Where to go in the USA: choosing first-trip states and cities by travel style, with airports and how to combine them

Where to go in the USA depends on your style: choose New York for big-city energy, Los Angeles or Hawaii for sun and beaches, and national parks for scenery. Thai citizens need a US visa before travelling, whichever state you pick.

Which city or state suits which kind of traveller?

This table pairs travel style with destination, main airport code and who it suits, as a starting point for your first choice.

Which state is best if you have limited time?

With roughly one to two weeks, pick a single region, such as the East Coast, the West Coast or Hawaii, rather than crossing the country back and forth.

• East Coast: New York plus Washington DC, reachable by Amtrak or bus.
• West Coast: Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas suit a road trip.
• For pure relaxation, choose Hawaii with just one or two islands.

Should you combine cities by flight or by road?

Distances between US cities are large: fly between the East and West coasts, and drive only between nearer cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.

• Driving needs your Thai licence and usually an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by Thailand's Department of Land Transport.
• Highway 1 at Big Sur has had landslide closures, so check road conditions with Caltrans first.
• Some national parks require timed-entry reservations in peak seasons; check nps.gov.

How many time zones does the USA have, and how many days do you need?

The USA spans several time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska and Hawaii, so keep your phone clock on automatic.

• A single big city deserves about four to five days.
• Two cities on one coast call for around a week or more.
• Crossing coasts is better with two weeks or more to absorb travel time and jet lag.

How do you handle internet across several states?

A single US eSIM works nationwide. Signal is strong in cities and along major highways, but national parks and deserts have gaps, as the National Park Service notes for many parks.

• Download offline maps of each park before entering.
• Keep your Thai SIM for bank OTPs with data roaming off.
• If you have not chosen a plan yet, see “Best eSIM for the USA 2026: pick by trip length”.

How do you get around inside the big cities?

Each city works differently: New York is easy by subway and bus, while Los Angeles is spread out and most visitors rely on cars or ride-hailing.

• New York: subway and buses use OMNY contactless tap-to-pay with a bank card or phone wallet, according to the MTA.
• Los Angeles and Las Vegas: spread-out cities where rental cars or Uber and Lyft are common.
• San Francisco, Washington DC and Chicago: public transit works well in tourist districts.

Are national parks a good idea for a first trip?

They suit travellers with a car and enough time, but they are a weaker first choice if you have never driven in the USA, because distances are long and mobile signal is uneven.

• Popular examples include Yosemite and the Grand Canyon; check entry and reservation rules at nps.gov. Visitors from abroad pay an extra nonresident fee at 11 popular national parks, including Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Zion, unless they hold the Non-Resident Annual Pass, and fee-free days are only for US residents, so check nps.gov.
• Carry water and food and keep the fuel tank full, as stations can be far apart.

• Each park has an official National Park Service page listing road closures, wildfires and weather, so check it before every visit.
• Tell someone your route and do not rely on mobile signal for help, since many spots have none; if you do have signal, call 911.

Check before you book flights

• Check how many hours apart your chosen cities are by air, and allow for time-zone changes and jet lag.
• Consider flying into one city and out of another (open-jaw) to avoid backtracking, and check the conditions with the airline.
• Make sure your B-2 visa and travel dates match your whole plan.

See eSIM options for the USA