Explore USA's Great Outdoors: 10 Breathtaking Natural Wonders
Take a Road Trip Through the USA
Natural wonders in the USA can be found around every corner, from endless seas of colored sand to volcanoes and vast, lush valleys. One day you can be staring into the abyss of an endless canyon, and another day you can gaze up at towering redwoods that are thousands of years old. You can travel through iconic wetlands and view geysers that blow columns of water high into the sky. You can see endless caves of ice and ancient trees that tower as high as skyscrapers.
A road trip through the USA can be filled with awe-inspiring wonders. Check out some of the most inspiring natural wonders in the United States.
1. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI
Where to see two of the largest, most active volcanoes worldwide
Good for: Adventure, Photo, Unusual
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii is home to two giant and active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. You can see rivers of lava and stunning volcanic rock formations for miles. Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and Mauna Loa is among the world’s largest shield volcanoes. In addition, you can observe incredibly rare plant and animal life here.
You can explore the area by car or on foot. The 11-mile-long Crater Rim Drive circles the summit of Kilauea before heading down to the caldera floor. If you’re driving to the park, arrive early as the parking lots can be full by 10 am.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI
2. Grand Canyon, AZ
Exploring iconic desert landscape
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
The Grand Canyon is among the most iconic sites in the United States with 277 miles of stunning, colorful desert landscape with rocks, green space, and wilderness. The canyon is divided into three distinct regions: the North Rim, South Rim, and West Rim.
Hands down the most popular region, and the most developed for visitors, is the South Rim. It offers tons of restaurants, dining, and adventure options. At the West Rim, you can walk a glass-bottomed skywalk and feel like you’re flying. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the crowds, do some hiking or exploring at the North Rim.
Open: 24/7
Grand Canyon, AZ
3. Yellowstone National Park, WY, MT, ID
A vast wilderness in one of the oldest national parks
Good for: Adventure, History, Photo
Yellowstone National Park is a world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site and a biosphere reserve. On March 1, 1872, it became the nation’s first national park. It offers geysers, geological features, bison herds, hot springs, and adventure. The park encompasses hundreds of miles of unspoiled, preserved wilderness where you can see some of the only remaining free-ranging herds of bison left on the continent, while packs of timber wolves roam the forests.
The famed geyser Old Faithful spews gas and water on schedule high into the air. You can see boiling mud pots, bathe in hot springs, and view steaming fumaroles. Bring your binoculars to spot bald eagles, ospreys, and mountain bluebirds to mention just a few.
Phone: +1 307-344-7381
Yellowstone National Park, WY, MT, ID
4. Niagara Falls, NY
Iconic waterfalls on both sides of the border
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
Niagara Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world on the border of the USA and Canada and offers an awe-inspiring experience. Niagara Falls is made up of three different falls: the Horseshoe Falls (or Canadian Falls), the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls.
You can see the American Falls along Prospect Point Park, take a Maid of the Mist boat ride to get right up to the falls, or hike to the Cave of the Winds to see the falls from behind. For more fun, drive across the Canadian border and see the other side.
Niagara Falls, NY
5. Yosemite National Park, CA
Home of tall waterfalls and stunning nature
Good for: Adventure, Photo
Yosemite National Park is among the oldest national parks in the nation and offers a stunning range of natural beauty with lakes, groves, waterfalls, mountains, and rock formations. You can walk the shores of gigantic, crystal-clear subalpine lakes, stroll among vast groves of ancient, towering sequoias, and snap photographs of the jagged crags of towering granite peaks in the distance.
Among the highlights here are Mariposa Grove, the Half Dome rock formation, and the Yosemite Falls that cascade over 2,425 ft, making them one of the highest in North America. Yosemite is ideal for camping, backpacking, and exploring central California, so get your camping gear together for an adventure of a lifetime,
Open: 24/7
Phone: +1 209-372-0200
Yosemite National Park, CA
6. Mammoth Cave National Park, KY
One of the longest cave systems in the world
Good for: Photo, Adventure, Unusual
Mammoth Cave National Park in central Kentucky is among the longest cave systems in the world, offering more than 390 miles of spelunking adventure deep under the earth. These caves are known to have been explored by humans as far back as 4,000 years ago. Over the centuries, they provided minerals that early natives needed. By the 18th century, European settlers had arrived to explore the caves, which have housed tuberculosis patients and seen tragedy, and are rumored to be haunted.
This iconic cave system also offers natural wonders like stalactites and stalagmites, caverns, and twisting corridors. To stay overnight under the stars, pitch your then on one of the campgrounds or backcountry sites.
Phone: +1 270-758-2180
Mammoth Cave National Park, KY
7. Florida Everglades, FL
An important wetland teeming with life
Good for: Adventure, Photo
Everglades National Park in Florida is one of the largest subtropical wildernesses in the nation, with endangered animal species, rare plants, and a winding 60-mile-wide river. The Everglades encompass 1.5 million acres of land and offer one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. The Everglades have been an important part of the southeastern US ecosystem for thousands of years, providing important hunting and foraging grounds for Native Americans and later for European settlers.
Today the Everglades are a World Heritage Site, a Wetland of International Importance, and an International Biosphere Reserve. Enter the park from Naples, along Shark Valley, or via the Tamiami Trail, and have an exciting day exploring the incredible flora and fauna.
Florida Everglades, FL
8. Monument Valley, AZ
Witnessing the natural beauty of the desert and rock formations
Good for: Adventure, Photo, Unusual
Monument Valley in Arizona is a famed landmark of the Four Corners region, offering iconic views of massive natural sandstone rock formations and colorful desert bluffs. You’ll see towering red mesas framed against a crystal blue sky and endless stretches of brightly colored desert landscape. In the mid-20th century, this area was mined for uranium, and it also contains deposits of copper and vanadium. This wondrous place has been featured in dozens of movie productions, too.
The desert is part of the Colorado Plateau and is marked by flaming red sand made from iron oxide in the siltstone and dark blue rocks of magnesium oxide. Point your camera at one of its most famed formations, the Eye of the Sun.
Monument Valley, AZ
9. Redwoods, Avenue of the Giants, CA
A staggering stretch of old-growth forest
Good for: Adventure, History, Photo
The redwoods in Northern California’s Avenue of the Giants are some of the largest old-growth redwood trees in the world, with unparalleled majesty and history. Some of the trees here are thousands of years old and stretch higher than some skyscrapers into the sky. It’s one of the more idyllic places in the nation and feels like a true fairy-tale realm. It’s almost as if the trees could talk to you while you wind your way through the paths of this ancient woodland.
The area offers hiking options for visitors of every skill level, from easy paved trails to more difficult rough-hewn paths. Or join a ranger-led program to learn all about these stunning trees.
Location: Redwood Hwy, Myers Flat, CA 95554, USA
Redwoods, Avenue of the Giants, CA
10. Arches National Park, UT
Stunning concentrations of natural rock arches
Good for: Photo, Adventure, Unusual
Arches National Park offers a vast stretch of rocky desert featuring more than 2,000 arches of natural stone, making it among the densest natural arch concentrations in the world. This Utah national park sits right along the shores of the Colorado River and offers hiking, biking, camping, and tons of photo opportunities that will make your social media feed leap off your smartphone.
The hiking opportunities here are ideal for any skill level, ranging from easy 15-minute hikes to 5-hour treks. Take a ranger-led tour to learn about the nature of the arches or try a rock-climbing excursion, available on some routes.
Open: 24/7
Phone: +1 435-719-2299
Arches National Park, UT
This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writing appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.