The USA is gorgeous, from sea to shining sea. I love being from such a huge and varied country with all kinds of different landscapes, cultures, and things to see. If I spent my lifetime never leaving the states and only exploring my own backyard, I’d have so much variety it would still feel like I’d traveled far and wide.
It’s incredible that in one country you can get some of the highest mountain tops, tropical beaches in Hawaii and glaciers in Alaska, plus rocky and warm deserts with some of the most breathtaking rock formations on planet earth.
So for those who want to test out solo traveling at home before they go abroad, or if you’re from elsewhere and want to see what the US has to offer to solo travelers, you’ve made a great choice. But with so many options, you might be wondering where to start.
Below are some of my favorites in the USA, plus the advice of several other solo female travelers to get you started:
1. San Francisco, California
Whenever people who aren’t from the state visit California almost everyone ends up falling in love with San Francisco. As a native Southern Californian it’s in my DNA to roll my eyes and find this offensive but deep down, I silently agree. The Bay Area in general is beautiful, temperate, and has a unique culture. My European friends often say it has a charm that reminds them of home.
I love it for the ease of getting around on the BART system, how small and contained the city itself is, how picturesque, and how multicultural it is. Try a yoga or meditation class, head there during Pride or Outside Lands music festival, or see some live music. It’s the perfect place to jump off from or end up in when on a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway too!
2. Bayfield, Wisconsin
Midwesterners are known for being friendly and they lived up to their reputation when I visited Bayfield, Wisconsin. It’s an artsy town with outgoing people, and it is small enough that it feels intimate yet big enough that there is plenty to do. Join a kayaking trip, a boat trip, or take a drive around to the various orchards.
There are plenty of beaches and quirky hangouts as well. If you love camping, there’s plenty of that and if you visit in the winter, the famous caves ice over, which looks incredible. If you’re into photography and the outdoors then you will absolutely love this little town on Lake Superior, the jumping off point for the Apostle Islands.
3. Moab, Utah
Moab is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. For those all about the camper van life, bouldering, hiking, and kayaking, Moab has it all going on. It’s where you’ll find Canyonlands and Arches National Parks as well as Dead Horse State Park. Basically it’s one of the most gorgeous areas on Earth with a high concentration of incredible rock formations and free campsites.
I easily met people just by hanging around the free campsites, the coffee shops, and while watching the sunset over Dead Horse point during my solo American Southwest road trip. I tend to find that when a place attracts people because of a common shared interest, especially something outdoorsy, it tends to be social. Moab is a perfect example of that.
4. Big Sur, California
I’ve looked on every continent and I still haven’t found anywhere as beautiful or majestic as Big Sur on the central coast in California. Though it’s had its fair share of disasters lately, when accessible, McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is one of the dreamiest waterfalls I’ve seen.
Big Sur is a fantastic place to unwind. If you want to meet others, the campsites can be pretty social. However when I’m out there, I find the best companions are the dolphins and whales jumping out of the water, the squirrels and deer on the trail, and the gorgeous Pacific Ocean. For more on my favorite state and national parks in California, check out my musings on Alamo’s Scenic Drive.
5. Squaw Valley, California
“My go-to solo trip destination is Squaw Valley. During the winter, Squaw offers amble skiable terrain that is safe to navigate solo, in addition to a wide array of yoga classes and spa services perfect for wrapping up a long day of solo skiing or boarding.
The variety of restaurants at Squaw also cater to the solo female travel with many offering small intimate booths where you can curl up with a book and hot toddy while waiting for your meal. When the snow has melted, Squaw is still my favorite solo trip destination as it offers dozens of miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. For those who don’t feel comfortable hiking or biking on their own, there are multiple companies who offer guided tours.” – Bailey of Feng Shui Mommy
6. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas wouldn’t have been the first place that I would have expected to be awesome alone, but with so much to do, it’s actually perfect!
According to Noni, “I’ve traveled in North America by myself and I’ve never enjoyed anything more than Las Vegas!! I’m not American and didn’t expect much before, but when I arrived I knew it was so much better than any other location in Northern America!
It’s very easy to meet people, everybody’s in a good mood and very open to meeting new people, there’s a bus that’s very popular and goes every couple of minutes which makes traveling easy and there’s so much to do, from cinemas and clubs to bowling and casino’s – Las Vegas is definitely my favorite place to travel as a female solo traveler!” – Noni of Noni May
7. New Orleans, Louisiana
“I believe New Orleans is a perfect place for solo female travelers to visit. I have traveled there on my own and loved it. The city may be known for Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras, but there is a fascinating and rich cultural history to discover over a long weekend. There’s something for everyone in NOLA. For starters, I suggest staying in a boutique hotel on Royal Street, right near the allegedly haunted LaLaurie Mansion. While you’re there, tour cemeteries in the Garden District and the French Quarter, and sample the town’s famous beignets, po’ boys, and Pimm’s Cup.
Entertainment is plentiful and ranges from low key to raging parties. Learn about the dueling reign and lingering influence of France and Spain, or the city’s centuries-long history of voodoo and witchcraft. Or join the revelers in the Fruit Loop for a round of Hand Grenades. You’re sure to find exactly what you’re in the mood for and stay within your budget, too.
New Orleans is a large city, but easy to navigate on foot or by streetcar and bus. I never felt unsafe as a solo traveler because the streets are always bustling with tourists and locals, although it’s smart to practice precautions appropriate for travel in any big city.” – Brittany of Transformed Thru Travel
8. Maui, Hawaii
I forgive you if you don’t think of Hawaii when you think of great places to travel solo, and I wouldn’t have either until I actually went to Maui alone last year. It was fantastic! There was so much to do, from a women’s surf school, to driving the Road to Hana, and joining snorkeling trips.
I thought I would be surrounded by honeymooners but I actually found that people were very outgoing and friendly, coupled off or not. I highly recommend Maui solo, much to my surprise!
9. The Big Island of Hawaii
“The Big Island of Hawaii is one of the best places for adventurous solo female travelers to visit. With volcanoes, world-class dive sites, interesting beaches, and miles of hiking trails, any girl with a penchant for the unexplored can never get bored. Solo travelers will love watching lava bubble at the top of Mauna Loa, snorkeling in Honaunau Bay, and visiting Uncle Robert’s night market — an eclectic market that serves fresh food and sells handmade clothing, beauty products, and decor.
Chantae doing her thing!
It’s easy to meet friends through activities, at the beach, and by going on day tours. The island is easy to navigate with a rental car as there is one main road that circles around the entire island. Most people consider going to the more tourist-heavy islands like Oahu, but the Big Island is an underrated spot that is well worth the trek over.” – Chantae of The Salt Sirens
10. Seattle, Washington
“Traveling solo in Seattle is great because it offers such a variety of activities that you can enjoy some solitude or plant yourself in an area teeming with activity (or even do both easily on the same day). Seattle offers neighborhoods with distinct character, food from any culture you can imagine, fantastic museums, and gorgeous public parks.
A highlight of any trip to Seattle was experiencing the exceptionally talented local musicians that perform throughout the city on most nights. Jazz, experimental, rock, punk, metal, baroque, blues, hip-hop – all there waiting for you. Public transit can get you most places during the day and taxis/ride-shares are readily available for late night adventures. It is very common for people to dine solo or listen to live music by themselves in Seattle, so no need to hesitate or feel awkward. Also, if you have heard of the “Seattle Freeze” don’t worry locals are actually friendly and helpful once you start the conversation. But no umbrellas please!” – Robin of LETgo: Grab Opportunity
11. Cape Cod, Massachusetts
“Cape Cod is known as the tail of Massachusetts and a family-friendly beach destination in New England, but it’s also very well suited to solo female travelers. Why? Because it’s extremely safe, easy to get around, and downright beautiful. The Cape is just over an hour’s drive from Boston or Providence. You’ll definitely want to have a car so that you can freely explore its beautiful beaches. The ocean beaches are all lined with epic sand dunes, while the bay beaches host the most stunning sunsets (if you’re lucky enough to catch one at low tide, wow – the reflections off the puddles in the sand flats are something else!).
Outdoor adventurers should tackle the Cape Cod Rail Trail, which runs for 25 miles from Dennis to Wellfleet. There are outposts all along the trail where you can rent a bike and cycle past cranberry bogs, marshes, and lakes. Or for slightly less-active adventures, hit up Wellfleet for the weekend flea market and drive-in movies, gay-friendly Provincetown for shopping and nightlife, and just about any restaurant for the Cape’s legendary clam chowder.” – Lindsay of Frugal Frolicker
12. Minneapolis, Minnesota
“I call Minneapolis the Stockholm of the Midwest. It’s filled with Swedish-Americans, gets very cold in winter (colder than Stockholm, actually), and has many opportunities to enjoy the fine arts.
“For a solo female traveler, it’s a perfect big city to visit. It’s safe to wander around, has beautiful architecture and natural vistas, provides great bike paths, and features plenty of fun shops like cafes and stationary boutiques.
When it comes to the outdoors, in the summertime it’s wonderful to explore all the green space and the hundreds of lakes nearby. And in the winter you have plenty of opportunities to go ice skating, skiing/snowboarding, and snowshoeing. No matter the time of year, Minneapolis has plenty on the calendar for you to enjoy.” – Hayley of International Hotdish
13. Sun Valley, Idaho
Idaho really must be one of the most beautiful states in the winter time. I celebrated New Year’s there last year and I just loved the welcoming and friendly vibe.
It’s a quaint town with fantastic skiing, snowshoeing, naturally occurring hot springs, and locals who are more than happy to have a conversation with visitors and newcomers. Idaho is so underrated!
Though the USA is huge, and no list could ever do the wealth of places to see and experience justice, these are a few of our favorites. I hope this list helped you to get a sense of where to start, or continue, your solo journey.
If you have some favorite solo spots to share, please tell me in the comments below!
*This post was brought to you in partnership with Alamo Rent a car. All thoughts on the best places to travel solo in the USA belong to their respective authors.
Ijana Loss says
I’ve actually been kind of thinking I wanted a list like this for a while! There are tons of articles about the best places in the USA to visit, but this list pertaining specifically to solo travel is great! And I love how many of these places don’t need a car to get around; I would much rather use public transport or my feet if possible
Kristin says
Which is a rarity back home, but I agree!
GG says
Hey there! Glad you have added a post about the US, this is awesome. I love the Western US in my travels, hard to believe it is the same country! Here are my thoughts to add to this nice post plus some Eastern US call-outs solo or with friends, hope this is helpful as I have traveled a lot of the East:
1. Minneapolis and New Orleans: travel 3-4 hours north of Minneapolis to Lake Itasca, and an hour downstream of New Orleans and you will get to see the beginning and end of the mighty Mississippi River! There is St. Paul, MN, Minneapolis’ sister city, interesting history and it is the capital of Minnesota. You can walk in comfort for miles through downtown Minneapolis even in winter through the Minneapolis Skyway System, an engineering achievement.
2. Oregon coast: One of the most breathtaking views and experiences I have ever had was a rare sunny day along the Oregon coast. I got to see the coastline specifically near Florence, Oregon with rocks sitting on the beach several stories tall, temperate rain forests (not all rain forests are tropical) with trees hugging the cliff sides maybe 1000 feet steep if not more, sliding down to the beautiful blue ocean. Then there are the huge sand dunes (not like Namibia, but really neat). June is the best time to get it to clear up, that is the catch, having the weather cooperate (visibility).
For those who are on the Eastern side of the US, besides Cape Cod you’ve got:
3. The warm ocean beaches stretching from North Carolina (south of Cape Hatteras) to Florida: NC is quiet/quaint, South Carolina lots to do, so need to avoid busy season, Charleston, SC my favorite for history, Georgia coast for nature (loggerhead nesting) or for rustic privacy (11 private islands) or resort fancy vacations, Florida for tropical feel or exciting Miami, or more relaxed feel of the Gulf coast, or see the Everglades, swim with manatees and dolphins.
4. The FL Keys: Drive it or bike it, includes incredible bridges like the Seven Mile Bridge over the water
5. Niagara Falls,
6. New York City (you can go solo here, I have, the food is great, Manhattan is fun, 15% is park land, can do it too at a reasonable price if flexible),
7. Washington, D.C (use mass transit you are set, so much history and history being made, Smithsonian, it’s all free! Saw every museum then they built 3 more!),
8. West Virginia-Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway down to NC Smoky Mountains: For those into mountains instead of beaches, not as steep as the West, but so green, lush, and prehistoric (most diverse species of trees in North America)!
9. Maine coastline up to Canadian border: Gorgeous, rocky coastline, ending your trip at Pembroke, ME and see the “Reversing Falls” (yes the tides are so big there that the roaring cascades stop and reverse, need to get there 1 hour or so before high tide). If go into Canada, Bay of Fundy tide change biggest in the world. You can do a lot of this by bike! I have this in my travel plans soon!
Kristin says
I’d love to visit the Keys
GG says
Yes, the Keys are great and offer some fantastic diving opportunities among other things. Morehead City, NC as well as Flower Garden Banks off Texas are great options as well in this regard! (but nothing like Rajat Ampat I am sure and I can only speak for the East Coast, I bet you could list off the top of your head spots to go out West! 🙂 ).
Brittany Quaglieri says
As a born-and-raised Cape Codder, I enthusiastically second it as a great destination for solo travelers! I take a solo trip to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket (sometimes both!) every year. Thanks for including me in this post!
Nikki says
GReat list! I would add Portland Oregon, and Eugene and Bend Oregon!
JD White says
Wow, what a list! I’d have to agree on San Francisco. I definitely left my heart there last April! Have you considered exploring more in the prairie regions? I might have some suggestions!
Kristin says
Feel free to add them here!