The United States, State by State
All 50 states, each written three ways — budget, family and luxury — with honest regional highlights, real costs, sample itineraries and a map. Grouped by region so a cross-country trip is easy to plan.
South
Alabama
Alabama travel guide: Gulf Coast beaches, the Space and Rocket Center and Civil Rights history in Montgomery — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
March–May and September–November for mild weather; June–August for Gulf Coast beach season
Arkansas
Arkansas travel guide: Hot Springs' bathhouses, Ozark hiking and the only public diamond mine in the US — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
April–May and September–October for Ozark hiking; year-round for Hot Springs' thermal waters
Delaware
Delaware travel guide: Rehoboth Beach's boardwalk, tax-free shopping and the DuPont estate gardens — budget, family and luxury tips, real costs and a map.
Late May–early September for beach season; September–October for mild weather and thinner crowds
Florida
Florida travel guide: Orlando's theme parks, the Florida Keys and Gulf Coast beaches — budget, family and luxury itineraries, real costs and a map.
March–May and October–November for mild weather and thinner crowds; December–April for the Keys and Gulf Coast
Georgia
Georgia travel guide: Savannah's historic squares, Atlanta's Civil Rights history and the Golden Isles coast — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
March–May and October–November for mild weather; year-round for Atlanta's indoor attractions
Kentucky
Kentucky travel guide: the Bourbon Trail, Churchill Downs' Derby history and Mammoth Cave's underground world — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
April–June and September–October for mild weather; early May for the Kentucky Derby
Louisiana
Louisiana travel guide: New Orleans' French Quarter, swamp tours and Cajun Country's music and food — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
February–May for Mardi Gras and mild spring weather; October–November for comfortable fall temperatures
Maryland
Maryland travel guide: Annapolis's sailing history, Chesapeake Bay blue crabs and Ocean City's boardwalk — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
May–June and September–October for mild weather; June–August for Ocean City's beach season
Mississippi
Mississippi travel guide: the Delta blues trail, Natchez's antebellum mansions and Gulf Coast beaches — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
March–May and October–November for mild weather; year-round for indoor blues and history museums
North Carolina
North Carolina travel guide: the Outer Banks' wild beaches, Asheville's Blue Ridge mountains and the Biltmore Estate — budget, family and luxury tips.
May–June and September–October for both the coast and the mountains; June–August for Outer Banks beach season
Oklahoma
Oklahoma travel guide: Route 66's neon landmarks, cowboy culture and Native American heritage sites — budget, family and luxury tips, real costs and a map.
April–May and September–October for mild weather; avoid peak spring storm season if possible
South Carolina
South Carolina travel guide: Charleston's historic charm, Myrtle Beach's family boardwalk and Lowcountry cuisine — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
March–May and September–November for Charleston; June–August for Myrtle Beach's full beach season
Tennessee
Tennessee travel guide: Nashville's music scene, Memphis blues and the Great Smoky Mountains — budget, family and luxury tips, real costs and a map.
April–June and September–October for mild weather across the state; year-round for Nashville and Memphis's indoor music venues
Texas
Texas travel guide: Austin's live music, San Antonio's Alamo and Big Bend's desert wilderness — budget, family and luxury tips, real costs and a map.
March–May and October–November for most of the state; winter for Big Bend and South Texas
Virginia
Virginia travel guide: Colonial Williamsburg's living history, Shenandoah's Skyline Drive and Virginia Beach — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
April–June and September–October for Colonial Williamsburg and Shenandoah; June–August for Virginia Beach
West Virginia
West Virginia travel guide: New River Gorge's dramatic bridge, whitewater rafting and Appalachian mountain towns — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
April–June and September–October for hiking and rafting; October for peak Appalachian fall foliage
West
Alaska
Alaska travel guide: Denali National Park, glacier cruises and Kenai Peninsula wildlife — budget camping, family cruising, luxury lodges and a map.
Late May–early September for accessible weather and wildlife activity; June–July for the longest daylight
Arizona
Arizona travel guide: the Grand Canyon's rim trails, Sedona's red rocks and Phoenix's desert luxury — budget, family and luxury tips, real costs and a map.
March–May and September–November for most of the state; December–February for Phoenix and Sedona's mild winter warmth
California
California travel guide: Yosemite's granite cliffs, the Pacific Coast Highway and San Francisco's neighborhoods — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
April–June and September–October for most of the state; year-round for Southern California's mild climate
Colorado
Colorado travel guide: Rocky Mountain National Park, Denver's mile-high energy and ski towns — budget, family and luxury tips, real costs and a map.
June–September for hiking and Trail Ridge Road's full opening; December–March for skiing
Hawaii
Hawaii travel guide: Oahu's beaches, Maui's Road to Hana and Big Island volcanoes — budget, family and luxury tips, real costs and a map.
April–June and September–November for good weather with lower prices; December–March for whale watching (though also peak season)
Idaho
Idaho travel guide: Sun Valley's mountain resort, Craters of the Moon's volcanic landscape and whitewater rafting — budget, family and luxury tips, a map.
June–September for hiking and rafting; December–March for skiing at Sun Valley
Montana
Montana travel guide: Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road, Big Sky's mountains and Yellowstone's gateway towns — budget, family and luxury tips.
Mid-June–September for Going-to-the-Sun Road's full opening and hiking season
Nevada
Nevada travel guide: Las Vegas's Strip, Lake Tahoe's alpine lake and Red Rock Canyon's desert hiking — budget, family and luxury tips, real costs and a map.
March–May and October–November for Las Vegas's mild desert weather; June–September for Lake Tahoe
New Mexico
New Mexico travel guide: Santa Fe's adobe architecture, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and ancient pueblos — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
April–June and September–October for mild weather; early October for the Balloon Fiesta
Oregon
Oregon travel guide: Crater Lake's deep blue water, Portland's food scene and a quieter Pacific coastline — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
July–September for Crater Lake's full accessibility; June–September for the coast
Utah
Utah travel guide: Zion, Bryce Canyon and Arches National Parks, plus Salt Lake City — budget camping, family pacing, luxury lodges and a map.
April–May and September–October for comfortable temperatures across all five parks
Washington
Washington travel guide: Seattle's Pike Place Market, Mount Rainier's glaciers and Olympic's rainforest — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
July–September for Mount Rainier's wildflowers and Olympic National Park's driest weather
Wyoming
Wyoming travel guide: Yellowstone's geysers, Grand Teton's iconic peaks and Jackson Hole's mountain-town charm — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
Late May–September for full park access; June–August for peak wildlife activity
Northeast
Connecticut
Connecticut travel guide: Mystic Seaport, Litchfield Hills and the Gold Coast — budget stays, family pacing, luxury inns, real costs and a map.
Late September–late October for foliage; June for mild coastal weather with thinner crowds
Maine
Maine travel guide: Acadia National Park, Portland's food scene and the rocky coast — budget camping, family pacing, luxury inns, costs and a map.
Mid-June through early September for warm coastal weather; early-mid October for fall foliage inland
Massachusetts
Massachusetts travel guide: Boston's Freedom Trail, Cape Cod beaches and the Berkshires — budget stays, family pacing, luxury inns, costs and a map.
Late May–June and September for Boston; July–August for Cape Cod; early October for the Berkshires
New Hampshire
New Hampshire travel guide: the White Mountains, Lake Winnipesaukee and a short scenic coast — budget camping, family pacing, luxury inns and a map.
Late September–mid-October for foliage; July–August for the lakes and coast
New Jersey
New Jersey travel guide: the Jersey Shore boardwalks, Cape May's Victorian charm and the Pine Barrens — budget, family and luxury options, plus a map.
Late June–early September for the Shore; September–October for Cape May and mild city weather
New York
New York travel guide: NYC's boroughs, Niagara Falls and the Finger Lakes wine country — budget, family and luxury plans, real costs and a map.
April–June and September–October for NYC and the Finger Lakes; June–August for Niagara Falls and the Adirondacks
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania travel guide: Philadelphia's history, Amish Country's farmland and the Pocono Mountains — budget, family and luxury options, plus a map.
April–June and September–October for Philadelphia and Amish Country; year-round for Hershey
Rhode Island
Rhode Island travel guide: Newport's Gilded Age mansions, the Cliff Walk and Block Island — budget, family and luxury options, real costs and a map.
Late May–June and September for mild weather with thinner crowds; July–August for beach season
Vermont
Vermont travel guide: covered bridges, maple sugarhouses and Stowe's mountains — budget camping, family pacing, luxury inns, real costs and a map.
Late September–mid-October for foliage; July–August for hiking and lake activities
Midwest
Illinois
Illinois travel guide: Chicago's skyline and food, historic Route 66 and Lincoln's hometown Springfield — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
May–June and September–October for Chicago; year-round for Springfield's indoor history sites
Indiana
Indiana travel guide: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indiana Dunes' beaches and covered-bridge country — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
May–June and September for mild weather; late May for the Indianapolis 500
Iowa
Iowa travel guide: the State Fair, the Field of Dreams movie site and the Amana Colonies — budget, family and luxury tips, real costs and a map.
Mid-August for the Iowa State Fair; May–June and September for milder countryside travel
Kansas
Kansas travel guide: the Flint Hills prairie, Dodge City's cowboy history and a short Route 66 stretch — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
April–June for green prairie and mild weather; September–October for comfortable temperatures and fall color
Michigan
Michigan travel guide: Mackinac Island's car-free charm, Sleeping Bear Dunes and Detroit's revival — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
June–August for lake beaches and Mackinac Island; late September–October for fall color in the north
Minnesota
Minnesota travel guide: Minneapolis-St. Paul's twin-city energy, 10,000 lakes and the Boundary Waters — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
June–August for lakes and Boundary Waters canoeing; September for fall color with fewer crowds
Missouri
Missouri travel guide: St. Louis's Gateway Arch, Kansas City barbecue and the Ozark Mountains — budget, family and luxury tips, real costs and a map.
April–June and September–October for St. Louis and Kansas City; May–September for Ozark lake activities
Nebraska
Nebraska travel guide: Chimney Rock's pioneer history, Omaha's zoo and the Sandhills prairie — budget, family and luxury tips, real costs and a map.
May–June and September for mild weather; summer for the Sandhills and outdoor activities
North Dakota
North Dakota travel guide: Theodore Roosevelt National Park's badlands, wild bison and Fargo's quirky charm — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
June–September for warm weather and full park access; September for fewer crowds and cooler hiking
Ohio
Ohio travel guide: Cedar Point's roller coasters, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Amish Country — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
May–June and September for mild weather; June–August for Cedar Point's full season
South Dakota
South Dakota travel guide: Mount Rushmore, the Badlands and Custer State Park's bison herds — budget camping, family pacing, luxury tips and a map.
June–August for full park access and warm weather; September for thinner crowds and cooler hiking
Wisconsin
Wisconsin travel guide: the Dells' water parks, Door County's quiet peninsula and Milwaukee's lakefront — budget, family and luxury tips, plus a map.
June–August for the Dells' water parks and Door County beaches; September–October for cooler touring and fall color