8 Best Destinations to Visit in the USA for UK Travellers
The best destinations to visit in the USA for UK travellers include New York, New Orleans, Nashville, Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, Maui, and Yellowstone. This blog covers real weather updates, daily costs, the best local food, and one essential tip per destination.
The USA is one of those destinations where the hardest part is not deciding whether to go, but deciding where to start. From New Orleans' jazz-soaked streets to the geysers of Yellowstone, the best destinations to visit in the USA, and the most beloved favourite places in the USA sit across a country so vast that each destination feels like a separate country.
A Jetpac eSIM installed before you depart from the UK means your phone connects to US networks the moment you land, with maps, bookings, and transport apps live from arrivals at JFK, LAX, or O'Hare.
Here are eight of the best places in the USA to explore in 2026.
1. New York City, New York
New York City is the entry point for most first-time visitors and one of the most consistently rewarding favourite places in the USA for those who return.
- Weather: June to August runs 25°C to 32°C with high humidity. September and October are ideal at 15°C to 22°C.
- Best Food: Bagels from Ess-a-Bagel, a New York slice from Di Fara in Brooklyn, dumplings in Flushing, and a pastrami sandwich from Katz's Delicatessen.
- Cost Per Person: £130 to £220 per day, mid-range. Brooklyn and Queens offer significantly lower hotel costs than Manhattan.
Tip: Buy the New York City Pass for major attractions. The Top of the Rock gives cleaner views with shorter queues than the Empire State Building.
2. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is one of the most culturally distinct favourite places in the USA, operating entirely on its own terms with a French Creole identity, live jazz on every corner, and a food culture unlike anywhere else in North America.
- Weather: March to May and October to November are ideal at 18°C to 25°C. Summer runs 30°C to 35°C with extreme humidity and regular afternoon storms.
- Best Food: Beignets from Café Du Monde, crawfish étouffée, a shrimp po'boy, red beans and rice on Monday, and charbroiled oysters from Drago's.
- Cost Per Person: £90 to £150 per day, mid-range. One of the most affordable and best places to visit in the USA for the quality of experience delivered.
Tip: Stay in the Garden District for a quieter base. Bourbon Street is worth one evening, but the real music is on Frenchmen Street.
3. Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is one of the fastest-growing favourite places in the USA, a city that has moved well beyond its country music identity to deliver excellent food, walkable neighbourhoods, and a live music scene that runs seven nights a week.
- Weather: April to May and September to November offer the most pleasant conditions at 15°C to 22°C. Summers run 30°C to 34°C with high humidity.
- Best Food: Hot chicken from Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, barbecue from Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint, meat-and-three plates at Arnold's Country Kitchen, and banana pudding from The Loveless Cafe.
- Cost Per Person: £85 to £140 per day, mid-range. Nashville is a strong value compared to coastal US cities of comparable quality.
Tip: Book Broadway honky-tonk bars for a weeknight. The music is identical, but the crowds are significantly more manageable.
4. Miami, Florida
Miami is one of the best destinations in the USA for anyone wanting Caribbean warmth, South American food culture, and Art Deco architecture in one city that genuinely never stops.
- Weather: November to April is peak season at 22°C to 28°C with low humidity. Summer runs 30°C to 35°C with daily afternoon thunderstorms from June through September.
- Best Food: Cuban sandwich from Versailles Restaurant in Little Havana, stone crab claws in season from October to May, ceviche in Wynwood, and pastelitos from any Cuban bakery.
- Cost Per Person: £120 to £190 per day, mid-range. Wynwood, Little Havana, and Brickell offer considerably better value than South Beach.
Tip: Spend a morning in the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Vizcaya is one of the most underrated favourite places in the USA, a Venetian-style estate on Biscayne Bay that most visitors completely miss.
5. San Francisco, California
San Francisco is among the best places in the USA for those who want West Coast culture, world-class food markets, and day trips to Napa Valley and Muir Woods within 90 minutes. One of the most photographed favourite places in the USA.
- Weather: San Francisco's summer is famously cool and foggy, averaging 14°C to 18°C in July and August. The warmest months are September and October at 18°C to 22°C. Pack layers regardless of the month.
- Best Food: Sourdough clam chowder in a bread bowl at the Ferry Building, dim sum in the Richmond District, a Mission burrito from La Taqueria, and Dungeness crab in season from November to June.
- Cost Per Person: £150 to £240 per day, mid-range. One of the most expensive and best cities in the USA for accommodation. Book early for significantly lower rates.
Tip: Use a Jetpac eSIM to navigate the Muni public transport system. The app integration for cable cars, buses, and metro requires consistent data for real-time updates.
6. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is one of the most underappreciated best places in the USA and a genuine favourite place in the USA for those who have been, delivering architecture, deep-dish pizza, live blues, and lakefront access without the visitor fatigue of New York or Los Angeles.
- Weather: June to August runs 22°C to 28°C with low humidity. Spring and autumn are ideal for a first visit.
- Best Food: Deep-dish pizza from Lou Malnati's, Chicago-style hot dog from Portillo's, a beef Italian sandwich, and Chicago-style popcorn from Garrett Popcorn.
- Cost Per Person: £100 to £170 per day mid-range. Strong value compared to New York and San Francisco.
Tip: Take a Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise. One of the finest architecture tours in the world, covering 50 landmark buildings from the water.
7. Maui, Hawaii
Maui is one of the most geographically dramatic favourite places in the USA, combining the Road to Hana's waterfalls, Haleakala Crater's volcanic summit, and resort towns like Ka'anapali and Wailea in one island accessible on a single flight from the mainland.
- Weather: Year-round warmth at 26°C to 30°C on the coast. The west and south coasts receive significantly less rain than the north and east. Haleakala summit sits above cloud level at 3,055 metres.
- Best Food: Fresh poke bowls from Foodland, shave ice from Ululani's, grilled fish at Mama's Fish House, Maui onion soup, and malasadas from Home Maid Bakery.
- Cost Per Person: £180 to £280 per day mid-range. Hawaii is among the most expensive and the best destinations in the USA. Book accommodation at least three months ahead.
Tip: Drive the Road to Hana on a weekday, starting before 7 am. The 64-mile route has 617 curves and 59 bridges, and traffic in high season makes afternoon starts genuinely unpleasant.
8. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone is one of the most extraordinary favourite places in the USA, and among the best places in the USA, a supervolcano with geysers, hot springs, bison herds, and wolf packs operating on their own schedule.
- Weather: June to September is the viable window for most visitors at 15°C to 25°C in daytime. Snow is possible at any time of year.
- Best Food: Jackson Hole, the nearest town, has excellent dining. Try Snake River Grill for elk, Local Restaurant for breakfast, and Liberty Burger for a classic American meal.
- Cost Per Person: £120 to £200 per day, mid-range. Note that park entry for UK visitors costs $35 per vehicle plus a $100 per person surcharge for every non-US resident aged 16 and over, introduced in January 2026. A couple pays $235 to enter.
Tip: Book Yellowstone lodges through xanterra.com up to twelve months ahead. In-park accommodation sells out by February. Install a Jetpac eSIM for USA travel before entering, as mobile coverage inside is extremely limited.
From Bagels to Bison: Jetpac for the USA
The USA is a country where data is not optional. Every Uber, every restaurant booking, every National Park timed entry ticket, every subway navigation runs through a phone. Arriving without working data means starting behind before you have even cleared customs.
Standard home carrier roaming in the USA runs from £5 to £15 per device per day, adding up fast across a ten-day multi-city trip.
An eSIM for the USA from Jetpac installs before you board and activates on landing, connecting automatically to the strongest US network across all eight destinations. A second eSIM for the USA keeps your UK number active for bank authentication. One plan. Eight states. Zero roaming bills.
📡 Unrestricted hotspot sharing for every device: Share data freely across phones, tablets, and laptops with no per-device charges, whether you are in Midtown Manhattan or the Wyoming backcountry.
🗺️ Google Maps and WhatsApp stay on even after data runs out: A Jetpac eSIM ensures that navigation and messaging keep working even at zero balance, so no one gets stranded on the Road to Hana or the wrong side of the Chicago River.
⚡ Connects automatically to the strongest US network: From New York's dense 5G to rural Wyoming's remote towers, Jetpac locks onto the best available signal at every location.
💸 Up to 70% Cheaper than UK carrier roaming: One flat prepaid cost covers the entire US trip across every state on your itinerary. Jetpac eSIM offers plans up to 70% cheaper than traditional roaming.
📞 Calls to the UK for $1.99 per 5 Minutes: Built directly into the Jetpac app. No international calling plan required.
✅ 100% Money-Back Guarantee: 24/7 support via WhatsApp and email throughout your USA trip.
FAQs
Which are the best destinations to visit in the USA?
New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Maui consistently rank among the favourite places in the USA for international visitors. For a first trip from the UK, a combination of New York and one other city gives a strong introduction to how geographically and culturally diverse the country is. Across all eight, these are genuinely the best destinations to visit in the USA for anyone making the transatlantic journey for the first time or the fifth.
What is the best time of the year to visit the USA?
It depends entirely on the destination. New York and Chicago are best in September and October. New Orleans peaks in spring and autumn. Miami runs best from November through April. Yellowstone is only accessible from June through September. Hawaii is a year-round destination.
Which US destinations are the best for families?
Maui, Chicago, and New York have the strongest family infrastructure. Orlando's theme parks are the most specifically family-oriented destination in the country. For visitors with children, New York delivers the most concentrated range of family experiences within walking distance.
Is the USA expensive for tourists?
Mid-range daily costs run from £85 in Nashville to £280 in Maui. New York and San Francisco are the most expensive. New Orleans and Nashville deliver the strongest value.
How many days do you need to explore the USA?
Two weeks covering New York, New Orleans, and one national park delivers a genuinely varied picture of the country without feeling rushed. The best places to destinations in the USA reward slower itineraries.
Do international travellers need a visa to visit the USA?
UK citizens do not need a visa under the Visa Waiver Programme. ESTA authorisation is required at esta.cbp.dhs.gov, valid for two years, covering multiple trips of up to 90 days.
Do I need a SIM Card or eSIM when travelling in the USA?
Yes. A travel eSIM from Jetpac is the most practical option for visitors. It installs before departure, activates on landing in the USA, and covers every destination on this list without a physical SIM card or airport phone shop visit. For UK travellers specifically, the dual-SIM setup of keeping a home number active while running Jetpac for local data is the most practical configuration for any US trip.
Disclaimer
Cost estimates are approximate. Always verify ESTA requirements at esta.cbp.dhs.gov before departure. Jetpac is not responsible for changes after publication.
