I Have Been To All 50 States—These Are 15 Most Beautiful Spots (And A Few Bonus Picks You May Have Never Heard Of)
After years of road trips, spontaneous detours, and coast-to-coast exploring, I’ve finally checked off every state on the map. Along the way, I’ve stumbled on landscapes that stopped me in my tracks—places where the view does all the talking and the photos never quite do it justice.
Some are famous for a reason, others are barely whispered about, but each one has earned its place on this list. These are the spots that stayed with me long after I left—and the ones I think should be on every traveler’s radar.
1. Glacier National Park, Montana
Towering peaks scrape the sky while crystal-clear lakes mirror the surrounding wilderness. Glacier National Park offers over 700 miles of hiking trails through some of America’s most pristine alpine scenery.
The famous Going-to-the-Sun Road winds through the heart of this natural wonder, providing easy access to spectacular viewpoints.
2. Nā Pali Coast, Hawaii
Emerald cliffs plunge dramatically into the azure Pacific, creating a coastline that seems almost otherworldly. The rugged terrain is accessible only by boat, helicopter, or for the adventurous, an 11-mile hike along the Kalalau Trail.
Cathedral-like valleys and pristine beaches of the Nā Pali coast have served as backdrops for numerous films.
3. Acadia National Park, Maine
Rocky Atlantic shores meet dense forests in this northeastern paradise. Sunrise from Cadillac Mountain offers the first glimpse of daylight in the continental United States during certain times of year.
Acadia’s 27-mile Park Loop Road connects the park’s highlights, including Thunder Hole where waves crash dramatically into a narrow inlet, creating thunderous sounds.
4. Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah
Massive sandstone buttes rise from the desert floor like ancient sentinels. The distinctive landscape straddles the Arizona-Utah border within the Navajo Nation, creating an iconic southwestern panorama instantly recognizable worldwide.
Monument Valley’s red-rock formations have starred in countless films, commercials, and photographs as the quintessential American West backdrop.
5. Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
Cobalt blue waters shimmer between snow-capped mountains in this alpine jewel. The clarity of the lake is legendary – on calm days, you can see over 70 feet deep into its crystal waters.
Lake Tahoe provides year-round beauty with summer boating, fall colors, winter skiing, and spring wildflowers making it a true four-season destination.
6. Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee/North Carolina
Rolling waves of forested peaks disappear into the distance, often shrouded in their namesake mist. America’s most visited national park showcases southern Appalachian wilderness at its finest, with over 850 miles of trails.
The Great Smoky Mountains host one of the world’s best examples of temperate deciduous forest, with unmatched biodiversity including more tree species than all of northern Europe.
7. Oregon Coast, Oregon
Wild and untamed, this 363-mile shoreline features dramatic headlands, enormous sea stacks, and pristine beaches. Public access to the entire coastline is guaranteed by state law, making it America’s most democratic shore.
Constantly changing weather of the Oregon coast creates spectacular storm-watching opportunities, especially at famous spots like Cannon Beach with its iconic Haystack Rock.
8. Aspen In Autumn, Colorado
Golden leaves shimmer against azure skies in this seasonal Rocky Mountain masterpiece. The quaking aspens create an effect like nothing else – thousands of heart-shaped leaves trembling in unison, catching sunlight like natural stained glass.
Maroon Bells near Aspen offers perhaps the most photographed mountain scene in Colorado, especially when fall colors peak in late September.
9. Palouse Region, Washington
Rolling hills create a patchwork quilt of farmland in this photographic paradise. Spring and early summer transform the landscape into undulating waves of green wheat fields, while harvest brings golden hues.
The Palouse’s distinctive topography was formed by wind-blown silt deposits over millennia, creating some of the most fertile and visually striking agricultural land in America.
10. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Ancient mountains stretch along Skyline Drive, offering panoramic vistas at every turn. Fall transforms Shenandoah’s wilderness into a kaleidoscope of reds, oranges and yellows that blanket the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Its proximity to Washington D.C. makes it an accessible escape, yet its 200,000 acres of protected wilderness feel worlds away from urban life.
11. Maroon Bells, Colorado
Twin peaks reflected in crystal-clear Maroon Lake create nature’s perfect mirror image. Early morning visits reward photographers with still waters that perfectly capture the symmetry of these distinctive mountains.
The Maroon Bells earned their name from their distinctive color – reddish-brown sedimentary mudstone that contrasts dramatically with surrounding evergreens and seasonal wildflowers.
12. Sedona Red Rocks, Arizona
Fiery sandstone formations glow at sunset in this desert wonderland. The unique energy of this landscape has attracted spiritual seekers for decades, with many believing the area contains special energy vortexes.
Sedona’s red rock country offers over 200 miles of trails for hikers and mountain bikers, with Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock among the most photographed landmarks.
13. Door County, Wisconsin
Charming coastal villages dot this peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan. Five state parks showcase limestone bluffs, sandy beaches, and dense forests along 300 miles of shoreline.
Door County’s cherry orchards explode with blossoms each spring, while fall brings vibrant colors to the hardwood forests. The 19th-century lighthouses standing sentinel along the coast add historic charm.
14. Big Sur, California
Rugged cliffs plunge dramatically into the Pacific along Highway 1. The Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the ocean, creating one of America’s most spectacular coastal drives, Big Sur.
Bixby Bridge has become an iconic landmark, while McWay Falls offers the rare sight of a waterfall emptying directly onto a pristine beach.
15. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Otherworldly rock formations create a lunar-like landscape of striped buttes and spires. The layered rock tells a 75-million-year geological story, with bands of color representing different eras of earth’s history.
Badlands National Park protects one of the world’s richest fossil beds, where ancient horses and rhinos once roamed. Today, bison and bighorn sheep wander among the surreal formations.
16. Driftless Area, Iowa
Forgotten by glaciers, this hidden Midwest treasure features steep limestone bluffs and winding river valleys. Unlike the surrounding flatlands, the Driftless Area escaped being smoothed by ice sheets during the last glaciation.
Iowa’s portion of this unique region offers dramatic topography that surprises first-time visitors. Trout streams wind through valleys between wooded hills that blaze with color each autumn.
17. Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona
Volcanic eruptions created this “Wonderland of Rocks” with balanced boulders and towering hoodoos. Erosion transformed ash deposits into an 8-mile labyrinth of stone columns, some balancing improbably atop one another.
Chiricahua’s remote location in southeastern Arizona keeps crowds minimal. The monument’s diverse habitat serves as a meeting point for four distinct ecological regions, creating unusual biodiversity.
18. Apostle Islands Sea Caves, Wisconsin
Sandstone caverns line the shores of Lake Superior, transformed by seasons into different natural wonders. Summer allows kayakers to paddle through red stone arches and chambers sculpted by waves.
Winter brings a magical transformation to the Apostle Islands when lake water freezes into curtains of icicles hanging from cave ceilings. The frozen formations create an ice cathedral accessible by walking across the frozen lake.
19. Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico
Ancient petrified logs and bizarre rock formations create an alien landscape in this remote badlands. Wind and water erosion have sculpted fantastical shapes from the soft clay hills, creating what locals call “hoodoos” or “fairy chimneys.”
The Bisti Wilderness requires true exploration – there are no marked trails through its 45,000 acres. Visitors navigate by landmarks through this surreal landscape that feels more like another planet.
20. Cumberland Island, Georgia
Wild horses roam freely across pristine beaches on this undeveloped barrier island. Maritime forests of live oaks draped with Spanish moss create a hauntingly beautiful landscape between marshes and 17 miles of undeveloped beach.
Cumberland Island’s limited ferry access preserves its natural state. The crumbling ruins of Dungeness mansion add a touch of Southern Gothic atmosphere to this wild Atlantic coast sanctuary.