Home Tours DeLand
Florida Universal Studios Florida Amusement Park Orlando
Florida Universal's Islands of Adventure Amusement Park Orlando

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Maroon Bells, Aspen, Colorado
Maroon Bells, Aspen, Colorado

STATE ATTRACTION NAME ATTRACTION TYPE TOWN / CITY / PARK
Florida Walt Disney World Amusement Park Orlando
Georgia Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Church / Chapel Savannah
Georgia Savannah's Historic District Historic District Savannah
Hawaii Haleakala National Park Volcanic Attraction / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Haleakala National Park (Maui)
Hawaii Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Volcanic Attraction / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Hawaii Volcanoes NP (Big Island)
Hawaii Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Kapaa (Kauai)
Hawaii World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument Historical Attraction Honolulu (Oahu)
Illinois Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum History Museum / Presidential Attraction / Library Springfield
Illinois Art Institute of Chicago Art Museum Chicago
Illinois Millennium Park Urban Park Chicago

Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California
Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts
Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts

STATE ATTRACTION NAME ATTRACTION TYPE TOWN / CITY / PARK
Illinois Wrigley Field Baseball Stadium Chicago
Indiana Children's Museum of Indianapolis, The Children's Museum Indianapolis
Kentucky Mammoth Cave National Park Cave Tours / Hiking Trails Mammoth Cave NP
Louisiana French Quarter Shopping / Dining New Orleans
Louisiana National World War II Museum, The History Museum / Military Museum New Orleans
Maine Acadia National Park Hiking Trails / Mountain Biking / Scenic Views / Sea-Kayaking Acadia National Park
Massachusetts Cape Cod National Seashore Nature Park / Beach / Hiking Trails / Beach Driving Multiple towns
Massachusetts Fenway Park Baseball Stadium Boston
Michigan Detroit Institute of the Arts Art Museum Detroit
Michigan Henry Ford, The / Henry Ford Museum History Museum / Transportation Museum / Living History Museum Dearborn

Welcome to Las Vegas sign, Nevada
Welcome to Las Vegas sign, Nevada

Mount Adams, White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
Mount Adams, White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire

STATE ATTRACTION NAME ATTRACTION TYPE TOWN / CITY / PARK
Michigan Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Nature Park / Geologic Attractions Multiple towns
Michigan Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Nature Park / Beach / Sand Dunes / Hiking Trails Multiple towns
Montana Glacier National Park Glaciers / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Glacier National Park
Nevada Strip, The / Las Vegas Strip Shopping / Dining / Entertainment District Las Vegas
New Hampshire White Mountain National Forest Hiking Trails / Scenic Views / Waterfalls / Swimming Holes Multiple towns
New Mexico Carlsbad Caverns National Park Cave Tours Carlsbad Caverns NP
New Mexico White Sands National Monument Sand Dunes / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views / Sandboarding Alamogordo
New York Broadway Theater / Live Shows New York City
New York Metropolitan Museum of Art ("the Met") Art Museum New York City
New York National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum Sports Museum / Hall of Fame Museum Cooperstown

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Niagara Falls (from the Canadian side), New York
Niagara Falls (from the Canadian side), New York

STATE ATTRACTION NAME ATTRACTION TYPE TOWN / CITY / PARK
New York National September 11 Memorial & Museum, The Memorial / History Museum New York City
New York Niagara Falls State Park Waterfalls Niagara Falls
North Carolina Biltmore Estate, The Historic Home Tours / Garden Asheville
North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway Scenic Drive / Scenic Views / Historic Cabins Multiple towns
Ohio Cedar Point Amusement Park Amusement Park / Rollercoasters Sandusky
Ohio Cleveland Museum of Art Art Museum Cleveland
Ohio National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Aviation Museum Dayton
Oregon Columbia River Gorge Natural Scenic Area Waterfalls / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Multiple towns
Oregon Crater Lake National Park Alpine Lake / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Crater Lake NP
Pennsylvania Gettysburg National Military Park Battlefield Gettysburg

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina

Latourell Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Latourell Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

STATE ATTRACTION NAME ATTRACTION TYPE TOWN / CITY / PARK
Pennsylvania Longwood Gardens Botanical Garden Kennett Square
Pennsylvania PNC Park Baseball Stadium Pittsburg
South Dakota Badlands National Park Hiking Trails / Scenic Views / Wildlife Viewing Badlands National Park
South Dakota Custer State Park Wildlife Viewing / Hiking Trails Multiple towns
South Dakoka Mount Rushmore National Memorial Historical Attraction / Monument Keystone
Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Great Smoky Mountains NP
Tennessee Jack Daniel's Distillery Distillery Lynchburg
Utah Alta Ski/Snowboard Resort Little Cottonwood Canyon
Utah Arches National Park Geologic Attractions / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Arches National Park
Utah Bryce Canyon National Park Geologic Attractions / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Bryce Canyon National Park

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

STATE ATTRACTION NAME ATTRACTION TYPE TOWN / CITY / PARK
Utah Canyonlands National Park Geologic Attractions / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views / Mountain Biking Canyonlands NP
Utah Grand Staircase-Escalante Nat. Monument Geologic Attractions / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views / 4WD-ing Multiple towns
Utah Park City Mountain Resort Ski/Snowboard Resort / Mountain Biking Park City
Utah Zion National Park Geologic Attractions / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views / Rock Climbing Zion NP
Virginia Arlington National Cemetery Cemetery / Gravesites Arlington
Virginia Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife Viewing / Boat Tours / Beaches Multiple towns
Virginia Colonial Williamsburg Living History Museum Williamsburg
Washington Chihuly Garden and Glass Art Museum / Glass Art Museum Seattle
Washington Mount Rainier National Park Glaciers / Hiking Trails / Mountaineering / Scenic Views / Waterfalls Mount Rainier NP
Washington Mount St. Helens Nat. Volcanic Monument Volcanic Attraction / Hiking Trails / Scenic Views Castle Rock

Zion Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah
Zion Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Skyline Loop, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Skyline Loop, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

STATE ATTRACTION NAME ATTRACTION TYPE TOWN / CITY / PARK
Washington Olympic National Park Hiking Trails / Scenic Views / Hot Springs / Waterfalls / Beaches Olympic National Park
Washington, D.C. Lincoln Memorial & Reflecting Pool Memorial / Statues / Presidential Attraction Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. National Air & Space Museum Aviation Museum / Space Museum Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. National Gallery of Art, The Art Museum Washington, D.C.
Wyoming Buffalo Bill Center of the West History Museum Cody
Wyoming Devils Tower National Monument Geologic Attraction / Hiking Trails / Rock Climbing Devils Tower
Wyoming Grand Teton National Park Hiking Trails / Rock Climbing / Wildlife Viewing / Mountaineering Grand Teton NP
Wyoming Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Ski/Snowboard Resort Teton Village
Wyoming Wind River Mountain Range Hiking Trails / Horseback Riding Multiple towns
Wyoming Yellowstone National Park Geothermal Attractions / Geologic Attractions / Hiking Trails / Wildlife Viewing Yellowstone NP

Black Pool, West Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Black Pool, West Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

wildflowers on Mount Washburn, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
wildflowers on Mount Washburn, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

 RECOMMENDED GUIDEBOOKS


In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any link to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com (affiliate).

Fodor's Bucket List USA (1st edition; 2021)
Moon USA State by State (1st edition; 2021)
Your Guide to the National Parks (3rd edition; 2022)
Road Trip USA (9th edition; 2021)


As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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