Discover the USA's Top 10 Photo-Worthy Spots for Your Instagram Feed
Where to Take Stunning Photos of the USA to Impress Your Friends?
Our list of the most Instagrammable places in the USA may surprise you. We’ve skipped the obvious places, so you won’t find the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, or the Grand Canyon below. Instead, we’re going for the stunning scenes that often get overlooked by visiting tourists. They’re not exactly local secrets, but they’ll certainly liven up your Instagram feed.
The diverse landscapes of the USA offer everything from snow-capped mountains to jungle-covered valleys and from alpine lakes to barren deserts. And that’s before you get into the human contributions, with a range of striking constructions and art installations available for you to photograph.
1. Big Sur, California
A road trip from beach to beach
Good for: Adventure, Couples, Photo
Big Sur is a 70-mile (113-km) strip of dramatic and isolated coastline along the Pacific Coast Highway. The scenery is breathtaking and there are numerous beaches and quaint beach towns where you can stop to enjoy the relaxed vibe. These characterful towns are dotted throughout this rugged landscape and make for great stopovers as you travel from cove to cove.
Among the delightful towns in Big Sur, the most popular is Monterey, known for its rich history and vibrant cultural scene. Other inviting spots to stay include Carmel-By-The-Sea and Marina.
Big Sur, California
2. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater
Spectacular mountain scenery and hiking trails
Good for: Photo, Budget, Adventure
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in Colorado is one to tick off your list if you’re an outdoor enthusiast. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery, immersed in its iconic red and orange hues, on the many hiking trails the park has to offer. For a short hike, venture down the Trading Post Trail, which takes you through 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of cinnamon-dusted buttes. Make sure to stop by the visitor center to get information on the different trails and the park’s history.
Also worth visiting is the amphitheater, which is geologically formed by the red rocks, giving it impressive acoustics. Look out for any concerts or events during your trip. Read more
Location: 18300 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO 80465, USA
Phone: +1 720-865-2494
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater
3. The Montauk Lighthouse, New York
An iconic historical beacon in The Hamptons
Good for: History, Photo
The Montauk Lighthouse is both an elegantly constructed historical landmark and the cherry on top of a starkly beautiful part of the east coast of the USA. The 110.5-ft-tall (34-meter-tall) lighthouse is the 4th oldest in the country, the oldest in the state, and was the first public works project in the USA. It first illuminated the easternmost point of Long Island in 1797, when the nation was just 21 years old.
The lighthouse’s old-fashioned design and striking colors of brilliant white and rusty red really stand out against the blue sky and the rugged terrain of the surrounding state park.
Location: Montauk Point State Park, 2000 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954, USA
Open: Hours vary by season
Phone: +1 631-668-2544
The Montauk Lighthouse, New York
4. Wynwood Walls, Florida
Miami’s outstanding urban art installation
Good for: Photo, Budget, Unusual
The Wynwood Walls in Miami are a vibrant and colorful celebration of urban art, showcasing outstanding designs in an open space. The area was opened in 2009 by the late real estate agent Tony Goldman as part of an effort to make the area more pedestrian-friendly.
Building on the neighborhood’s existing art scene, Wynwood Walls quickly became a world-renowned destination for art enthusiasts. The exceptionally high-quality murals have since expanded beyond the original buildings, transforming entire structures throughout and beyond Wynwood into canvases for creativity. Head to the area on the second Saturday of the month for a community-wide art walk. Read more
Location: 2520 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127, USA
Wynwood Walls, Florida
5. Lake Tahoe, California
An all-year adventure playground
Good for: Photo, Budget, Adventure
The massive Lake Tahoe straddles the border between California and Nevada. Being in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it’s a great place to cool off in summer and ski in winter. It’s one of the largest and deepest lakes in the country and is ringed with beaches, national forests, and snow-capped mountains.
While it’s a must-visit for photographers, Lake Tahoe is also great for hiking, biking, winter sports, water sports, and just driving around, enjoying the views. Check out Sand Harbor and sunsets at Bonsai Rock, especially.
Lake Tahoe, California
6. Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, Hawaii
Kauai Island’s stunning shoreline
Good for: Photo, Budget, Adventure
Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park is about as far from civilization as you can get on Hawaii’s Kauai Island, being right on the opposite shore from the major cities.
The steep ridges and verdant valleys of this side of the island make for breathtaking scenery which, with only one road in and out of the area, is generally quiet and peaceful. In fact, the better part of the park, including its little white-sand coves, is completely inaccessible to land vehicles, making it both a hiker’s paradise and a great spot to see from a helicopter or boat.
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7.45 pm
Phone: +1 808-274-3444
Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, Hawaii
7. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California
Amazing permanent art exhibitions
Good for: History, Photo
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is a huge place, containing more than 150,000 works spanning from ancient to modern art. Urban Light is undoubtedly one of the star attractions. Created in 2008, it features 202 restored streetlights from the 1920s and ‘30s, all arranged in a tightly packed grid. Naturally, it’s more impressive and Insta-worthy in the evenings.
A short walk away is the famous Levitated Mass, which is a huge boulder balanced over a walkway, allowing viewers to stand under it. Check out the Wallis Annenberg Photography Department for some more Instagram inspiration. Read more
Location: 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA
Open: Monday–Tuesday and Thursday from 11 am to 6 pm, Friday from 11 am to 8 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm (closed on Wednesdays)
Phone: +1 323-857-6000
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California
8. Half Dome from Glacier Point, California
One of the star shots of Yosemite National Park
Good for: Photo, Budget, Adventure
Capturing Half Dome from Glacier Point provides one of the most breathtaking photographic opportunities in Yosemite National Park, a site that became iconic through Ansel Adams’ renowned 1927 photographs. Glacier Point is a popular viewpoint, especially as there’s a road right up to it. Positioned in the heart of one of America’s favorite national parks, Glacier Point is surrounded by a variety of hiking trails that beckon adventurers to explore the natural beauty of the area.
In addition to the magnificent views, the area around Glacier Point features convenient amenities, including a trailhead right by the viewpoint, a small museum, an amphitheater, and other facilities.
Phone: +1 209-372-0200
Half Dome from Glacier Point, California
9. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
The scenery from Dances with Wolves
Good for: Photo, Adventure
The Badlands National Park encompasses colorful views of rugged mountains and countryside. The Door Trail, among others, takes you through buttes, pinnacles, and ridges of rock with crisp horizontal bands of multicolored rock, which has revealed a rich fossil record stretching back 33 million years or more.
The park contains historical sites relating to Native American traditions and Cold War preparations. Be sure to check out Red Shirt Table which, at 3,340 ft (1,018 meters), is the highest point in the park and offers great views over its vast expanse.
Phone: +1 605-433-5361
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
10. Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
The view made famous by Instagram
Good for: Photo, Adventure
There are several spots across the western USA named Horseshoe Bend, but the most famous and most photographed is undoubtedly the one in Page, Arizona. Located just south of the border with Utah, the sweeping bend in the Colorado River has created a striking slot canyon that is a wonder to behold.
The view from the overlook, 1,000 ft (305 meters) above the river, only started to become popular in 2018, following increasing appearances on Instagram. It’s amazing at any time of the day but is particularly popular (if hard to photograph) at sunset.
Location: Page, AZ 86040, USA
Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
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