United States
A vast land of opportunity with diverse cities, landscapes, and one of the world's largest economies.
North AmericaTraveler Snapshot: United States
A quick reference for planning your trip: visas, weather, health, and the essentials.
Visa & Entry
For US passport holders
ESTA (visa waiver) for up to 90 days for UK, EU, Australia and other VWP countries; Canadians visa-exempt. Apply for ESTA online before travel.
Weather & Climate
Highly varied: from arctic Alaska to tropical Florida and Hawaii. Every climate zone represented.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round — varies by region and activity.
Health & Vaccinations
No special vaccines required. Keep routine vaccinations current.
Safety
Generally safe. Crime varies by city and neighborhood; be aware of local conditions.
Fast Facts
- Capital: Washington, D.C.
- Currency: US dollar (USD, $)
- Languages: English (Spanish widely spoken)
- Time zone: UTC−5 (East) to UTC−10 (Hawaii)
- Power: Type A/B plugs, 120V
- Emergency: 911
Visa and entry notes here are written for US passport holders on typical short-stay tourism. Requirements vary by nationality, so if you hold a different passport your rules may differ. Guidance can change frequently. Always confirm current requirements with the official embassy, consulate, or a licensed travel-health provider before you travel.
Top Destinations in United States
8 featured cities to explore
FeaturedNew York City
The world's most concentrated city, where five boroughs deliver unmatched career opportunity, culture, and 24-hour energy.
Austin
Live music, startup energy, Hill Country soul
Chicago
America's architecture capital on an inland freshwater sea
Los Angeles
A sprawling Pacific metropolis where entertainment, diversity, sunshine, and beach culture meet in dozens of distinct neighborhoods.
Miami
America's gateway to Latin America, where beach living, a Spanish-speaking business culture, and no state income tax draw a fast-growing expat crowd.
New Orleans
America's most distinctive city, built on jazz, Creole cooking and river mud
San Francisco
A compact, fog-wrapped city on the Pacific defined by tech culture, steep hills, and one of the world's great waterfronts.
Seattle
Coffee, code and mountains on the edge of Puget Sound
Iconic drives in United States
Legendary road trips worth building a trip around, with tolls, timing, and the stops that make them special.
North AmericaPacific Coast Highway
California's State Route 1 hugs the Pacific from the redwoods near San Francisco down to the beaches of Southern California, threading cliffside curves through Big Sur.
North AmericaRoute 66
The "Mother Road" runs from Chicago to Santa Monica across eight states, a nostalgic ribbon of diners, neon motels, and desert Americana.
North AmericaRoad to Hana
Maui's Hana Highway threads more than 600 curves and 50 one-lane bridges past waterfalls, rainforest, and black-sand beaches on the island's wild eastern shore.
North AmericaOverseas Highway (US-1 Florida Keys)
A 182-km drive across 42 bridges connecting the Florida Keys from Key Largo to Key West, with the Atlantic on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, culminating at the southernmost point of the continental US.
Mexico
Canada