The best vacation destination to visit in every state for a greener local getaway

Molly O'BrienJul 22, 2023, 20:34 IST

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Eco-conscious Americans looking to take a vacation don't need to travel far.
Destinations in all US 50 states are making efforts to be more sustainable.
You can travel to Arkansas for mountain biking or visit a so-called green winery in Missouri.

As travelers across the US and beyond realize the importance of sustainability, more people are choosing to vacation closer to home.

Destinations across the US are prioritizing conservation and eco-conscious practices.

Whether you're interested in volunteering for a beach cleanup, seeing sea turtles in the wild, or staying at an environmentally friendly hotel, here's how you can experience a greener local getaway in each of the 50 states.

On Alabama's coast, the city of Gulf Shores is home to a white-sands state park and a sustainable hotel.

Gulf Shores has several ordinances designed to prevent littering.Nicholas Courtney/Shutterstock

Anchorage, Alaska, has a mountainous state park for camping and bird-watching.

Anchorage has more than 120 miles of paved bike and multiuse trails.Blue Poppy/Getty Images

Mesa, Arizona, can satisfy sustainable foodies with a weekend at biodynamic farms, plus a bonus wind-cave tour.

Mesa is a great pick for sustainable foodies.photovs/Getty Images

Bentonville, Arkansas, is known as the mountain-biking capital of the world, with a network of trails to explore.

Bentonville is also known as the birthplace of Walmart.Getty Images

For organic wine tasting and eco-friendly treehouse accommodations, visit Sonoma County, California.

Sonoma County is famous for its organic wine.Shutterstock

Spend a green weekend in Breckenridge, Colorado, by using the city's new e-bike program and volunteering for trail restoration.

The town of Breckenridge banned plastic bags in 2021.Shutterstock/Nicholas Courtney

For a quiet riverside getaway, you can kayak and eat locally grown produce in Ledyard, Connecticut.

Abbey's Lantern Hill Inn has been certified by Connecticut's Green Lodging program since 2010.Courtesy of Christian Giannelli Photography

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is a peaceful destination for bird-watching and beach days.

Sustainable-tourism policies are designed to help protect Rehoboth Beach's dunes.Shutterstock/Bruce Goerlitz Photo

Learn about wildlife protection and the importance of sustainability by visiting Florida's Space Coast.

The Space Coast region is home to NASA's Kennedy Space Center.Shutterstock/TimBurgess

Head to Jekyll Island, Georgia, where you can support conservation efforts while enjoying up-close encounters with wildlife.

Visitors can go fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding on Jekyll Island.rodclementphotography/Getty Images

In Maui, Hawaii, give back to the local community and help conserve the island through its Malama program.

Visitors can sign up for beach cleanups in Maui.ejs9/Getty Images

You can volunteer for trail cleanups and go stargazing in Sun Valley, Idaho.

The area has more than a dozen city parks.IDAK/Shutterstock

Rockford, Illinois, has 11,000 acres of forest reserve with lakes for kayaking and fishing.

Rockford has 11,000 acres of forest.Shutterstock/PeggyReillyPhotos

Stay in a renovated bottling factory and volunteer at an urban farm in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis has 200 parks and more than 11,000 acres of green space.Getty Images/Steve Taylor / EyeEm

Des Moines, Iowa, is near a peaceful state park and an "agrihood."

Des Moines' skyline.f11photo/Shutterstock

Greensburg, Kansas, rebuilt sustainably after a natural disaster.

Greensburg, Kansas, used disaster-recovery funds after a tornado to rebuild sustainably.Cassidy Havice/Shutterstock

Lexington, Kentucky, has great biking and even better seafood.

A 5.5-mile loop for walking and biking goes through Lexington's downtown.Shutterstock/Alexey Stiop

Folsom, Louisiana, combines nature and the arts.

The Honey Island Swamp, about a 50-minute drive from Folsom, has almost 70,000 acres of protected wildlife.Mindaugas Dulinskas/Getty Images

As the home of a gorgeous state park, Bar Harbor, Maine, takes its tourism seriously.

Bar Harbor is near Acadia National Park.Shutterstock

Columbia, Maryland, has been living green since the '60s.

The city of Columbia was built in 1964 to prioritize nature and preservation.Shutterstock/Jon Bilous

Hingham, Massachusetts, is a paradise for the outdoorsy.

Hingham has plenty of nature.Napak Warshauer/Getty Images

Grand Rapids, Michigan, has the first LEED-certified microbrewery in the US.

Grand Rapids has miles of bike lanes and nature trails.Shutterstock/Suzanne Tucker

Duluth, Minnesota — described as a "climate-proof" destination — takes sustainability seriously.

Visitors to Duluth can experience over 9,000 acres of parkland and 300 miles of trails.Scruggelgreen/Shutterstock

Coastal Mississippi's swamps, marshes, and beaches are teeming with things for nature lovers to do and see.

Coastal Mississippi has acres upon acres of protected land.Shutterstock/Norm Lane

Platte County, Missouri, takes preservation seriously and features the state's first green winery.

The patio of Jowler Creek Vineyard and Winery in Platte County, Missouri.Courtesy of Jowler Creek Vineyard and Winery

Big Sky, Montana, has a range of eco-friendly activities, no matter the season.

Big Sky is less than an hour's drive from the west entrance to Yellowstone.thierry dehove/Shutterstock

Stay at an award-winning lodge known for its sustainable practices in Nebraska City, Nebraska.

You can visit Nebraska's Arbor Day Farm year-round.jackiekuehlphoto/Shutterstock

In Nevada, stay at a sustainable resort on Lake Tahoe's stunning south shore.

With 72 miles of shoreline, Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America.Gado/Getty Images

Go mountain biking on a scenic trail and picnic in a pollinator garden in Nashua, New Hampshire.

Nashua is in southern New Hampshire.Shutterstock/quiggyt4

Vacation in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, where you can volunteer for a beach cleanup and eat ice cream made with locally sourced ingredients.

Long Beach Island is 18 miles long.Shutterstock/Michael Moloney

Stay in an Earthship and go skiing at a carbon-neutral ski resort in Taos, New Mexico.

Taos is home to Taos Ski Valley, a certified carbon-neutral resort.Shutterstock/Kristi Blokhin

Visit the Adirondacks region of New York to hike the largest state park in the lower 48 states.

The Adirondacks region has over 2 million acres of land.Denis Tangney Jr/Getty Images

Sample specialty goods and learn how certain foods are made in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Greensboro is known for its water-conservation and cleanup efforts.Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Hike the miles of trails in Fargo, North Dakota.

Fargo has more than 150 parks with 105 miles of trails.lakefx/Getty Images

Ditch your car and explore Cleveland, Ohio, by foot or bike.

Visitors can explore Cleveland's local restaurants and bars on foot.Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images

Walk around the revitalized neighborhoods of Oklahoma City.

Downtown Oklahoma City.Marcus Elwell/Getty Images

Sip on some wine at sustainable vineyards in Oregon's Willamette Valley.

The Willamette Valley spans four regions in Oregon.Steve Terrill

Help keep the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania clean by volunteering to pick up litter in between hikes through the region's state parks.

Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains have plenty of eco-friendly, outdoorsy activities.Shutterstock/Desha Utsick

Stay at a sustainable inn that hosts beach cleanups in Westerly, Rhode Island.

The Watch Hill Lighthouse.Enzo Figueres/Getty Images

See local wildlife from a hiking trail or kayak in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

North Myrtle Beach is known for its quiet beaches.John Coletti

In South Dakota, hike through a ghost town in the Black Hills region and feed alpacas.

The Black Hills mountain range is in western South Dakota and part of Wyoming.keeweeboy/Getty Images

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, stay at a treehouse hotel and hike to an underground waterfall.

Ruby Falls is billed as the US's deepest and tallest underground waterfall open to the public.Pugalenthi/Getty Images

Volunteer for a beach cleanup and see wildlife up close in the Gulf Coast city of Port Aransas, Texas.

Visitors can volunteer for beach cleanups in Port Aransas.Shutterstock/Ryan Conine

Stay at an environmentally conscious resort founded by Robert Redford in Sundance, Utah.

The Wasatch Mountains are an hour's drive from Salt Lake City.Tetra Images - Erik Isakson/Getty Images

Pick up some maple syrup and support local farms in Burlington, Vermont.

Burlington is on the shore of Lake Champlain.Larry Gerbrandt/Getty Images

Help clean local beaches and learn about sea life in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Visitors can participate in Clean the Bay Day, which has taken place in Virginia Beach every June since 1989.Brandon Lindblad/Shutterstock

Spend a night at a resort in Leavenworth, Washington, built with the environment in mind.

Leavenworth is known for its Bavarian-inspired architecture.Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images

Spend your nights gazing at the stars in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

The Cranberry Glades Botanical Area is one of the largest bog areas in West Virginia.krblokhin/ Getty Images

In the Fox Cities region of Wisconsin, take scenic bike rides and stop at farmers markets to taste local food.

Appleton is a town in the Fox Cities region.Appleton Downtown/Facebook

Hike designated trails and view wildlife from a distance in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Jackson Hole is close to Yellowstone National Park.Jeff R Clow/Getty Images

I visited Banff, one of Canada's most famous ski towns, during offseason. I loved seeing the Rocky Mountains, but I can't imagine it with more crowds and snow.

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