The Best Places for Solo Travel in the U.S.
Q: I’d like to stay closer to home for my first solo trip. Do you have any U.S. solo travel recommendations?
A: YES! Many U.S. cities make a fantastic first solo trip — narrowing down this list was NOT easy!
Interested in solo travel, but feel intimated by traveling across the world alone to a foreign-speaking country?! I GET IT. A first solo trip can be so daunting! One of the best ways to tiptoe your way into traveling alone is to venture alone to a place that’s new… but not SO new. I’ve been solo road-tripping around the U.S. for the last year and discovered *many* American cities that offer a LOT to solo travelers. I did my best to narrow down a concise list, but I’m tempted to create a “Part II” post; there are just so many great options! Check out my tips below for some of the best places in the U.S. for solo travel! Thinking of making a solo road trip out of it? Don’t miss my must-read preparations for a cross-country American road trip!
Here are the BEST places for solo travel in the U.S.!
San Francisco, California
Might as well start out west in California! San Francisco offers something for every type of solo traveler. There are gorgeous parks to wander, iconic historical sites, and tons of nature trails. It’s also well-contained in an accessible city! While it can be nice to rent a car here and venture up to Muir Woods or Napa Valley outside the city center, solo travelers can easily get by without it! San Francisco is also a pretty safe city where solo females can feel comfortable walking around alone; just make sure to be an intuitive traveler (like always!) and avoid wandering around alone at night or through dangerous neighborhoods! Check out my tips for what NOT to do when traveling solo for more detailed safety suggestions!
Nashville, Tennessee
One of my favorite U.S. cities for a solo road trip! Nashville has a music and food scene that CANNOT be beat! While “Honky Tonk Row” on Broadway is full of rowdy bars and bachelorette parties, it was also such a fun place to (organically!) meet new people! Live music is a fun activity for a solo traveler because you can sit in the back OR chat with strangers at the bar. It’s all up to how you’re feeling; you’ll be entertained either way! There are also many cheap southern food options like the iconic Hattie B’s for classic hot chicken. For more upscale solo dining, try saddling up to the bar at 5th & Taylor — that’s where I devoured a forever-memorable fried berry hand pie (à la mode) for dessert! If you still feel awkward dining out alone, don’t miss my top tricks for eating out as a solo traveler!
Moab, Utah
*THE* most underrated U.S. road trip stop. There, I said it. Moab, Utah is such a GEM for solo travelers who enjoy getting out in nature!! There are TWO National Parks nearby — Arches and Canyonlands. Hiking is a fantastic activity for solo travelers because it’s cheap, safe, and doesn’t feel socially awkward without a travel buddy! Just make sure to follow my essential safety tips for solo hiking and camping, so you don’t put yourself in a compromising situation! Moab also has some of the world’s best trails for 4x4 off-roading. I took a High Point Hummer tour and drove my own ATV over some *very* steep red rock terrain! One of the perks of traveling solo is that you don’t have to share the wheel! Don’t miss Moab Garage Co. for your morning coffee or the Quesadilla Mobilla, where I had an EPIC sweet potato and spinach quesadilla (that I’m still dreaming about)! Want more recommendations around Moab? Check out my guide on the Ultimate Southwest Road Trip Itinerary!
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Honestly, my first trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, happened because it was an easy stop along my road trip across the states. I didn’t have high expectations. BOY, was I wrong to underestimate it! Santa Fe is a must-see town and small enough that it’s perfect for a long weekend away! The architecture, arts, and food scenes are rich with Mexican and Native American culture. There are lots of cute shops to check out and some super luxe spas. I was particularly shocked at how many great restaurants there are, spanning from traditional New Mexican food at La Choza Restaurant to modern Indian at Paper Dosa. Make sure to take a drive outside the city to visit the ancient Puye and Bandelier cliff dwellings, as well as the thousands of petroglyphs at Petroglyph National Monument; these drawings and carvings are relatively recent at only ~400-700 years old! I have even more Santa Fe restaurant recommendations in this Ultimate Southwest Road Trip Itinerary!
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a good option for solo travelers (especially if you have a car!) because it’s pretty inexpensive, and there are TONS of nature activities. You get the best of both worlds! Stay within the city for some killer restaurants, then venture out to the Columbia River Gorge for hiking trails, walk along Oregon’s Cannon Beach, or savor wine tastings in the Willamette Valley. I just LOVED my solo wine tasting experiences at Ponzi and Soter Vineyards; just don’t forget to ship a few bottles home! If you’ve been interested in checking out Portland, don’t miss my FULL write-up (where I confess my absolute love for this region) in my Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary!
Washington D.C.
If you’re worried about having activities to keep you busy while traveling alone, Washington D.C. is a beautiful weekend getaway option. There are seemingly infinite museums, national monuments, and walking tours to fill your time. I particularly loved visiting the National Gallery of Art, The Smithsonian, and the Lincoln Memorial on my past trips. If you’re looking to make those strolls along the Mall even *more* picture-perfect, consider visiting during cherry blossom season from mid-March to mid-April, depending on the year/season. But make sure to mix things up a bit! After taking in some national treasures, don’t miss the charming cobblestone streets, boutique shops, and canal of Georgetown! Each D.C. neighborhood has its own unique VIBE worth checking out!
Sedona, Arizona
Ready for a full detox?! Sedona is one of my favorite spots for luxe solo travel out west. This town is full of beautiful hotels with gorgeous spas, spiritual healers, outdoor yoga, and TONS of red rock vistas. What could be more healing than a solo hike to an energy vortex?! I wrote ALL about my solo road trip to Sedona in this Ultimate Southwest Road Trip Itinerary, including must-eat restaurants and my crazy experience having my aura read!
New York, New York
I’m capping off this list with a controversial one! New York City doesn’t typically make these sorts of solo travel lists because non-locals can view it as a bit intimidating or unsafe. But, in truth, I can’t think of a *better* U.S. city for solo travel! It is one of the only places where it’s TOTALLY normal to walk around, dine, and explore a city alone. It’s also incredibly accessible without a car. Stroll through Central Park, then brunch at Sarabeth’s on Central Park South. Peruse adorable boutiques in SoHo. Meander through endless halls of artsy inspiration at The Met. Dine at some of Manhattan’s BEST restaurants in the cobblestone streets of the west village. Hop over the bridge and walk along the DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights waterfronts. There’s so much to keep you busy! Feel like you need a night in to recoup from all of that city walking? No place on earth has a *stronger* food delivery game! If you can muster up the courage for it, New York City is *truly* a solo traveler’s paradise. And check out some of my best solo travel safety tips!
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Did I miss any U.S. cities that you LOVE for solo travel? Let me know in the comments below!
