Solo travel isn’t “sad vacation energy” anymore—it’s choose-your-own-adventure travel.
And it’s booming: Skyscanner’s survey found a majority of respondents planning multiple solo trips in the year ahead, with lots of travelers aiming for 2–5 trips.
At Travel Off Path, we love solo trips because they’re the ultimate stress reducer: you wake up, you decide the vibe, and nobody can veto your museum day (or your 2 p.m. nap).
Before we get into the list, here’s the quick “solo trip cheat code”:
- Pick a walkable base (or a place with solid transit).
- Book at least one group activity early (walking tour, food tour, class). It’s the easiest way to feel “not alone” without forcing small talk all day.
- Choose lodging that matches your social battery: hostels/social hotels if you want friends; boutique hotels if you want peace.
Now, the six U.S. destinations that consistently deliver for solo travelers:
1) New York City, NY
NYC is basically built for doing your own thing. You can disappear into the crowd (in a good way), bounce between neighborhoods on public transit, and never once feel weird about a table for one.
Do this solo:
- Ride the Roosevelt Island Tram for skyline views on a regular MTA fare (and yes, OMNY is accepted).
- Pick one “anchor” museum, then wander a neighborhood with zero agenda. NYC rewards aimless exploring.
Where to stay (solo-friendly logic):
- Midtown/Times Square is chaotic, but for first-timers it’s convenient and busy (a plus when you’re alone at night).
- Brooklyn (Williamsburg/Greenpoint) if you want chiller cafés and a more local vibe.
2) Washington, D.C.
If you want a solo trip that feels productive (without actually being productive), D.C. is your place. It’s walkable, monument-packed, and stacked with free museums—so you can fill full days without constantly spending.
Do this solo:
- Build a “museum hop” day with Smithsonian spots, then take breaks whenever you want (solo travelers win here).
- See the monuments at night—either with a small tour or by sticking to well-lit, popular areas.
Getting around:
- If you use Metro, WMATA’s tools make it easy to plan routes, and SmarTrip is the classic pay method.
3) New Orleans, LA
New Orleans is one of the easiest places to travel solo if you’re smart about it—because the city is social by nature. Music spills out of doorways, bartenders actually talk to you, and it’s normal to end up chatting with strangers (in a non-cringey way).
Do this solo:
- Make Frenchmen Street your live-music home base—it’s famous for exactly that.
- Book a food tour or a cocktail history tour early in your trip. It’s entertainment and instant community.
Solo safety vibe check:
- Stay aware at night, keep your route simple, and don’t accept “random helpful guiding” from strangers. New Orleans is magical, but don’t let the vibes override basic street smarts.
4) Asheville, NC
Asheville is for the solo traveler who wants mountain air, great food, and a little artsy wandering—without needing a hardcore outdoors résumé.
Do this solo:
- Spend a day popping into galleries and studios, then reward yourself with a brewery patio hang (easy, low-pressure social setting).
- Plan a scenic drive or hike day—but check conditions first. Winter closures can affect sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the area also posts alerts for closures tied to recovery and maintenance.
- If you want your trip dollars to feel meaningful, Asheville’s tourism org has explicitly been sharing updates about being open and welcoming visitors.
5) Sedona, AZ
Sedona is the solo reset button: sunrise hikes, red-rock views, and the kind of quiet that makes your brain finally unclench.
Do this solo:
- Hit one of the iconic trails early, then spend the afternoon doing a spa session, sound bath, or just… sitting somewhere pretty with a coffee.
- Use the Sedona Shuttle system when it fits your plan—Sedona specifically promotes using the TransLoc app for real-time info and booking.
Sedona is also fantastic if you’re solo but don’t want to feel isolated—popular trails have plenty of people around, which can be reassuring without being annoying.
6) San Diego, CA
San Diego is “easy mode” in the best way: beach air, laid-back neighborhoods, and enough to do that you can stay busy—or do absolutely nothing and call it wellness.
Do this solo:
- Wander Balboa Park and pick museums based purely on what you feel like that day.
- Base yourself in a neighborhood with a vibe you like (Little Italy for food, beach areas for calm, etc.).
Bonus: airport logistics are painless
- San Diego’s transit agency notes Route 992 connects the airport with downtown in about 15 minutes, linking up with major transit at Santa Fe Depot.
One more thing: use U.S. solo trips as your “confidence ladder”
A lot of travelers start solo in a U.S. city, then go bigger once they realize: “Oh… I’m actually great at this.”
If you’re already thinking about a next-level solo trip (sun + ocean + easy resort logistics), The Cabo Sun has a few genuinely useful reads—like an insider breakdown of whether Los Cabos is safe for solo female travelers, plus a practical guide on whether Cabo all-inclusives make sense when you’re traveling alone.
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