26 underrated US destinations everyone should visit in their lifetime

Madeline Diamond,Sophie-Claire HoellerAug 14, 2020, 20:57 IST

The charming streets of Portland, Maine.Albert Pego/Shutterstock

The US is full of incredible destinations — some more well-known than others.
Skip the big cities and plan a visit to smaller, underrated destinations that are a little more off the beaten path.
For example, Letchworth State Park is a 14,427-acre state park in New York state that is also known as the "Grand Canyon of the East."
Hill Country in Texas produces world-class Cabernets and Tempranillos.

If you're traveling in the US, cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are probably on the top of your list of places to see. Outside of big cities, however, there are also tons of smaller, underrated destinations that are totally worth a trip.

We asked our colleagues for their favorite, off-the-beaten-path spots, and did research on under-the-radar gems to come up with a list spanning everything from little-known tropical islands to underexposed national parks and secluded beaches.

Editor's note: This article was originally published in 2017 and has been updated, though it's worth noting that certain attractions on this list may be closed or partially closed due to the coronavirus pandemic so it's worth checking before making any plans. It's also important to note that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19."

Letchworth State Park is a 14,427-acre state park in New York state that is also known as the "Grand Canyon of the East."

Letchworth State Park, New York. Shutterstock

Death Valley National Park in California features stunning, otherworldly rock formations.

Death Valley National Park, California. Shutterstock

Less than 30 minutes from San Francisco, California, is a largely unknown stretch of stunning wilderness called the Tennessee Valley

Tennessee Cove, California. Galen Rowell/Getty Images

Orcas Island in Washington is known for epic hiking and biking trails, as well as whale watching and kayaking.

Orcas Island, Washington. Matthew J Brand/Shutterstock

Culebra, a tiny island of off Puerto Rico, has stunning white beaches and turquoise waters — but a fraction of the tourists you'd find in San Juan or nearby Vieques.

Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico. Shuttertsock

Culebra, a tiny island of off Puerto Rico, has stunning white beaches and turquoise waters — but a fraction of the tourists you'd find in San Juan or nearby Vieques.

St. Augustine, Florida, claims to be the oldest city in the US.

St. Augustine, Florida. SeanPavonePhoto/iStock

Devil's Tower, Wyoming, is a great side trip if you're on your way to Mount Rushmore.

Devil's Tower, Wyoming. anthony heflin/Shutterstock

The Oregon Coast is a must-see.

Cannon Beach, Oregon. Dancestrokes/Shutterstock

Albuquerque, New Mexico, has plenty of unique activities for every type of traveler.

Albuquerque, New Mexico. Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock

Hill Country in Texas produces world-class Cabernet and Tempranillo wine.

Hill Country, Texas. E_Cotner / iStock

Assateague Island, in Virginia and Maryland, is famous for its beach-roaming wild ponies.

Assateague Island, Virginia and Maryland. Shutterstock

The Apostle islands — 21 Wisconsin islands in Lake Superior — have beaches, lighthouses, and shipwrecks to keep visitors busy.

Bryan Neuswanger/Shutterstock

Many people head to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon, but instead of battling crowds and paying astronomical hotel prices, head to Sedona, Arizona.

Sedona, Arizona. Shutterstock/Josemaria Toscano

Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park is like a giant sandbox for adults.

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Shutterstock

San Antonio, Texas, might not be as popular as Dallas and Austin, but there's still plenty to do.

San Antonio, Texas. CrackerClips / iStock

Boulder, Colorado, is a paradise for outdoor lovers.

John Coletti/Getty Images

Kansas City, Missouri, also known as "The City of Fountains," is famous for, well, its many beautiful fountains.

Kansas City, Missouri. Shutterstock

Forget more popular cities like Nashville or Charleston — Asheville, North Carolina, is a gem if you're looking to explore the southern region of the US.

Asheville, North Carolina. kellvandellen/iStock

There are beautiful national parks all over the US, but Glacier National Park in Montana is worth putting at the top of your list.

Glacier National Park, Montana. kan_khampanya/Shutterstock

Mackinac Island, Michigan, which has a ban on cars, is a slice of the past.

Mackinac Island, Michigan. Susan Sheldon/EyeEm/Getty Images

Some like to call El Matador Beach "California's best-kept secret."

El Matador Beach, California. Shutterstock

Tourists flock to Philadelphia for its rich history, but Pittsburgh is another Pennsylvania city worth visiting.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. f11photo/Shutterstock

Traverse City, Michigan, became internationally known for its white wines.

Traverse City, Michigan. iStock/Shriram Patki

Portland, Maine, is New England at its finest.

Portland, Maine, is a picturesque and perfectly manageable city to explore if you want to get a taste of New England charm. Walk around the cobblestone streets of the Old Port district to explore the local shops and restaurants.

There's no better place to take in the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains than Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Shutterstock

Burlington, Vermont, is a charming college town that's beautiful year-round.

Burlington, Vermont. Shutterstock

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26 underrated US destinations everyone should visit in their lifetime

Letchworth State Park is a 14,427-acre state park in New York state that is also known as the "Grand Canyon of the East."

Death Valley National Park in California features stunning, otherworldly rock formations.

Less than 30 minutes from San Francisco, California, is a largely unknown stretch of stunning wilderness called the Tennessee Valley

Orcas Island in Washington is known for epic hiking and biking trails, as well as whale watching and kayaking.

Culebra, a tiny island of off Puerto Rico, has stunning white beaches and turquoise waters — but a fraction of the tourists you'd find in San Juan or nearby Vieques.

St. Augustine, Florida, claims to be the oldest city in the US.

Devil's Tower, Wyoming, is a great side trip if you're on your way to Mount Rushmore.

The Oregon Coast is a must-see.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, has plenty of unique activities for every type of traveler.

Hill Country in Texas produces world-class Cabernet and Tempranillo wine.

Assateague Island, in Virginia and Maryland, is famous for its beach-roaming wild ponies.

The Apostle islands — 21 Wisconsin islands in Lake Superior — have beaches, lighthouses, and shipwrecks to keep visitors busy.

Many people head to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon, but instead of battling crowds and paying astronomical hotel prices, head to Sedona, Arizona.

Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park is like a giant sandbox for adults.

San Antonio, Texas, might not be as popular as Dallas and Austin, but there's still plenty to do.

Boulder, Colorado, is a paradise for outdoor lovers.

Kansas City, Missouri, also known as "The City of Fountains," is famous for, well, its many beautiful fountains.

Forget more popular cities like Nashville or Charleston — Asheville, North Carolina, is a gem if you're looking to explore the southern region of the US.

There are beautiful national parks all over the US, but Glacier National Park in Montana is worth putting at the top of your list.

Mackinac Island, Michigan, which has a ban on cars, is a slice of the past.

Some like to call El Matador Beach "California's best-kept secret."

Tourists flock to Philadelphia for its rich history, but Pittsburgh is another Pennsylvania city worth visiting.

Traverse City, Michigan, became internationally known for its white wines.

Portland, Maine, is New England at its finest.

There's no better place to take in the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains than Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Burlington, Vermont, is a charming college town that's beautiful year-round.