America the Beautiful: The 10 Most Beautiful States in USA

In Americas November 5, 20258 min read

Oh, beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain… so wrote Katharine Lee Bates in 1895, for generations of Americans to proudly sing in the following decades, and with good reason! America is indeed a beautiful country, and because of how large a country she is, that beauty is a splendid and varied thing.

From sea to shining sea, those traveling across America can find themselves driving through majestic mountains, lush forests, rolling green plains, and gorgeous painted deserts. While states that are side by side may be very similar, no two states are identical–and that is so much of what makes America beautiful enough to sing about.

As an American, I’ve lived in and traveled to most of the 50 states, and each of them had something to love! I have to admit, though, there are a few I consider the most beautiful states in the U.S.–well, in my personal opinion, at least. Another beauty of America is that there’s something for everyone, somewhere for each and every person to go that will touch them in their heart in a way that might be different for someone else.

Washington

The topmost Western corner of the continental United States, the state of Washington has become synonymous over the decades with coffee, Grunge music, and plenty of rain. But any Washingtonian will tell you there’s so much more to their home than this!

Coastal Washington is a craggy landscape dotted with small villages all along its rugged expanse. With slate gray sea waters and mountains draped in lush greenery, it’s picturesque in a moodily beautiful way.

Head a bit inland and you can roam the glaciers and rainforests of Olympia National Park, one of the most famous national parks in the USA with over 3,000 miles of waterways and nearly 700 miles of trails waiting to be explored.

If life on the water is your thing, Washington boasts more than 8,000 gorgeous lakes perfect for sailing, swimming, and water skiing–northern Lake Chelan is among the most famous, being one of the deepest lakes in the world, and the second-cleanest in the US.

Go east, and small towns like Leavenworth and Winthrop have charming, walkable and historic Main Street areas while being nestled into Washington’s majestic mountains.

Vermont

Northeastern Vermont is one of the nation’s smaller states, with a land area of under 10,000 square miles. That said, there is an abundance of natural beauty packed into that small space, and it attracts millions of visitors per year, especially in the fall and winter months.

Winter sports enthusiasts flock to towns like Stowe and Killington to get their downhill skiing fix–and if they don’t like to ski, they can ice skate or snow shoe; there’s so much physical activity in the gorgeously snowy Green Mountains that Vermont is one of the country’s healthiest states!

Leaf-peepers, however, love the autumn months, when Vermont’s famous maple trees burst into a riot of fiery color. You can walk, drive, or even mountain bike through thickets of brightly-colored trees, stopping along the way for local cider and to munch on some of the best apples in the nation. These blazing autumn colors are by far the biggest reason why some consider Vermont to be one of the prettiest states in the U.S.

Louisiana

New Orleans draws many a tourist to Louisiana, and rightly so–architectural history, ghost tours, and incredibly delicious food are never a bad thing! However, beyond the French Quarter, Louisiana is unique amongst her statehood sisters for her miles and miles of bayous and waterways, just part of why she’s one of the most beautiful states in America.

Known as a “Sportsman’s Paradise,” Louisiana treats hunting and fishing enthusiasts to an incredible bounty of game, while boaters and aqua sport fans find joy sailing in the rivers, bayous and lakes. Then, too, swamp tours in the Pelican State will introduce visitors to Louisiana’s tall cypresses resplendently draped in Spanish moss while alligators swim lazily by and herons call their unusual cries into the air. Millions of visitors annually enjoy Louisiana’s profusion of natural beauty as well as her unique culture and spooky sights.

Colorado

Another mountainous treasure of a state, Colorado is known for the Rockies and for their own bustling winter sports scene. Those who enjoy rock and mountain climbing definitely find a lot of bliss here in those craggy, soaring heights!

But if you’re more the road-trip type, you’ll have stars in your eyes during your drive through the Centennial State. Of the country’s 184 federally-designated

“America’s Byways,” Colorado is home to a whopping 13 such roads, by far the most of any of the 50 states. These roads are not only naturally beautiful, they’re also culturally, architecturally, and historically significant. You’ll get to see dinosaur digs, stunning foliage, old railroad towns, and silver mining cities, all in one state! Colorado is truly rich in gorgeous scenery, making it one of the most naturally beautiful states in the U.S.

New Mexico

The state of New Mexico is known well as “The Land of Enchantment,” and one visit there will make it clear to anyone as to why. Like its neighbor Arizona, New Mexico is truly a geological dream; towers, turrets and pinnacles of rock formations and cliffs soar into the sky here, all painted in natural red, orange and pink hues and dating back billions of years.

And while Roswell is the source of a lot of America’s UFO legends, it’s the landscape of the Bisti Badlands (more properly known as the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness) that resembles an alien planet. Fallen monoliths of petrified wood and oddly-shaped rock formations dot the land here, which was thought once to be a rainforest but is now a glorious sandstone desert spiked here and there with hoodoos.

Maine

Known for taciturn citizens and abundant lobster harvests, Maine is, perhaps surprisingly to some, also one of the most beautiful states in America. Why? Oh, just her hundreds of miles of stunning rugged coastline, sandy beaches, and iconic lighthouses. Driving along that coastline alone will reward adventurers with lovely little quaint towns to visit, seaside cliffs to admire, and ocean beaches to roll up your pantlegs and kick your feet in.

But while that coastline is genuinely spectacular, Maine’s greatest treasure may well be Acadia National Park. Acadia is one of the most visited of the East Coast national parks, and it is one of the oldest in the entire country. This is where the first rays of daylight touch down in the U.S., on the slopes of Cadillac Mountain.

It’s an area that’s so lovely, it came to national prominence thanks to a school of painters who were enchanted by its natural beauty to return year after year to produce copious works of art that in turn captured the attentions of America’s wealthy traveling set and led to the eventual preservation movement that created the park.

Nevada

Mention Nevada, and most folks will probably respond by regaling you with tales of their last big roller visit to Vegas or Reno. But those in the know will wax poetic about their hiking adventures in Red Rocks, the skiing they did in Tahoe, or the boating on Lake Mead.

Nevada is an underrated treasure trove of natural beauty and incredible geology. Did you know it’s the US state with the most mountain ranges, at 314? Or that the magically beautiful limestone and marble Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park are home to the greatest concentration of cave shields–large, gorgeously weird disc-like calcium formations on cave walls–in North America? Incredible natural scenery abounds in Nevada, so next time you go, get out of the brightly lit cities; hit the trails and feast your eyes on some of America’s greatest mighty mountains.

California

The Golden State is well known as one of America’s most beautiful states. Famous for state parks, a gorgeous coastline, and a large number of designated scenic byways, there’s beauty almost everywhere you turn in California.

The Redwood National & State Parks complex in northern California is a true marvel to visit, with vast numbers of enormous redwood trees towering against the skies. Head south to wonder at the striking desert expanses of Death Valley and Joshua Tree, or go more centrally to the coastal gem that is Point Lobos Natural Reserve with its rich trove of wildlife. Even manmade wonders have their place in California, from the modern spires of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to the quirky charm of Danish-themed Solvang. As a state, California contains many beautiful multitudes.

Kentucky

Known as a gateway to the wild and unpredictable beauty of Appalachia, Kentucky is a vastly underrated source of gorgeous nature in the American southeast.

This is where you’ll find Cumberland Falls, the “Niagara of the South,” where a breathtaking 125-foot wide curtain of thundering water cascades over jutting rocks–it’s also the only place in the Western Hemisphere where you can observe the incredible natural phenomenon of the nighttime moonbow. Underground, visitors to Mammoth Cave National Park can take in the amazing sight of the world’s longest recorded cave system and its thriving metropolis of subterranean wildlife.

Outside of nature, Kentucky is also home to one of the greatest “Main Street” community revival programs in America, where previously struggling downtown areas have been revitalized into attractive, walkable districts with plentiful small local artisanal businesses and cafes for visitors to enjoy.

Hawai’i

It’s no secret that the tropical islands of Hawai’i are one of America’s greatest natural beauties. Craggy volcanoes, sandy beaches, and verdant rainforests are just some of the natural wonders visitors to the Aloha State will be treated to when they land on her shores. Hawaii is also a top choice for honeymoons because it pairs beautiful views with incredibly friendly people. From Maui to Kauai, these islands are some of the most famous spots in the U.S. for newlyweds to celebrate.

The main Big Island, Hawai’i, boasts 10 of the world’s 14 different climate zones in her almost 4,100 square miles, making for a richly biodiverse ecosystem. And since the island is nice and warm year-round, outdoorsy sorts can swim, hike, and bike to their hearts’ content just about as much as they want! From the sacred cliffs of Kauai to Oahu’s stunning beaches, Hawai’i is a feast for all of the senses, and it wouldn’t be too farfetched to call it the most beautiful state in America.

Natural Beauty at Every Turn

The United States is a stunning, unique country no matter which state you explore. Whether you love the drama of moss-festooned swamps, the majestic peaks of millennia-old mountains, or nature’s paintbox splashed across the desert, there’s a bit of American landscape with your name written all over it, just waiting for your visit.

Do you agree that these ten states are some of the most beautiful states in the U.S., or do you have your own favorites?