100 Best U.S. Summer Travel Destinations
“The world is a book,” observed St. Augustine, “and those who do not travel read only a page.”
One of the few good things about this past crazy year is that it’s allowed us more time to read literal books, but it sure has robbed us of the edifying benefits of travel.
Fortunately, we do seem to be turning a corner, and we’re ready to travel again, especially via that quintessential American journey, the road trip.
If you’re wondering where to wander, the personal-finance site WalletHub has put together a list of the best U.S. cities for summer travel, based on 42 factors ranging from water temperature to number of restaurants. Here’s what they came up with:
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, click here.
- Orlando, Florida
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Austin, Texas
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Los Angeles, California
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Washington, D.C.
- Springfield, Missouri
- San Antonio, Texas
- Wichita, Kansas
- Tampa, Florida
- Tucson, Arizona
- Miami, Florida
- Riverside, California
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Augusta, Georgia
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Chicago, Illinois
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Dayton, Ohio
- Dallas, Texas
- San Francisco, California
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Lafayette, Louisiana
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Denver, Colorado
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Portland, Oregon
- San Diego, California
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Sacramento, California
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Houston, Texas
- New York, New York
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Boston, Massachusetts
- El Paso, Texas
- Syracuse, New York
- Richmond, Virginia
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Columbus, Ohio
- Fresno, California
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- San Jose, California
- Akron, Ohio
- Boise, Idaho
- Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas
- Seattle, Washington
- Rochester, New York
- Corpus Christi, Texas
- Pensacola, Florida
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Bakersfield, California
- Spokane, Washington
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Buffalo, New York
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Palm Bay, Florida
- Sarasota, Florida
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Toledo, Ohio
- Santa Rosa, California
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Greensboro, North Carolina
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Detroit, Michigan
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Daytona Beach, Florida
- McAllen, Texas
- Albany, New York
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Portland, Maine
- Cape Coral, Florida
- Oxnard, California
- Lansing, Michigan
Bon voyage!

For two decades, I worked at political jobs. Then my parents got sick, and I went home to help care for them, and they died, fourteen weeks apart, in their late 60s. And I decided that life is too dear, and too uncertain, to fritter away in political offices. I fought back the sorrow with travel, and started this blog. I believe that passions are more fun when you share them with others, and my hope is to share my passions for travel and culture with you. Welcome! Read more …

I hope that you have loads of fun this summer.
Thanks, John, same to you! We sure deserve it.
You are very welcome.