What awaits travelers in the USA?
The United States covers roughly 9.83 million km² and had an estimated 342 million inhabitants in 2025. A trip usually focuses on two or three of the five major regions: Northeast, South, Midwest, West Coast and Southwest. Several hours of flying time often separate them, which is why domestic flights are a standard part of many itineraries.
The capital is Washington, D.C.; by far the largest city is New York City. In between lie metropolises with millions of residents, such as Los Angeles and Chicago, but also small towns, national parks and long stretches of open road.
This page organizes the country into five major regions: the Northeast (New York City and the East Coast), the South (Miami and the Gulf of Mexico), the Midwest (Chicago and the Great Lakes), the West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco) and the Southwest (Las Vegas, Grand Canyon). Alaska and Hawaii, both separate states far from the mainland, have their own pages.
Sources: Wikipedia
What kind of destination is the USA?
The United States is organized as a federation: alcohol rules, store opening hours and traffic law differ from state to state, though the minimum drinking age is 21 everywhere. English has been the official federal language by executive order since March 1, 2025; Spanish is widely spoken in border regions near Mexico and in Florida.
Culturally, waves of immigration from Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia have shaped the country, visible in its cuisine, music and neighborhoods: New Orleans with its jazz heritage, San Francisco's Chinatown or Miami's Latino culture all reflect this diversity.
The landscape ranges from rainforest in the Pacific Northwest to the deserts of Nevada and Arizona to subtropical swampland in Florida. There is a three-hour time difference between the East Coast and the West Coast; including Alaska and Hawaii, the country spans six time zones in total.
Firearms: Germany's Federal Foreign Office and Austria's Foreign Ministry point out that firearms are easy to obtain in the US; isolated mass shootings can occur. For travelers this changes little about daily life, but it calls for heightened awareness in crowded places and at large events.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office (Germany) · Wikipedia
Which regions are worth visiting in the USA?
Five major regions define a trip to the USA: the Northeast with New York City, the South with Miami and the Gulf of Mexico, the Midwest with Chicago and the Great Lakes, the West Coast with Los Angeles and San Francisco, and the Southwest with Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Alaska and Hawaii lie far off to the side and have their own pages.
Northeast: New York City and the East Coast
New York City, with Manhattan, Brooklyn and its other boroughs, is by far the country's largest city. The Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island was dedicated on October 28, 1886, a gift from France; the copper figure itself measures 46 m, and 93 m including the pedestal up to the torch. The Northeast also includes Boston, Philadelphia and the capital, Washington, D.C., home to the national museums of the Smithsonian Institution.
South: Miami, the Gulf of Mexico and the Southeast
Miami Beach is known for the largest contiguous collection of Art Deco architecture in the world: the Miami Beach Architectural District comprises around 960 historic buildings across roughly 5,750 acres and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979; most of the buildings date from the 1930s. The South extends from New Orleans with its jazz history through Nashville to Florida's beaches and the Everglades.
Midwest: Chicago and the Great Lakes
Chicago sits on Lake Michigan, the largest of the five Great Lakes on the border with Canada. The Willis Tower stands 442 m tall to its roofline and was the world's tallest building until 1974; its Skydeck observation deck on the 103rd floor draws around 1.7 million visitors a year. The region is largely agricultural, with Detroit, Minneapolis and St. Louis among its other major cities.
West Coast: Los Angeles, San Francisco and California
Los Angeles is known for Hollywood, beaches such as Santa Monica and a large Latino and Asian American population. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco opened on May 27, 1937; its main span measures 1,280 m and its roadway sits 227 m above the water. North and south of the coastal cities lie Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks as well as the Highway 1 coastal drive.
Southwest: Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and the desert
The Las Vegas Strip runs for about 6.8 km and lies mostly outside the city limits, in unincorporated Clark County; resorts such as the Bellagio, the Venetian and Caesars Palace line the street. About 430 km to the east lies the Grand Canyon: over millions of years the Colorado River has carved it up to 1,857 m deep into the Arizona plateau, and the canyon runs 446 km long and 6 to 29 km wide. Other destinations in the region include Zion, Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley in Utah and Arizona.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia
Destinations
Regions with their own page
Islands and regions
When is the best time to visit the USA?
Given the country's size, there is no single best time to visit: the Northeast is most pleasant from May to October, the South has its hurricane season, per Austria's BMEIA and Germany's Foreign Office, from June to November, the Southwest is best in spring and fall because of summer heat, and the West Coast stays mild year-round. The Midwest has cold, sometimes extreme winters and hot, humid summers.
| Region | Good time to go | Watch out for | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast (New York) | May to October | Winter with snowstorms | Indian summer in October is popular |
| South (Miami) | November to April | Hurricane season June to November | Summer is hot and humid |
| Midwest (Chicago) | May to September | Winter very cold, tornadoes in spring/summer | Wind off the lake in winter |
| West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco) | year-round | San Francisco cool and foggy in summer | Wildfire season June to December |
| Southwest (Las Vegas) | March to May, September to November | Summer above 40 °C | Nights cool to cold in winter |
Northeast and Midwest
New York has warm, often humid summers and cold winters with snowfall; early fall, with its colorful foliage, is a popular time to visit. Chicago sits on Lake Michigan and gets extra wind off the lake in winter; its summers are warmer than the Northeast's.
Northeast and Midwest: New York City and Chicago
| New York City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 5 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 19 | 13 | 8 |
| Low °C | -1 | -0 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 6 | 3 |
| Rainfall mm | 99 | 95 | 113 | 107 | 101 | 115 | 114 | 114 | 97 | 124 | 101 | 133 |
| Chicago | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 1 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 18 | 10 | 6 |
| Low °C | -6 | -6 | -1 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 9 | 2 | -2 |
| Rainfall mm | 48 | 54 | 62 | 95 | 117 | 102 | 95 | 105 | 86 | 99 | 61 | 58 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station THE BATTERY (1 km, 4 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station NORTHERLY ISLAND (3 km, 190 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
South
Miami is subtropical: from June to September it is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, and hurricane season, according to Germany's Foreign Office and Austria's BMEIA, runs from June to November with a peak in late summer. From November to April the climate is drier and milder.
South: Miami
| Miami | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 24 |
| Low °C | 19 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 21 |
| Rainfall mm | 44 | 49 | 56 | 76 | 135 | 191 | 165 | 182 | 190 | 124 | 64 | 51 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station VIRGINIA KEY (6 km, 5 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
West Coast and Southwest
Los Angeles is mild and dry year-round, while San Francisco is cooler with summer coastal fog. Las Vegas and the Southwest have a desert climate: hot, dry summers above 40 °C and mild winters with cool nights; spring and fall are the best times for hiking in the Grand Canyon or Zion.
West Coast and Southwest: Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas
| Los Angeles | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 22 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 24 | 21 |
| Low °C | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 9 |
| Rainfall mm | 73 | 75 | 42 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 25 | 65 |
| San Francisco | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 14 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 14 |
| Low °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
| Rainfall mm | 100 | 102 | 82 | 42 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 62 | 138 |
| Las Vegas | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 16 | 19 | 23 | 28 | 33 | 40 | 42 | 41 | 37 | 29 | 21 | 16 |
| Low °C | 4 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 18 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 22 | 15 | 8 | 4 |
| Rainfall mm | 18 | 23 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 18 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station DOWNTOWN L.A./USC CAMPUS (5 km, 55 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SAN FRANCISCO (PIER 1) (3 km, 10 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT (6 km, 667 m), auf 610 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office (Germany) · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA, Austria)
What do you need to enter the USA?
Citizens of Switzerland, Germany and Austria can travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) without a visa for stays of up to 90 days, but they need an ESTA approval in advance and a machine-readable e-passport. ESTA costs USD 40 (as of September 2026) and is valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Citizens of countries outside the VWP need a regular tourist visa (B-2) with an interview at a US embassy.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Program | Visa Waiver Program (VWP); all three countries are members |
| Length of stay | up to 90 days, not extendable |
| Document | ESTA approval in advance plus a machine-readable e-passport |
| ESTA fee | USD 40 |
| ESTA validity | 2 years or until the passport expires |
The ESTA approval is applied for online through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP); Austria's BMEIA recommends completing this at least 72 hours before departure, but no later than before buying tickets. An approved ESTA does not guarantee entry: a CBP officer makes the final decision at the border and may also ask about the purpose and length of the stay.
Anyone not eligible for the VWP, or whose ESTA application is denied, must apply for a regular tourist visa (B-2), according to USAGov: fill out the online DS-160 form, schedule an in-person interview at the relevant US embassy or consulate, and provide evidence there of the purpose of the trip, ties to the home country and financial means to cover the trip.
Gender marker: According to Switzerland's EDA, the ESTA form requires travelers to select "male" or "female" based on the sex recorded at birth.
Working and length of stay: Any paid work without a work permit is prohibited, including unpaid activities. According to Germany's Foreign Office, overstaying the 90 days risks arrest, deportation custody and future entry bans; an extension is not possible under the VWP.
Entry rules can change at short notice. US authorities have the final say; current information for your own nationality is available from Switzerland's EDA, Germany's Federal Foreign Office, Austria's BMEIA and the official ESTA website esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
Sources: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) · U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA, Austria) · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA (Switzerland) · Federal Foreign Office (Germany) · USAGov
What vaccinations and health precautions does the USA require?
There is no mandatory vaccination for entry into the United States. It is recommended to keep routine vaccinations up to date according to the Swiss immunization schedule (polio, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, measles-mumps-rubella, chickenpox); hepatitis B may be worthwhile depending on individual risk. Mosquito protection is important because of locally transmitted dengue cases in Florida and northern Virginia.
healthytravel.ch also mentions West Nile virus, found mainly in Arizona, rabies from contact with wild animals, and occasional cases of legionellosis, including in New York. There is no malaria risk in the United States.
Health insurance is essential: according to Austria's BMEIA, there is no social security agreement between Switzerland, Germany or Austria and the United States, so medical treatment is correspondingly expensive. Travel health insurance covering hospital stays and medical evacuation is standard equipment for travelers from all three countries.
According to Austria's BMEIA, prescription medication in checked or carry-on luggage should be accompanied by a doctor's prescription or a medical certificate, since import rules are strict.
Sources: healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine (EKRM) · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA, Austria)
How safe is the USA for travelers?
Switzerland's EDA, Germany's Federal Foreign Office and Austria's BMEIA generally rate travel to the United States as safe, but they point to crime in large cities, easy access to firearms and seasonal natural hazards. According to Germany's Foreign Office, the risk rises in poorer neighborhoods, especially after dark.
- Crime: Pickpocketing, muggings and car break-ins occur in city centers and parking garages; don't leave valuables visible inside a parked car.
- Gun violence: According to Switzerland's EDA and Austria's BMEIA, easy access to firearms more often leads to their use in crimes, and occasionally to mass shootings; heightened awareness in crowded places and at large events is advisable.
- Natural hazards: Hurricanes in the South (June to November), wildfires on the West Coast (June to December, mainly California), tornadoes in the Midwest and South (spring and summer, the "Tornado Alley" through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska), and earthquakes in California, Nevada and Alaska.
- Demonstrations: Switzerland's EDA, Germany's Foreign Office and Austria's BMEIA advise avoiding demonstrations and large gatherings, since clashes with security forces can occur.
Current situation: Switzerland's EDA, Germany's Federal Foreign Office and Austria's BMEIA.
Sources: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA, Austria) · Federal Foreign Office (Germany) · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA (Switzerland)
How do you get to the USA and travel around the country?
The major gateways are New York (JFK, plus Newark EWR) for the Northeast, Los Angeles (LAX) for the West Coast, Chicago (ORD) for the Midwest, and Miami (MIA) for the South and as a hub to Latin America; San Francisco (SFO) and Las Vegas (LAS) round things out. Nonstop connections from Europe run from numerous capital cities, while connections from Asia run mainly through the West Coast.
| World region | New York (JFK) | Los Angeles (LAX) | Miami (MIA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam, Dublin, Zurich, Geneva | London, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Munich, Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam, Dublin | Madrid, Barcelona, London, Rome, Milan, Paris, Lisbon |
| Asia and Oceania | Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Auckland | Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne | no nonstop flights |
| Middle East | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Tel Aviv | Dubai | Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | over 70 destinations, including Mexico City, Bogotá, São Paulo, Buenos Aires | Mexico City, Cancún, Panama City, Lima, São Paulo | over 60 destinations across Central and South America and the Caribbean |
| Africa | Accra, Dakar (limited) | no nonstop flights | no nonstop flights |
JFK connects nonstop to 191 destinations in 78 countries, and Miami to 199 destinations in 63 countries, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Los Angeles is the main gateway to Asia and the Pacific, with nonstop flights to Tokyo, Sydney and Singapore among others.
Entry formalities at the airport
CBP officers check passports and ESTA approvals at the first US airport you land at, even if you're connecting to a flight further inland; checked baggage is collected there and re-checked for the connecting flight. At many major airports, biometric facial-comparison kiosks and the Mobile Passport Control app speed up the process.
Getting around the country
Because of the distances involved, domestic flights are the primary way to move between regions. On shorter stretches, such as along the East Coast or on Highway 1 on the West Coast, a rental car is worthwhile; according to Germany's Foreign Office, an international driving permit is mandatory in some states and generally recommended everywhere else, in addition to a national driver's license. The minimum age for renting a car is usually 25.
Sources: FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · Federal Foreign Office (Germany)
What currency is used and how do you pay in the USA?
Payment is in US dollars (USD). At the ECB reference rate of September 18, 2026, one euro was worth 1.1460 US dollars. Credit and debit cards are accepted practically everywhere, even for small amounts; cash is mainly needed for tips and small incidentals.
Tipping in the US is not a bonus, it's part of the wage system: at full-service restaurants, according to a Pew Research Center survey, 15 % is the minimum most Americans consider acceptable, while 18 to 20 % is considered standard for good service. For larger groups, a service charge is often added to the bill automatically; check for this before paying.
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon National Park, per vehicle | USD 35 | valid 7 days, South Rim |
| America the Beautiful Annual Pass, US residents | USD 80 | covers entry to most federal lands |
| America the Beautiful Annual Pass, non-residents | USD 250 | for a vehicle or up to 4 people |
| Non-resident surcharge, 11 major parks | USD 100 per person aged 16 and up | in addition to the entrance fee (as of September 2026) |
| Willis Tower Skydeck, Chicago | no official fixed price | varies by vendor and date |
Surcharge in eleven national parks: Eleven major national parks — including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Glacier and Everglades — charge non-US-resident visitors aged 16 and up an additional USD 100 per person on top of the normal entrance fee. Anyone visiting several of these parks often comes out ahead with the USD 250 non-resident annual pass.
ATMs almost always charge a fee from the issuing bank on top of your own bank's fee; larger withdrawals work out cheaper than several small ones. Debit-only cards without credit card functionality (such as pure V-Pay cards) often don't work outside Europe.
Sources: European Central Bank · Pew Research Center · grandcanyon.com · National Park Service (NPS) · National Park Service (NPS)
Where do you stay in the USA?
Accommodation ranges from large hotel chains to boutique hotels and bed-and-breakfasts to vacation rentals; in the national parks of the Southwest, lodges and campgrounds round out the picture. In cities such as New York, San Francisco or Las Vegas, additional taxes and a resort or occupancy fee are often added to the listed room rate.
In Las Vegas, the "resort fee" is part of the business model at nearly every major hotel on the Strip and is charged separately per night, regardless of the room rate booked; it pays to check this with the provider in advance.
In the national parks of the Southwest, the few lodges within the park boundaries are often booked out many months in advance; alternatives can be found in the gateway towns just outside the park entrances, such as Tusayan near the Grand Canyon or Springdale near Zion.
What do people eat and drink in the USA?
The cuisine varies widely by region: Tex-Mex and barbecue in the South and Southwest, Cajun and Creole cooking in New Orleans, seafood in New England, and California cuisine with plenty of fresh produce on the West Coast. Diner classics such as burgers, pancakes and pie are found nationwide.
In Chicago, deep-dish pizza and the Chicago-style hot dog are part of local identity, while in Miami, Cuban and Caribbean influences shape the food scene, from the Cuban sandwich to ceviche.
Alcohol is served only to people aged 21 and older, and photo ID is often requested even from customers who are clearly adults. Drinking outside licensed venues and private spaces is prohibited in most states.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office (Germany)
What culture and festivals shape the USA?
Major holidays include Independence Day on July 4th, with fireworks nationwide, and Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November, when families gather and the big shopping day "Black Friday" follows the next day. Musically, the country's heritage ranges from jazz in New Orleans to country music in Nashville to hip-hop in New York.
Indigenous cultures are especially visible in the Southwest, for example among the Navajo and Hopi around Monument Valley; many reservations offer guided tours, and free photography is often restricted or subject to a fee.
Nude bathing and changing on the beach: depending on the state and beach, this can be classed as "indecent exposure" and lead to a citation. Supervising children: according to Germany's Federal Foreign Office, leaving children unsupervised, especially under age 8, can lead to a neglect report.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office (Germany)
What experiences belong on a trip to the USA?
Highlights include the Statue of Liberty and Central Park in New York, the Golden Gate Bridge and the former prison island of Alcatraz in San Francisco, the Las Vegas Strip, the Skydeck at the Willis Tower in Chicago, and the national parks of the Southwest, including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone.
- Grand Canyon: South Rim open year-round, entry USD 35 per vehicle for 7 days; the Colorado River has carved it up to 1,857 m deep into the plateau.
- Yellowstone: founded in 1872 as the world's first national park, covering roughly 8,983 km², with more than 1,280 known geysers; the park recorded around 4.76 million visits in 2025.
- Las Vegas Strip: roughly 6.8 km of resorts, shows and casinos in unincorporated Clark County, outside the city limits.
- Chicago Skydeck: an observation deck on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, 412 m above the ground, with glass balconies extending over the city.
- National parks of the Southwest: Zion, Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley can be combined with the Grand Canyon into a road trip, often by rental car.
- Miami: the Art Deco district of South Beach, kayak tours through the Everglades and Cuban cuisine in Little Havana.
Access: Eleven major national parks charge non-resident visitors (as of September 2026) an additional USD 100 per person; an America the Beautiful annual pass for non-residents (USD 250) covers entry and the surcharge at all federal lands and is worthwhile after just two or three park visits.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · National Park Service (NPS) · National Park Service (NPS) · grandcanyon.com
How do you travel sustainably in the USA?
The most popular national parks increasingly manage crowds through reservation systems and timed-entry windows for vehicles, for example in parts of Yosemite and at the Grand Canyon during peak periods; arriving outside the high season or early in the morning means quieter trails and less congestion at park entrances.
According to the NPS, the new surcharge for non-resident visitors at eleven major parks goes back into preserving and maintaining federal lands.
During wildfire season, from June to December and especially in California, the rule is: no open fires outside designated fire pits, and check current warnings from park authorities before setting out.
Sources: National Park Service (NPS) · Federal Foreign Office (Germany)
What can be combined with the USA?
The closest options are Canada and Mexico: Niagara Falls, Vancouver or Montreal can be added on from the Northeast or the West Coast, and Cancún and Mexico City from the South or Southwest. Within the US, Alaska and Hawaii add wilderness or Pacific islands to a trip, but their distance from the mainland means they need their own dedicated time.
More on the dedicated pages for Canada, Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii. For Mexico, it's also worth looking at Baja California and Yucatán, two dedicated regional pages.
Crossing the border into Canada or Mexico and back counts as a new entry into the United States: this too requires a valid ESTA or visa again, except for short excursions across certain land borders that have simplified rules.
Who is the USA a good fit for, and who might it suit less?
The USA suits travelers who want to combine cities, national parks and road trips, and who plan for the distances and varying price levels involved. It suits fewer travelers on very short trips trying to hit many stops across different regions, or those with very tight budgets, since entrance fees, tipping and lodging add up.
- Good fit: road trip fans, national park and city travelers, families eyeing theme parks in Florida or California.
- With children: national parks with Junior Ranger programs and big cities are both well set up for families; keep the 21-year drinking age and supervision expectations in mind.
- Less of a fit: anyone trying to cover several far-flung regions in two weeks, or anyone traveling without a credit card and on a tight budget — rental cars, hotels and national park surcharges usually expect a card as a guarantee.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office (Germany) · National Park Service (NPS)