26 Breathtaking U.S. Sights You Need To See Before You Die

Lonely Planet's top travel experts share their favorite spots around the world in Ultimate Travel: Our List of the 500 Best Places to See... Ranked. Here are the ones you can visit without leaving the U.S.

26. Independence National Historical Park (Philadelphia)

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Ranking: 500

This urban park encompasses Independence Hall (called "the birthplace of America," and for good reason — the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence were both signed here), the Liberty Bell, and the Benjamin Franklin Museum.

25. Graceland (Memphis)

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Ranking: 475

This 13.8-acre Tennessee estate is the former home of Elvis Presley, but fans of history and architecture will be just as interested in the perfectly curated mansion as fans of rock 'n' roll.

24. Griffith Observatory (Los Angeles)

Mark Read / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 466

Griffith Observatory is a sight in itself, for its access to public telescopes, exhibits, and live shows in the planetarium, but the surrounding park — and the hike leading to it — offers panoramic views of the city.

23. Everglades National Park (Florida)

Kris Davidson / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 442

The Everglades is home to a number of rare and endangered species — including the manatee, American crocodile, and Florida panther — all within lush prairies, pinelands, and swamps.

22. Mount Rushmore (South Dakota)

Alexander Howard / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 391

The heads of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln were carved into the granite face of Mt. Rushmore between 1927 and 1941, and now nearly 3 million people visit it every year.

21. Blue Ridge Parkway

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Ranking: 364

The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 winding miles offering stunning views of the Appalachian Highlands.

20. Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts)

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Ranking: 323

The historic New England park contains 40 miles of beach, marsh, and cranberry bog, with lighthouses to visit and trails to bike.

19. Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago)

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Ranking: 307

Chicago's collection of over 300,000 works of art, located in Grant Park, includes such iconic pieces as Mary Cassatt's The Child's Bath, Grant Wood's American Gothic, and Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, alongside modern exhibits of architectural, industrial, and graphic design.

18. Death Valley National Park (California and Nevada)

Mark Read / Lonely Planet

Rating: 278

Death Valley is super hot, super dry, and is surprising in its contrasts. The desert's towers are topped with snow; the occasional shower leaves spots of wildflowers; and the park as a whole offers one of the most extreme landscapes in the country.

17. Denali (Alaska)

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Ranking: 267

Denali, also known as Mt. McKinley, is the highest peak in North America with an elevation of 20,310 feet. Its surrounding park is equally amazing: 6 million acres of low forest, high tundra, and wild, roaming animals.

16. The Lincoln Memorial (Washington, D.C.)

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Ranking: 259

Located in the National Mall, the monument is home to a 19-foot marble sculpture of Abraham Lincoln, which sits behind an impressive colonnade and next to inscriptions of two of the president's most famous speeches: the Gettysburg address and his second inaugural address.

15. Alcatraz Island (San Francisco)

Dave Allen Photography / Shutterstock

Ranking: 228

The island most famously houses the notorious federal prison, but it's also the site of the West Coast's first lighthouse and U.S.-built fort, the 1969 occupation by Indians of All Tribes, and, on the natural side, some serene gardens for exploring.

14. Times Square (New York)

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Ranking: 208

Native New Yorkers might hate on it, but no one can deny that Times Square is a sight like no other, with its towering skyscrapers, endless hustle, and enough neon to make it seem like perpetual daylight.

13. National Mall (Washington, D.C.)

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Ranking: 171

The National Mall (aka "America's Front Yard") is the park that stretches from the U.S. Capitol to the Potomac River and includes the city's historic landmarks and memorials.

12. Walt Disney World (Orlando)

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Ranking: 155

It's called the Happiest Place on Earth and offers a lot to justify the name: four major theme parks, international cuisine, traveling characters, parades, fireworks, and impressive nightlife.

11. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (New York)

Budget Travel / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 144

The national monument was a gift from France, representing the promise of freedom and democracy in the U.S., and Ellis Island — now the home of a museum of the island's history — was the gateway through which more than 12 million immigrants entered.

10. Empire State Building (New York)

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Ranking: 109

The iconic skyscraper in Midtown offers a view of the city like no other.

9. Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco)

Justyna Zdunczyk / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 101

The iconic suspension bridge is considered one of the most beautiful and recognizable in the country.

8. Big Sur (California)

Myriam Denis / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 97

A winding drive through California's central coast offers views of beautiful beaches, steep cliffs, and access to plenty of hiking.

7. Monument Valley (Navajo Nation, extending into Arizona and Utah)

Mette Meng / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 84

The Navajo tribal park is noteworthy especially for its sandstone towers, reaching heights of 400 to 1,000 feet, and surrounded by miles of red desert.

6. Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)

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Ranking: 80

The Met is the largest art museum in the U.S., and one of the largest in the world, housing more than 2 million pieces of art in its main building and its more northern location — The Cloisters at Fort Tryon Park (pictured above), where medieval art is on display.

5. Redwood National Park (California)

Mark Read / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 77

The old-growth temperate rainforests of Northern California have some of the world's tallest and most awe-inspiring trees, but the park itself also contains wild rivers, serene prairies, and vibrant wildlife.

4. Yellowstone National Park (Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming)

Matt Munro / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 61

Yellowstone is the country's first national park, and it's home to most of the world's geysers (including Old Faithful), grassy valleys, and wild herds of bison and elk.

3. Yosemite National Park (California)

Mark Read / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 21

Set in the Sierra Nevada mountains, this park is known for its breathtaking waterfalls, towering Sequoias, and vast wilderness.

2. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

Budget Travel / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 17

The park has more than 300 miles of hiking trails that travel up mountain ridges, past crystal lakes, through fields of wildflowers, and among a world of wildlife.

1. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

Mark Read / Lonely Planet

Ranking: 6

The massive canyon of the Colorado River is a mile deep and about 10 miles across, and draws millions of visitors for its breathtaking views and hikes.

Ultimate Travel: Our List of the 500 Best Places to See... Ranked is available Oct. 6.

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