Best weekend getaways in the US

While traveling in a country as big as the USA can be daunting, you have to start somewhere. Why not a weekend getaway?

Among the country’s extraordinary array of climates, regions and cultures, it’s not hard to find tempting options for a big-city exploration, small-town adventure and epic road trip. The hardest part? Deciding where to go. Which is why we’ve asked four expert writers based in different parts of the USA to share their favorite weekend getaways.

Wherever you are or want to go, there’s an ideal trip for you.

Best weekend getaways in the South

Writer DeAnna Taylor has visited all seven continents. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, she has also spent plenty of time exploring her local stomping grounds.

Hocking Hills, Ohio

Best for families

Perched on the edge of Appalachia, Hocking Hills features waterfalls, caves, forests and hemlock-covered gorges that are great for family excursions. Small-town hospitality makes everything accessible, including cozy inns and old-school diners. Try tube-floating on the Hocking River, zip-lining through the forest or gazing at the night sky at the John Glenn Astronomy Park.

Savannah, Georgia

Best for couples

Cozy up with your significant other for a romantic carriage ride under Savannah’s famous oaks draped with Spanish moss. Make a pit stop at scenic Forsyth Park to snap a few photos by the famous fountain. Or stroll hand-in-hand as you peruse the vendors and artisans in Savannah City Market. Consider dropping into The Grey for dinner – the restaurant of famed chef Mashama Bailey and John Morisano – and don’t forget to order the oxtail pot roast and Dutch Fork pumpkin soup. With plenty of romantic things to do, Savannah is a great weekend getaway for couples.

South End, Charlotte, North Carolina

Best for foodies

South End is easily one of Charlotte’s most bustling neighborhoods, with dozens of locally owned eateries and breweries competing for hungry visitors. For Asian fare, order a feast of crispy pork belly, bao buns, soy-pickled deviled eggs, and sweet and mild wings at Seoul Food Meat Company. If you prefer Mexican-inspired flavors, visit Tacos Rick-O on the patio of Hoppin’ CLT for some of the area’s best birria preparations. At Resident Culture Brewing, El Toro Bruto serves up killer breakfast tacos and pan dulce (sweet pastries). Just don’t forget to grab a chocolate chai or gingerbread matcha from the coffee counter.

Asheville, North Carolina

Best for art and culture lovers

Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, charming and eclectic Asheville is a great getaway for those who truly appreciate the beauty of street art. Spend some time in the River Arts District to get your fill of ever-changing murals, art galleries and even interactive glassblowing at the North Carolina Glass Center. While there, swing by White Duck Taco for a unique menu that includes tacos made with Thai peanut chicken, jerk chicken and lamb gyro. Asheville is a fantastic choice for a weekend trip from cities like Charlotte, and Knoxville, or even a scenic drive from Atlanta.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Best for outdoorsy families

Whether you’re traveling as a family or solo, this mountainous Tennessee town is the perfect nature escape. Take the SkyLift for a 2.1-mile ride offering aerial views of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Or simply spend a day hiking the surrounding trails, leaving time for a serene picnic surrounded by nature (you may even spot wild elk). In the winter, grab your skis or snowboard for a day of thrills at Ober Mountain.

Austin, Texas

Best for nightlife

For fun into the wee hours, Downtown Austin is where you’ll want to go – Rainey St in particular. After famed 6th St, this bustling district is the city’s second-largest entertainment hub, with plenty of bars, live-music venues and eateries. If you’re longing for a Caribbean getaway without having to leave the country, Idle Hands serves up a range of tropics-inspired cocktails.

Miami, Florida

Best for beach lovers and nightlife

Miami offers the perfect blend of sun, sea, and vibrant nightlife. Spend your days lounging on the famous South Beach, exploring the colorful Art Deco District, or indulging in delicious Cuban cuisine in Little Havana. At night, the city comes alive with world-class clubs, bars, and live music venues. There is so much to see and do in Miami!

Wynwood Walls, an open-air street art installation, showcases vibrant murals that capture social change, innovation, and human emotion with vivid colors and dynamic compositions. This area is a hub for global artistic creativity and expression. Airfare to Miami is typically inexpensive, making it one of the most accessible destinations for last-minute Labor Day weekend getaways.

Best weekend getaways on the West Coast

Originally from Colorado, Tyler Wildeck is a writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has spent most of his adult life roaming the Western USA.

San Juan Islands, Washington

Best for rustic vibes and romance

For adventurous weekenders, the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State showcase some of the Pacific Northwest’s rarest wildlife. Orcas, the San Juans’ most notable island, is home to three resident pods of killer whales, who are commonly spotted just offshore as they hunt for salmon. The islands also boast the largest concentration of bald eagles in the contiguous United States.

In addition to copious wildlife viewing, hiking and kayaking, the most populous islands offer a variety of engaging historic sites, restaurants and rustic lodges for a weekend’s stay. Just don’t forget to book your ferry boat (or floatplane) ahead of time.

San Francisco, California

Best for urbanites at heart

San Francisco is synonymous with West Coast culture for a reason. Where else can you find stunning ocean views, top-tier eats and a wealth of shopping, arts and nightlife? The city truly has it all – and while a weekend isn’t enough to see the whole city, it’s enough to make you want to come back many times over. Whether you’re romping around the Mission in search of the perfect cocktail, taking in a Giants game at Oracle Park (two words: garlic fries) or going on a spending spree at the shops around Union Square, there is hardly a better place to spend a weekend away than the City by the Bay.

Astoria, Oregon

Best for history buffs

Situated at the mouth of the Columbia River on Oregon’s coast, Astoria is just a 90-minute drive from nearby Portland. Great for history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts looking for a weekend at the end of the Oregon Trail, Astoria offers the chance to learn about the earliest days of the fur trade in North America and to visit the famous Fort Clatsop, where the Lewis and Clark expedition spent the winter of 1805. (The current fort has been reconstructed to match the original design, and is part of the larger Lewis & Clark National Historical Park.) Spend your weekend getting lost in the stories of river fording and salmon fishing – and, if you’re brave enough, cast a line for your own gigantic sturgeon, one of the coastal site’s most famous undersea creatures.

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Best for a family camping trip

For casual outdoorsy types looking for an easy weekend getaway, Joshua Tree National Park offers a wonderful blend of scenery and outdoor activities, with a notably thinner crowd than popular Yosemite to the north. Just two hours from the Los Angeles area, Joshua Tree offers convenience and a unique desert ecosystem that make it a premium location for a weekend camping trip, and its hiking, world-class rock climbing and stargazing rival anywhere in the US. Bonus points for staying up late enough to snag a picture of the otherworldly Joshua trees underneath a canopy of stars.

Los Angeles, California

Best for beach and city blend

Los Angeles provides a diverse array of activities, from the sandy beaches of Santa Monica and Malibu to the glitz and glamor of Hollywood. Spend your days exploring the Getty Villa, hiking in Griffith Park, or strolling through the trendy shops of Melrose Avenue. At night, indulge in the city’s eclectic dining scene or catch a show at one of its iconic venues. The Griffith Observatory offers breathtaking views of the city and the stars above, along with fascinating exhibits about space and science.

Best weekend getaways in the Northeast

Marcia DeSanctis is a writer based in rural Connecticut, whose travels have taken her to Uzbekistan, Rwanda, Egypt – and all over the northeastern United States.

Ogunquit, Maine

Best for New England seaside atmosphere

Sometimes it’s the classics that awaken a sense of discovery, and Ogunquit is quintessential Maine. To visit is to experience the wonderfully familiar ⁠– like sensory comfort food – since the air here is tinged with the smells of ocean spray and seafood shacks. Drift through Perkins Cove, the weathered downtown fishing village, and stop for salt-water taffy at Perkins Cove Candies. Try a perfect lobster roll at Barnacle Billy’s between May and November, and all year long at Nubb’s Lobster Shack.

Ogunquit has a dreamy, white-sand public beach, and beyond it lies the Marginal Way, a dramatic, wind-whipped coastal trail along which you can contemplate the Atlantic Ocean to the sounds of waves smashing the granite cliffs.

Providence, Rhode Island

Best for a foodie and cocktail break

Like a lot of American cities that were once down on their luck, the Rhode Island capital has come roaring back. Once the overlooked little brother of mighty Boston, Providence now draws plenty of visitors thanks to its fabulous architectural treasures, plus such intimate, historic neighborhoods as Federal Hill, the city’s vibrant Little Italy. Here, amid the old brick and wooden buildings, you’ll find one of the neighborhood’s (and the city’s) most distinctive dishes: French fries with meatballs at Angelo’s, an institution since 1924.

Urban revivals often center around a food and bar scene – and in this arena, Providence seems to be constantly, brilliantly innovating. For modern takes on classic bars downtown, Eddy is a modern speakeasy, while Clementine, owned by the city’s former mayor, offers small plates and innovative drinks. In the Fox Point neighborhood, Glou has a minimal, almost Scandinavian vibe. Try the crudo – raw, sustainably caught fish – at Oberlin; its chef and owner Benjamin Sukle is one of the most celebrated chefs in America. And don’t miss the ice cream sandwiches at Tricycle.

Washington, Connecticut

Best for art ⁠– and R&R

Located in northwest Connecticut, the town of Washington is an ideal base for a spin around the scenic Litchfield Hills. Full of working farms, broad New England vistas and a pervading sense of tranquility, the town has lured artists, writers and all manner of creators (think Alexander Calder, Frank McCourt and Christine Baranski) looking to escape the din of New York City, just two hours away.

It is fitting, then, that you can visit world-class art galleries right in town: photography at KMR Arts and painting, sculpture and ceramics (and an unmatched April-to-October farmers market) at the Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens. Browse the shelves at cozy independent bookstore Hickory Stick (and find signed copies from authors who call the area home, including Dani Shapiro, Lisa Taddeo, Courtney Maum and Sarah Albee); bring proper shoes for any of the 18 miles of lush trails at Steep Rock Preserve; and put on something a little fancier – but not too fancy! – for craft cocktails and a sublime, locally sourced dinner at Community Table.

Hudson, New York

Best for shopping and charm

Just two hours north of Manhattan, Hudson draws both tastemakers and weekend wanderers. The whaling industry ⁠– thanks to which Hudson became a 19th-century boomtown⁠– eventually faltered, yet the city retains the era’s elegant Queen Anne and Victorian bones, and much of it has been lovingly and stylishly restored. The main thoroughfare, Warren St, is lined with handsome mini-mansions, coffee bars, Scandinavian antique stores and low-key-chic clothing boutiques like Unracked. On the to-do list: brunch at Tavern in the movie theater-turned-hotel Rivertown Lodge; real French crêpes at Le Gamin; a visit to Olana, painter Frederic Church’s stunning residence above the Hudson River, which also has several miles of trails; and made-in-the-USA basics at Hudson Clothier. Hudson is one of the best NYC weekend getaways, coming from New York City or Albany, and you’re close enough to see the Catskills!

Kancamagus Hwy, New Hampshire

Best for a scenic drive and the great outdoors

To born-and-bred Yankees, Rte 112, the scenic New Hampshire highway known locally as “the Kanc,” is the prettiest drive in the northeast. For raw, sheer, bold beauty, it is textbook New England, blazing red and orange come fall-foliage season. It is also ideal the rest of the year, with less traffic along the 35-mile mountain gap (and its many connected trails) through New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest ⁠– home to Mt Washington and Franconia Notch State Park, both nearby.

Begin in the ski town of Conway and head west. The route is jam-packed with natural beauty and plenty of hiking trails, so by all means pull over and veer off to stretch your legs, take in the views and chase the seven waterfalls cascading over granite rock faces along the way. Among the loveliest sights: picturesque Albany Covered Bridge, built in 1858; the cascade, lake and footbridge at Rocky Gorge; roaring Sabbaday Falls; the Pemigewassett Overlook, with its panoramic vistas of the Osceola Mountains; and Franconia Falls, with naturally carved chutes and slides for a cool dip in summer. At the end of your drive, you’ll be in the fanciful town of Lincoln.

New York City, New York

Best for urban exploration and culture

New York City is an iconic destination that offers an endless array of activities. Spend a long weekend exploring Central Park, visiting world-class museums like the MET and MoMA, or taking in a Broadway show. At night, indulge in the city’s diverse culinary scene, ranging from street food to Michelin-starred restaurants. The High Line, a linear park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side, offers a unique perspective on the city with beautifully landscaped gardens, art installations, and stunning views of the Hudson River. New York City also makes for a perfect romantic road trip for couples.

Boston, Massachusetts

Best for history buffs and cultural enthusiasts

Boston seamlessly blends the historic charm of its colonial past with the vibrancy of a modern metropolis. Walk the Freedom Trail to visit iconic sites like the Paul Revere House and Boston Common. Explore world-renowned museums like the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Don’t miss a stroll through the picturesque neighborhoods of Beacon Hill and the North End. The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum offers an interactive experience that brings a pivotal moment in American history to life. For those on a budget, we’ve curated a fantastic list of free things to do in Boston just for you!

Best weekend getaways in the Midwest

Rosalind Cummings-Yeates is a Chicago-born-and-bred writer with deep expertise in all things related to the Windy City (she’s written two books on her hometown) as well as the wider Midwest.

Door County, Wisconsin

Best for outdoor escapades

Five state parks, forests, orchards, sand dunes, sea caves and 300 miles of dazzling shoreline make Door County, Wisconsin, the ultimate natural paradise. This all-season outdoor getaway boasts near-endless recreation options along dozens of scenic trails. The peninsula encompasses a cluster of charming small towns, and travelers can explore the landscapes of each one. After hiking, boating or climbing lighthouses, the signature Door County experience is a fish boil. This centuries-old Scandinavian tradition involves a master boiler who oversees a big cauldron of whitefish – as they toss kerosene on an open fire.

Kansas City, Missouri

Best for a (mid-sized) city break

Over 200 fountains cascade water all over Kansas City, giving this Midwest powerhouse the designation of the city with the most working fountains in the world. KC is filled with surprises like this, making it the perfect mid-sized-city getaway. Munching through mounds of sweet and spicy barbecue and checking out the city’s notable jazz heritage at clubs and at the American Jazz Museum are definite musts. But there are also unexpected gems like the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the 22-acre sculpture park at the world-class Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art – not to mention delightful independent shops.

Chicago, Illinois

Best for culture lovers

Chi-town supplies everything from food and art to music and architecture in big, memorable doses. The Midwest’s largest city, Chicago pulses with history and excitement, whether you opt for a famous excursion like an architecture tour along the lakefront, or a visit to one of its 77 diverse neighborhoods. Come hungry, too – to sample signature dishes like deep-dish pizza, Italian beef and jibarito sandwiches, and then to hit up one of 23 Michelin-starred restaurants. World-class museums including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Field Museum of Natural History explore human achievement, while glorious live music at dozens of blues, jazz and indie clubs is always on offer. The cultural riches shine all year round but the summer brings extra sparkle thanks to dynamic music and art festivals.

Galena, Illinois

Best for historic charm

Cozy up with your partner amid the 19th-century elegance of this former mining town framed by the Galena River, with Victorian houses lining the streets and rolling hills as a backdrop. Stroll through a vineyard and wine-tasting tour, hop on an electric bike or opt for a romantic balloon ride. Galena is also an ideal destination for winemaking weekend getaways. A stop by the Italianate home of 18th US President Ulysses S Grant is a Galena must-do.

Denver, Colorado

Best for outdoor enthusiasts

Denver offers the perfect blend of urban excitement and outdoor adventure. Spend your days exploring the city’s vibrant neighborhoods, visiting the Denver Art Museum, or catching a game at Coors Field. For outdoor enthusiasts, the nearby Rocky Mountains provide endless opportunities for hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. The Denver Botanic Gardens offers a stunning collection of plants from Colorado and around the world, with beautiful themed gardens, water features, and a year-round conservatory.

Washington D.C.

Best for history and monuments

The nation’s capital is filled with iconic landmarks and cultural institutions. Spend your weekend exploring the National Mall, visiting the Smithsonian museums, and taking in historic monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capitol. Don’t miss a visit to the Library of Congress, the world’s largest library, and the National Archives, home to the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The National Gallery of Art features an impressive collection of masterpieces spanning centuries and styles.