The 35 Most Beautiful Places in America

Of course there are countless stunning sights in the United States, but these breathtaking spots are some of the top places worth adding to the top of your travel bucket list. Even if a cross-country trip isn't in the budget right now, you can still enjoy nature's beauty by scrolling through this list.

Where: Oneonta Gorge, Oregon

Why We Love It: Bountiful plants of any kind are always alluring, but the mix of aquatic and woodland growth is doubly enchanting. The 2.7 mile trail around the gorge is a great place to visit for both beginner and expert hikers alike, according to Oregon.com. We also recommend adding a visit to the nearby Triple Falls.

Where: Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Why We Love It: The word "badlands" is probably not the first thing you think of when you're imagining a beautiful place, but this spot is gorgeous. Not only are the rock formations incredible, but they also possess "one of the world’s richest fossil beds," according to the U.S. National Park Service website.

Where: Mendenhall Glacier Caves, Alaska

Why We Love It: Although it's not exactly easy to get to the 12-mile stretch of partially frozen caverns, the breathtaking sight of these caves makes it so worth it. If you're thinking of visiting, you should act fast: Climate change is causing the ice to melt, according to Atlas Obscura.

Where: Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Why We Love It: Also called "corkscrew canyon," this lesser known area is open for exploration all year round. To get up close and personal with the stunning sandstone, we recommend booking a guided tour.

Where: Thor's Well, Oregon

Why We Love It: Located in the teeny tiny town of Yachats, right by Cape Perpetua, this natural well appears to be a bottomless drain for the surrounding sea. The Atlas Obscura website notes the hole is "most spectacular at high tide."

Where: Angel’s Landing, Utah

Why We Love It: Both beautiful and thrilling, this hike in Zion National Park provides amazing views. The 2.4 mile trail may not be long, but its steep stairs make it a feat. Trust us, though: Those incredible vistas are well worth the climb.

RELATED: The Best Hikes In America

Where: Harbor Town, South Carolina

Why We Love It: With its stunning seaside views, lush green golf course, iconic red-and-white striped lighthouse, and an abundance of restaurants, it’s one of the best spots to sit, relax, and watch the boats go by.

Where: Oak Alley Plantation, Louisiana

Why We Love It: Before you even get to the historic home, you’ll be greeted by a long stretch of 300-year-old oak trees, which frame the Greek Revival manor. You can spend a whole day touring the gorgeous estate, which includes grand porches, elaborate decor, and so many more beautiful elements.

Where: Glacier National Park, Montana

Why We Love It: Views like this are what make this rugged corner of wilderness one of America's most scenic places (plus it's less crowded than Yosemite and the Grand Canyon!).

Where: Honopu Beach, Hawaii

Why We Love It: While there are too many beautiful beaches in Hawaii to pick just one, the remoteness of this stretch of sand on Kauai's Na Pali Coast make it one of our favorites.

Where: Charleston, South Carolina

Why We Love It: With cobblestone-lined streets and Antebellum houses in more shades of pastel than you can count, this small city practically defines Southern charm.

Where: Death Valley National Park, California

Why We Love It: Located on the eastern border of California, Death Valley is America's lowest, hottest, and driest point. But that doesn't make watching the sunset from Zabriskie Point any less beautiful.

Where: Mackinac Island, Michigan

Why We Love It: No cars are allowed on this small island on the strait between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas, making it an idyllic summer getaway.

Where: Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington D.C.

Why We Love It: Dedicated to the third President of the United States, this neoclassical building was inspired by the Roman Pantheon and Jefferson's own design for the Rotunda at the University of Virginia.

Where: Grand Teton, Wyoming

Why We Love It: This mountain is so beautiful that it had an entire national park named after it.

RELATED: Small Mountain Towns Perfect for a Summer Vacation

Where: Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Why We Love It: Located in the Columbia River Gorge, this two-step waterfall is the tallest in Oregon.

Where: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, North Carolina

Why We Love It: While this Outer Banks landmark is the world's tallest brick lighthouse, its graphic black and white spiral is what landed it on this list of beautiful places.

RELATED: The Most Beautiful Lighthouses in America

Where: Cades Cove, Tennessee

Why We Love It: When you visit this isolated valley in the Great Smoky Mountains it feels like you've stepped back in time. Unfortunately, its beauty is no secret so head here in the off season to skip the traffic jam.

Where: Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada

Why We Love It: Surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains on all sides, Lake Tahoe's waters are so clear you can see 70 feet deep.

RELATED: The 50 Most Beautiful Lakes in America

Where: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Why We Love It: When Thomas Jefferson visited in 1783 he called this small town where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet "perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in nature."

Where: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Why We Love It: While the Sangre de Cristo Mountains may seem to dwarf them, Colorado's Great Sand Dunes are actually the highest sand dunes in North America.

Where: Florida Keys, Florida

Why We Love It: Florida is home to over a thousand miles of America's coastline, including the string of tropical islands that make up the state's southern tip.

Where: Skagit Valley, Washington

Why We Love It: You don't need to fly all the way to Holland to see some of the world's prettiest tulip fields, which are located just 60 miles north of Seattle.

Where: Texas Hill Country, Texas

Why We Love It: The countryside west of Austin and north of San Antonio explodes in a riot of colorful Texas Bluebonnets every April.

Where: Colorado River, Arizona

Why We Love It: While the Colorado River flows all the way from the Rocky Mountains to Mexico, head to Horseshoe Bend near the border of Arizona and Utah for the most Instagrammable view.

Where: Arlington Green Covered Bridge, Vermont

Why We Love It: Vermont has over 100 covered bridges, but the structure in Arlington is one of the state's oldest and best preserved examples.

Where: Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico

Why We Love It: Often referred to as the "Grand Canyon with a roof on top," Carlsbad Cavern is part of a massive system of over 100 limestone caves hidden beneath the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Where: Hamilton Pool, Texas

Why We Love It: Located 30 miles west of Austin, the grotto at Hamilton Pool was created thousands of years ago when the dome of an underground river collapsed.

Where: White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, Alaska

Why We Love It: Built in the late 19th century during the Klondike Gold Rush, this scenic railroad climbs nearly 3,000 feet in 20 miles giving riders panoramic (and cliff-hanging!) views of the surrounding mountains.

RELATED: The Most Scenic Train Rides In North America

Where: The Wave, Arizona and Utah

Why We Love It: Only 20 people per day are allowed to hike out to this Jurassic-age sandstone formation in the remote Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, but all of the advance planning required to see this breathtaking place is totally worth it.

Where: Watkins Glen, New York

Why We Love It: Located in New York's Finger Lakes Region, this narrow gorge features 19 waterfalls within the space of just two miles.

Where: Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia

Why We Love It: This stretch of road that meanders 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains is the most visited place in the U.S. National Park Service.

Where: Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Why We Love It: Located in Yellowstone National Park's Midway Geyser Basin, America's largest hot spring gets its name from its striking colors that fade from bright orange to blue.

Where: French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana

Why We Love It: The oldest neighborhood in New Orleans is home to some of the city's best architecture including those famous cast iron balconies and lush green courtyards.

Where: Natchez Trace Cypress Swamp, Mississippi

Why We Love It: The Natchez Trace Parkway is a beautiful drive in general, but be sure to make a pit stop at milepost 122 and walk the half-mile boardwalk trail through the water tupelo and bald cypress tree swamp.