🇹🇭 North America · 333M people

Travel to the USA: the complete 2026 guide

New York megacity, Pacific California, desert Southwest, tropical Florida, paradise Hawaii. The USA is a continent in one country. 9-12h flight from Paris, ESTA required but $21 and 100% online. Our complete guide by region.

📅 When to go? 🗺️ See itineraries

USA at a glance

Capital

Washington DC

Language

English

Currency

US Dollar ($)

Time diff

−6h to −9h

Flight from Paris

8-12h by coast

Average / day

€150-400

Visa

Best season

Variable by region and activity

Photo : Tim Hart / Unsplash

In 30 seconds

Why visit USA

1

A continent in one country

9,833,000 km² (15× France). Cosmopolitan East Coast megacities, Southwest deserts, Florida beaches, Alaska glaciers, tropical Hawaii. 4 time zones.
2

The king country of road trips

Pacific Coast Highway, Route 66, Southwest national parks. Unmatched road infrastructure, car rental from $35/day, accessible RVs.
3

63 national parks + cinematic landscapes

Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Monument Valley, Sequoia, Glacier, Acadia. Book 6-12 months ahead for internal lodging.
4

Simple but MANDATORY ESTA

$21 online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov (official site only). 2-year validity, stays up to 90 days. Apply at least 72h before flight.
5

Absolute culinary diversity

New Orleans (Cajun), New York (bagel + pizza + everything), Texas (BBQ), California (Mexican + farm-to-table), Hawaii (poke + plate lunch). Not the "junk food" cliché.

Calendar

When to go to USA

Country-continent: there's always a region where it's sunny. New York: May-June and September-October. Southwest: spring-autumn. Florida: Nov-April. Hawaii: April-June and Sept-Oct.

Full when-to-go guide →

Ideal Fair Avoid · Click for details

Jan

🌡 -3-4 °C

Feb

🌡 0-7 °C

Mar

🌡 4-13 °C

Apr

🌡 10-19 °C

May

🌡 15-24 °C

Jun

🌡 20-29 °C

Jul

🌡 23-32 °C

Aug

🌡 22-31 °C

Sep

🌡 18-27 °C

Oct

🌡 12-21 °C

Nov

🌡 6-13 °C

Dec

🌡 0-6 °C

Detailed programs

Recommended itineraries

1 week

1-week itinerary

📅 1 week 💰 📍 Manhattan · Brooklyn · Queens

See itinerary →

2 weeks Best-seller

2-week itinerary

📅 2 weeks 💰 📍 San Francisco · Yosemite · Big Sur · LA · Las Vegas · Grand Canyon

See itinerary →

1 month

1-month itinerary

📅 1 month 💰 📍 Las Vegas · Zion · Bryce · Arches · Monument Valley · Antelope Canyon · Grand Canyon · Sedona

See itinerary →

Destinations

Cities & islands of USA

Aerial view of Lower Manhattan surrounded by the Hudson and East River

East Coast

New York

Megacity + culture

West Coast

Los Angeles

Hollywood + beaches

By traveler profile

Which trip suits you?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Families

Florida (Disney World + Universal + Everglades), California (Disneyland + beaches), Southwest parks (accessible Zion, Bryce).

💑

Honeymoon

Hawaii (Maui, Kauai), Napa Valley (wine), coastal Big Sur, Wyoming ranches, high-altitude Aspen hotels.

🎒

Backpacking

Difficult in USA (hotels $100+ even hostels). Prefer Couchsurfing, national park campgrounds ($25/night), Greyhound bus. 14 days = €2,000 minimum.

🚗

Road trip

West Coast (PCH), Southwest 5-park loop from Las Vegas, reconstituted Route 66, East Coast from NY to Charleston.

🥂

Luxury

Aman New York, Four Seasons Hawaii, Amangiri (Utah), The Ranch Malibu. €800-2,500/night.

🏔️

Nature & adventure

Alaska (Inside Passage cruise), Glacier National Park, Pacific Crest Trail, Colorado rafting. Permits required.

In pictures

USA in photos

USA

New York

Los Angeles

Must-do

Signature experiences

✨

Times Square + Broadway

Evening shows

✨

Pacific Coast Highway

SF-LA in 4-5 days

✨

Grand Canyon sunrise

Yavapai Point

✨

Las Vegas Strip

Cirque + Bellagio fountains

✨

Drive-thru film sites

Monument Valley

✨

Whale cruise

Maui (winter)

✨

New Orleans beignets

Café du Monde

✨

Alaska northern lights

Fairbanks, Sept-March

Plan your trip

Practical info

📄

USA ESTA

Required, $21, online only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. 2-year validity.

Read guide →

🛡️

Travel insurance

ESSENTIAL. World's most expensive medical care. €1M cap minimum.

Compare →

📡

USA eSIM

Coverage variable outside cities. Airalo/Holafly eSIM best compromise.

Compare →

🚗

License and rental

French license accepted + international license recommended. Credit cards mandatory for rental.

Read guide →

How much

USA budget

💰 Calculate my budget →

Backpacker

€2,000

✈️ Return flight: €700
🏨 Hostel/camping: €50/night
🍔 Fast-food + diners: €30/day
🚌 Greyhound bus: €300

Recommended

Comfort

€3,800

✈️ Return flight: €800
🏨 3-4★ hotel: €150/night
🍽️ Mixed restos: €60/day
🚗 14-day car rental: €600

Premium

€10,000

✈️ Business flight: €3,000
🏨 5★ NYC/Aman: €500/night
🍽️ Starred restaurants: €150/day
🚖 Driver: Included

Our picks

Prepare your trip to USA

Our tested and updated comparisons for a smooth trip to USA.

🏢

Best travel agency for USA

Tailor-made agencies, organized tours, free quotes. Our selection for USA.

See comparison →

🛡️

Travel insurance for USA

Medical coverage, repatriation, cancellation. The best insurance for USA.

See comparison →

📡

eSIM for USA

Data plans, network coverage, pricing. The best eSIM to stay connected in USA.

See comparison →

Combine with

Turquoise lake and Canadian Rockies mountain range near Banff

🇨🇦

Canada

Land border, same continent

Kukulkán pyramid at Chichén Itzá under a blue sky

🇲🇽

Mexico

3h flight from the south

Vintage American car parked in front of colorful Havana façades

🇨🇺

Cuba

1h flight from Miami

FAQ

ESTA or visa for USA? +

ESTA sufficient for EU nationals for tourist stays up to 90 days. $21 at esta.cbp.dhs.gov (OFFICIAL site only, beware scams). 2-year validity. B-1/B-2 visa needed for stays > 90 days.

West Coast or East Coast for first trip? +

West Coast: more geographic diversity (SF, Southwest parks, desert, LA). East Coast: urban (NY, Boston, Washington). Ideal combo = West Coast 14 days + Hawaii extension.

How much does a USA trip cost? +

Backpacker: €2,000-2,500. Comfort: €3,800-4,500. Premium: €8,000-15,000. Expensive country, especially NY and SF. Southwest cheaper (motels, fast-food).

Special USA travel insurance needed? +

YES, essential. USA medical costs = 10× France. €1M cap minimum, ideally unlimited. Chapka, Heymondo, ACS offer USA-specific plans.

Best season for Yellowstone / Yosemite? +

June to September. Off-season, many roads and lodgings closed. Internal campground reservation essential 6-12 months ahead.

Driving in USA with French license? +

Yes, French license accepted + international license recommended. Right-hand drive. Speed limits in mph. Credit cards required for car rental.