Travel and suggested itineraries in the United States

Choosing based on time

Even if you have several months ahead and use flights for long distances, seeing everything in the country is nearly impossible. And even more so if you have less time...

What you can do in...

• A long weekend: Beyond Canadian neighbors, for whom it’s obviously easier, even Europeans have embraced the "long weekend" formula. Despite the transatlantic flight (choose your times carefully), some don’t hesitate to take a quick getaway or a first taste of a city—usually New York.

• 1 week: Just enough to get a feel for the country. In one week, focus on exploring one city in depth, one park and its surroundings, or at most two—no more.

• 2 weeks: Just enough time to cover California, a few parks and nature reserves in the West, Florida and New Orleans, New York and New England, or the Washington, D.C. area.

• 3 weeks: Great for California, the Chicago/Boston/Virginia triangle, the South, the West, or the Rockies.

• 1 month: Same as above, but with more flexibility or a few side trips into neighboring regions.

• 45 days: A solid amount of time to explore the East Coast or West Coast and/or the American West.

• 2 months: Enough to enjoy a good road trip across two-thirds of the United States.

• 3 months: The maximum duration without a visa for many nationalities—and just enough to consider a full tour of the USA.

Some itinerary ideas for the United States