Yahoo Autos 40 of the most beautiful places in the US
Insider rounded up 40 of the most beautiful places to visit in the US based on national rankings.
Notable sites include the Pacific Coast Highway, Lake Tahoe, and Central Park.
Acadia, Arches, Badlands, and Great Smoky Mountains national parks also made the list.
Established in 1885, Niagara Falls State Park in Buffalo, New York, is the oldest state park in the US.
The waterfall flows with more than 700,000 gallons of water per second, according to the landmark's website.
Niagara Falls was ranked #81 in Tourism Sentiment Index's 100 Most Loved Destinations Around the World in 2023.
Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho, is even larger than Niagara Falls at 212 feet.
Insider named Shoshone Falls one of 11 spectacular waterfalls in the US you need to see in your lifetime.
The Tallulah Gorge sits inside the gorgeous, 2,700-acre Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia.
The gorge, which is almost 2 miles long and 1,000 feet deep, features six waterfalls and an 80-foot suspension bridge. Insider previously named it the most breathtaking natural wonder in Georgia.
Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, is the largest privately owned house in the US.
The Biltmore House, built in the late 1800s by George Vanderbilt, features 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The gardens covering the estate's 8,000 acres were designed by American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
The redwoods in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, part of California's Redwood National and State Parks, are some of the tallest in the world.
With over 139,000 acres of trees, the Redwood National Park covers California's northern coast. Insider named Redwood National Park one of the most beautiful natural wonders around the world.
"Good Morning America" viewers once voted Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan the most beautiful place in America.
Located on the coast of Lake Michigan, the park features 64 miles of beaches as well as rolling sand dunes, inland lakes, hiking trails, and water sports. It won GMA's "most beautiful" title in 2011.
Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska features a majestic glacier.
Glaciers might look stationary, but their movements sculpt landscapes. According to the National Park Service, Exit Glacier is the only part accessible by road, otherwise you can navigate the park by boat, kayak, or on foot. The park is also home to Alaskan wildlife such as whales, mountain goats, bears, and moose.
Hamilton Pool Preserve in Dripping Springs, Texas, is a swimming hole with a 50-foot waterfall.
Country Living named it the most beautiful swimming hole in America in 2022. It's so popular that reservations are required.
The Grand Prismatic Spring's bright colors make it a standout spot in Yellowstone National Park in Teton County, Wyoming.
The water coming from a crack in the ground running 121 feet deep gets its vibrant hues from bacteria living around the spring.
Insider named Oregon's Oneonta Gorge one of the 11 most spectacular waterfalls in the US.
The gorge is tucked away inside vibrant green cliffs.
Skagit Valley Tulip Fields in Washington is a stunning landscape in the spring.
Skagit Valley hosts an annual blink-and-you'll-miss-it Tulip Festival when the flowers are in peak bloom.
White Sands National Monument in New Mexico consists of gleaming gypsum sand dunes.
The sand covers 275 miles, the NPS noted, making it the largest gypsum dunefield in the world.
They don't call Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas "The American Spa" for nothing.
The water in Hot Springs National Park is a toasty 143 degrees Fahrenheit, and the park is full of hiking trails and historic bathhouses, according to the NPS.
With its views of the Rocky Mountains and charming hubs like Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado, is one of the prettiest cities in the US.
US News and World Report named it the best place to live in America in 2021 for the second year in a row.
Clearwater Beach in Florida is one of the top five beaches in the US, according to US News and World Report.
Clearwater Beach was ranked the fifth-best beach in the US in 2023 by US News and World Report for its plentiful water sports, pure water, and proximity to Caladesi Island State Park.
Charleston has been voted the best city in the US and the world.
Travel + Leisure named Charleston the 23rd best city in the world in 2022. In 2016, it took the No. 1 spot.
With colorful houses lining its streets and tons of beautiful settings for outdoor recreation, it's a well-deserved honor.
The Pacific Coast Highway in California is one of the best-known scenic drives in the US.
Insider named the Pacific Coast Highway the most scenic road to drive in California. It's famous for its cliff-side ocean views and pit stops like the Golden Gate Bridge and redwood forests.
Acadia National Park in Maine is one of the most-visited parks in North America.
With 158 miles of hiking trails and seven peaks above 1,000 feet, it's no wonder that over 4 million people visit the park each year, according the National Park Service.
Badlands National Park in South Dakota is known as "the Grand Canyon of the Midwest."
The Badlands' otherworldly rock formations and fossil beds stretch for 244,000 acres.
Newport, Rhode Island, is a whimsical storybook town.
