About RoamAmerica
RoamAmerica is an independent travel guide to the United States for Americans and international visitors, with places, routes and practical tips in four languages.
We write for curious travelers: people planning their first big trip to the USA, locals looking for their next weekend escape, hikers, riders and RV families.
Every guide focuses on what you need on the ground: when to go, how to avoid the crowds, what to book in advance and what nearby gem most visitors miss.
Conditions change: parks introduce reservation systems, roads close for snow or repairs, prices go up. Please check the official websites linked on each page before you travel.
Photo & video credits
Photos and videos on this site come from Wikimedia Commons and are used under their free licenses. Thank you to all the photographers!
- Pan of the Grand Canyon by Victorgrigas · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Home
- Alcatraz 2021 by Chris6d · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Alcatraz Island
- Alcatraz Island Flowers by Original uploader was User:Jester7777 at en.wikipedia · Public domain · Used on Alcatraz Island
- Alcatraz dawn 2005-01-07 by No machine-readable author provided. BLuP1~commonswiki assumed (based on… · CC BY 2.5 · Used on Alcatraz Island
- The Water Tower Alactraz by Carraroe1 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Alcatraz Island
- USA Antelope-Canyon by Lucas Löffler · Public domain · Used on Antelope Canyon
- Delicate arch sunset by Palacemusic · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Arches National Park
- Tunnel Arch, one of the formations in Arches NP by Peter K Burian · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Arches National Park
- Crossbedding in Entrada Sandstone by Daniel Mayer (talk · contribs) · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Used on Arches National Park
- Aerial image of Devils Garden in Arches National Park (view from the southeast) by Carsten Steger · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Arches National Park
- Chicago Skyline in April 2024 b by File:Chicago Skyline in April 2024.jpg: xiquinhosilva derivative work… · CC BY 2.0 · Used on Chicago
- Chicago River ferry b by File:Chicago River ferry.jpg: John Picken derivative work: Georgfotoart · CC BY 2.0 · Used on Chicago
- Pink Line at State & Lake by Cragin Spring from Richmond Illinois, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Used on Chicago
- Wrigley Field in line with home plate by Sea Cow · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Chicago
- EmpireStateBuilding20205thAvenueEntrance by DanielPenfield · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Empire State Building
- USA-NYC-Empire State1 by Ingfbruno · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Empire State Building
- Empire State Building in Rainbow Colors for Gay Pride 2015 (19076876770) by Anthony Quintano · CC BY 2.0 · Used on Empire State Building
- Empire State Building elevators 01 by Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain · Used on Empire State Building
- St Louis night expblend cropped by St_Louis_night_expblend.jpg: Daniel Schwen derivative work: ←fetchcomms · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Gateway Arch
- June 1965 Arch Construction by Kevin William Kelly · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Gateway Arch
- Arch Construction September 1965 by Rwietlake · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Gateway Arch
- Gateway Arch Plaque by Richie Diesterheft from Chicago, IL, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Used on Gateway Arch
- Mountain Goat at Hidden Lake by Robert M. Russell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Glacier National Park
- Many glacier hotel by Traveler100 at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Glacier National Park
- St Mary Lake by Ken Thomas (talk · contribs) · Public domain · Used on Glacier National Park
- The Air We Share Wayside Exhibit (2021) by GlacierNPS · Public domain · Used on Glacier National Park
- Golden Gate Bridge as seen from Battery East by Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Golden Gate Bridge
- Below Golden Gate Bridge by Wa17gs · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Golden Gate Bridge
- Golden Gate Bridge Dec 15 2015 by Don Ramey Logan by Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Golden Gate Bridge
- Golden Gate Bridge Rivet 1937 by Centpacrr at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Golden Gate Bridge
- Canyon River Tree (165872763) by Lennart Sikkema · CC BY 3.0 · Used on Grand Canyon
- GrandCanyon.NASA.2014 by Astronaut photograph ISS039-E-5258; taken by the Expedition 39 crew of the… · Public domain · Used on Grand Canyon
- Nankoweap by Drenaline · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Grand Canyon
- La conquista del Colorado by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau Nieto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Grand Canyon
- View atop Cliff Tops on Mount LeConte, GSMNP, TN by AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Viewpoint along Alum Cave Trail ascending towards Mount LeConte, GSMNP, TN by AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Sugarlands-bh1 by Brian Stansberry · CC BY 2.5 · Used on Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Newfound Gap - October 2023 - Sarah Stierch 03 by Missvain · CC BY 4.0 · Used on Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 2017 Aerial view Hoover Dam 4774 by Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Hoover Dam
- Damupstream by Bureau of Reclamation photographer · Public domain · Used on Hoover Dam
- HansenHooverMemorial by NortyNort · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Hoover Dam
- Hoover Dam star map floor center by Jeremy Faludi · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Hoover Dam
- Independence Hall by Rdsmith4 · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Used on Independence Hall
- Independence Hall Detail 1752 by N. Scull and G. Heap · Public domain · Used on Independence Hall
- Liberty Bell, 2016 by Phil Roeder · CC BY 2.0 · Used on Independence Hall
- Assembly Room, Independence Hall, Philadelphia by xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0 · Used on Independence Hall
- Las Vegas Strip 09 2017 4897 by Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on The Las Vegas Strip
- Bellagio Las Vegas Nacht by Patrick Pelster · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Used on The Las Vegas Strip
- MGM - South West - 2008-10-03 by Cygnusloop99 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on The Las Vegas Strip
- Paris Eiffel Tower (8226787281) by David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada · CC BY 2.0 · Used on The Las Vegas Strip
- Cliff Palace-Colorado-Mesa Verde NP by Tobi 87 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Mesa Verde National Park
- Pueblo I protokiva at Mesa Verde by RO by Rationalobserver · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Mesa Verde National Park
- Square Tower House by RO by Rationalobserver · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Mesa Verde National Park
- Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde Park, Colorado, US (29) by Bubba73 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Mesa Verde National Park
- Monument Valley, Utah, USA (23611451292) by Domenico Convertini · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Used on Monument Valley
- Forrest Gump Point Monument Valley November 2018 001 by King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Monument Valley
- The View Hotel in the Monument Valley Arizona by This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but… · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Monument Valley
- Monument Valley, Apache scout by Peter K Burian · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Monument Valley
- Mount Rushmore detail view (100MP) by Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Mount Rushmore
- Mt.Rushmore Inspiration (and marker) by BakedintheHole · CC BY 4.0 · Used on Mount Rushmore
- Mount Rushmore distant view by Grahampurse · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Mount Rushmore
- Six Grandfathers by National Park Service · Public domain · Used on Mount Rushmore
- French Quarter, looking north with Mississippi River to the right 2011 by Chris Litherland · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on New Orleans & the French Quarter
- French Quarter03 New Orleans by Sami99tr · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on New Orleans & the French Quarter
- French Quarter-874 by Elisa.rolle · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on New Orleans & the French Quarter
- Bourbon Street French Quarter by No machine-readable author provided. Jan Kronsell assumed (based on copyright… · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on New Orleans & the French Quarter
- View of Empire State Building from Rockefeller Center New York City dllu (cropped) by Dllu · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on New York City
- New york times square-terabass (cropped) by Terabass · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on New York City
- UnisphereNYC by Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Used on New York City
- Global Citizen Festival Central Park New York City from NYonAir (15351915006) by Anthony Quintano from Hillsborough, NJ, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Used on New York City
- 3Falls Niagara by Saffron Blaze · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Niagara Falls
- Canadian Horseshoe Falls with city of Niagara Falls, Ontario in background by Ujjwal Kumar · Public domain · Used on Niagara Falls
- Horseshoe Falls from above, Niagara, ON, 1869 by William Notman · Public domain · Used on Niagara Falls
- Niagara Falls Canada NARA-68145149 by Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · Public domain · Used on Niagara Falls
- San Francisco centered around Market St by Podstawko · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on San Francisco
- Zeppelin-ride-020100925-195 (5029394846) by Craig Howell from San Carlos, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Used on San Francisco
- San Francisco, CA USA - Mission San Francisco de Asis (1776) and Mission Dolores Basilica (1918) - panoramio (5) by MARELBU · CC BY 3.0 · Used on San Francisco
- Chinatown, SF (2025)-1 by Ligocsicnarf89 · CC BY 4.0 · Used on San Francisco
- Liberty Island photo Don Ramey Logan by Don Ramey Logan · CC BY 4.0 · Used on Statue of Liberty
- Statue of Liberty and a sightseeing boat, Liberty Island, New York by Christian David · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Statue of Liberty
- Statue of Liberty, NY by William Warby · CC BY 2.0 · Used on Statue of Liberty
- New York City (New York, USA), Statue of Liberty -- 2012 -- 6660 by Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Statue of Liberty
- Alamo pano by Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on The Alamo
- Alamo Mission, San Antonio, Texas, USA by Zygmunt Put Zetpe0202 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on The Alamo
- Grand Prismatic Spring and Midway Geyser Basin from above by Brocken Inaglory · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Yellowstone National Park
- Old Faithful Geyser Yellowstone National Park by Unknown · Public domain · Used on Yellowstone National Park
- Thomas Moran - Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone by Thomas Moran · Public domain · Used on Yellowstone National Park
- Old Faithful Inn main facade by Jim Peaco · Public domain · Used on Yellowstone National Park
- Tunnel View, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite NP - Diliff by Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Yosemite National Park
- Half Dome with Eastern Yosemite Valley (50MP) by Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Yosemite National Park
- 8. The vernal fall, Yosemite valley by Carleton Watkins · Public domain · Used on Yosemite National Park
- View of Tutocanula Pass Yosemite California by Carleton Watkins by Carleton Watkins · Public domain · Used on Yosemite National Park
- Zion angels landing view by Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Zion National Park
- Morning Fog on the Towers of the Virgin by Zion National Park · CC BY 2.0 · Used on Zion National Park
- Ansel Adams - National Archives 79-AA-V01 by Ansel Adams · Public domain · Used on Zion National Park
- Zion Canyon Temples and Towers by Bill Golladay · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Zion National Park
- Angels Landing - Zion Canyon by Óðinn · CC BY-SA 2.5 ca · Used on Angels Landing
- Zion angels landing view by Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Angels Landing
- Angel's Landing Summit by Mountain walrus · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Angels Landing
- Angel's Landing Trail by Mountain walrus · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Angels Landing
- Beartooth Highway Showing Switchbacks by WizardFusion · Public domain · Used on Beartooth Highway (US-212)
- Beartooth Highway After Spring Plow by Pahcal123 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Beartooth Highway (US-212)
- Beartooth Highway Summer by Trevor Darley · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Beartooth Highway (US-212)
- BlueRidgeParkwayIceRock by Chrishash1991 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Blue Ridge Parkway
- Humpbackrocks by The original uploader was Nationalparks at English Wikipedia.. I took this… · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Used on Blue Ridge Parkway
- TyMabryMill20050502r36f31 by Torsten Henning · Public domain · Used on Blue Ridge Parkway
- Craggy Gardens-27527 by Ken Thomas · Public domain · Used on Blue Ridge Parkway
- Grand Canyon National Park - South - 03 by Jarek Tuszyński · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Bright Angel Trail
- Bright Angel Trailhead by Mrmcdonnell · Public domain · Used on Bright Angel Trail
- Ba-trail by Notary137 at English Wikipedia · Public domain · Used on Bright Angel Trail
- Grand Canyon National Park Indian Garden CG by Public Domain · Public domain · Used on Bright Angel Trail
- Inspiration Point Bryce Canyon November 2018 panorama by King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on The Grand Circle
- Bryce canyon Panorama by Lucavanmeijl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on The Grand Circle
- Bryce Canyon Lodge by Unknown · Public domain · Used on The Grand Circle
- Bryce Canyon visitors center by Unknown · Public domain · Used on The Grand Circle
- Highline Trail (4169004303) by Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Used on Highline Trail
- Nevada Fall, Yosemite NP, CA, US - Diliff by Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Mist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls
- NH 112 scenery A by Polaron at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on New England Fall Foliage Loop
- Kancamagus pass by Dibromoindigo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on New England Fall Foliage Loop
- The Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire Route 112 by Theletterm1973 at English Wikipedia · Public domain · Used on New England Fall Foliage Loop
- New Hampshire Route 112 at western terminus US302 by Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on New England Fall Foliage Loop
- U.S. Route 1, Florida Keys by Shanbin Zhao · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Overseas Highway to Key West
- Keys Veterans memorial bridge piers by Sanibel sun · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Overseas Highway to Key West
- Overseas Railroad by Mwanner at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Overseas Highway to Key West
- Seven Mile Bridge, Florida Keys aerial (2003) by United States Department of Transportation · Public domain · Used on Overseas Highway to Key West
- The Pacific Coast Towers by Busition · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)
- Ca-1 between Santa Monica and LAX by Fietsbel · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)
- Mugu Rock on California Route 1 by Tim (Timothy) Pearce from Los Gatos, California, USA. Cropped and… · CC BY 2.0 · Used on Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)
- Central Californian Coastline, Big Sur - May 2013 by Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)
- Adams Street WB past Michigan Avenue Chicago by Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Route 66
- Magnolia gasoline station, Shamrock, TX IMG 6141 by Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Used on Route 66
- Route66 sign by Unknown · Public domain · Used on Route 66
- Whiting bros by Kellie Thorne · Public domain · Used on Route 66
- Deals Gap-Welcome to NC by Washuotaku · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Used on Tail of the Dragon (US-129)
- Tail of the Dragon 2 by William Klos from Mason, US · CC BY 2.0 · Used on Tail of the Dragon (US-129)