8 Amazing Solo Trip Ideas in the United States (Safe, Walkable & Budget-Friendly)

🔗 This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase anything mentioned, at no extra cost. Thank you! See my Terms & Conditions for more info.

Look, planning a trip is hard. Deciding where to go, how to get there, how much time to spend there — there are SO freaking many decisions to make in the process.

But the most difficult decision is deciding where to go. Especially if you’ve never even been on a solo trip before. How the heck do you choose?

I was in your shoes at one point. For my first solo trip, I spent weeks comparing all of my options. Sometimes I’d open my laptop to do research and ten minutes later, I felt completely frazzled and hopeless. I didn’t know if I wanted to experience Chicago in winter, visit the east coast for the first time, or finally see the hype around Miami.

If you’re planning your first solo trip and have NO idea where to go, this post is for you. I’m sharing eight of the best solo trip destinations — all of which I’ve either personally visited and loved, or have done extensive research on and plan on visiting soon.

THIS POST IS ALL ABOUT SOLO TRIP IDEAS.

SHORT ON TIME? MY TOP PICKS:

Want a quick overview? These are the absolute best solo travel destinations to consider for your very first solo trip. Keep reading this post for a more detailed breakdown of each city.

• BEST FOR BUDGET TRAVELERS: Chicago, Illinois
• BEST FOR BEACH LOVERS: Miami, Florida
• BEST FOR CITY LOVERS: San Francisco, California
• BEST FOR CULTURAL IMMERSION: San Juan, Puerto Rico

SOLO TRIP IDEAS

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Chicago is arguably the best city for your first solo trip. And I’m ALWAYS going to vouch for everyone to visit at least a handful of times (if you don’t already know, you’ll quickly learn that Chicago is my absolute favorite city).

There’s tons of solo-friendly activities to try, it’s compact, there are numerous distinct neighborhoods to explore, the public transportation is great, it isn’t too expensive to visit… I mean, why wouldn’t you go?

And the food options… oh my God, don’t get me started! Chicago is probably BEST known for its quality and quantity of food.

You seriously can’t go wrong as a foodie here — especially in some of Chicago’s best neighborhoods like River North, Fulton Market, and Lincoln Park.

QUICK CHICAGO PLANNING TIPS:

• Best Time to Visit: Summer (June-August) and fall (September-October). Although prices are lower and crowds are more moderate in Spring, it usually doesn’t get warm until closer to summer.
• How Much to Budget:
  • Accommodations: $180-230 per night
  • Flights: $200 round-trip (sampled using JFK ⇄ ORD routes)
  • Activities: $150 with CityPASS Chicago for five attractions
  • Dining: $80-130 per day
• Things to Do & See:
  • Architecture River Cruise
  • The Art Institute of Chicago
  • Iconic Foods of Chicago Tour
  • See the skyline from an observation deck
  • Spend a few hours at one of Chicago’s beaches
• Where to Stay:
  • Hilton Chicago
  • Hotel Riu Plaza Chicago
  • citizenM Chicago Downtown
• Related Chicago Guides:
  • 30+ Fun Things to Do in Chicago for Solo Travelers
  • The Ultimate 3-Day Chicago Itinerary for First-Timers (From a Frequent Visitor)
  • Hotel Riu Plaza Chicago (Hotel Review)
  • The Best Time to Visit Chicago for First-Timers (Seasonal Breakdown)
  • All Chicago Travel Guides Here

WASHINGTON, DC

As the capital of the United States, Washington DC is quite an important city. Aside from the politics, DC is actually a great city for museum lovers and budget travelers.

Boasting over 80 museums, DC has a museum for every kind of traveler — whether you’re interested in art, space, or history.

Because of its awesome public transit network (WMATA), walkability, affordability, and sheer number of activities to do, I think Washington DC is, dare I say, the perfect first-time solo trip destination.

I’ve been several times and, I must say, I’m going to need about a handful more visits to say I’ve truly experienced the city the district. Read below for my top recommendations for visiting Washington DC.

QUICK WASHINGTON DC PLANNING TIPS:

• Best Time to Visit: Spring (late March to May) is the best time to visit Washington DC. The picturesque cherry blossoms are in bloom and although the weather can be tricky, it’s usually mild.
• How Much to Budget:
  • Accommodations: $200-300 per night
  • Flights: $200-400 round-trip (sampled using JFK ⇄ ORD routes)
  • Activities: $150-200 total (DC has tons of free museums and attractions — especially the Smithsonian museums)
  • Dining: $60-120 per day
• Things to Do & See:
  • See the cherry blossoms in peak bloom
  • Visit several of Washington DC’s Museums
  • Take a bus or walking tour
• Where to Stay:
  • citizenM Washington Capitol
  • Arlo Washington DC
  • Tempo by Hilton Washington DC Downtown

MIAMI, FLORIDA

Ah, the Sunshine State! I’ll be honest: I originally wasn’t open to the idea of visiting Florida for a number of reasons, but I set those aside — and I’m SO glad I did!

My first EVER solo trip was to Miami in December 2025. That experience alone inspired me not only to take more solo trips, but to create the blog you’re reading right now.

Miami is mostly most known for its clubs and beaches, but you can totally visit without indulging in either if that’s not your thing. In fact, I did the opposite of everything your typical Miami tourist would do:

I went to a few museums, had a solo dinner date, and saw the sunrise at South Beach (okay, that might be more common, but I digress!).

I think Miami is a great destination for your first solo trip because there’s a good amount of stuff to do, but you won’t get overwhelmed by the options.

Also, the city isn’t terribly big — it’s about eight times smaller than NYC and a whopping 13 times smaller than LA.

QUICK MIAMI PLANNING TIPS:

• Best Time to Visit: Winter into early spring (January-April) is the best time to visit. With low humidity temperatures averaging 70-85 degrees, you’ve got the perfect beach weather.
• How Much to Budget:
  • Accommodations: $105-200 per night
  • Flights: $125-250 round-trip (sampled using ORD ⇄ MIA routes)
  • Activities: $120-250 total
  • Dining: $65-120 per day
• Things to Do & See:
  • See the sunrise at South Beach
  • Visit several of Miami’s museums (Perez Art Museum and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens are my favorites)
  • Go on a boat tour
• Where to Stay:
  • citizenM Miami Worldcenter
  • citizenM Miami Brickell
  • The Elser Hotel Miami
  • EAST Miami

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Full of history and charm, Boston is a great destination for your first solo trip. The city is walkable and there’s tons to do. Hotels can be quite expensive and there aren’t many short-term rentals, but I still think it’s worth the visit.

During my first trip to Boston, I went to the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, saw a concert at TD Garden, tasted some scrumptious cannolis, and tried Boston’s public transportation. I’m looking forward to visiting again!

QUICK BOSTON PLANNING TIPS:

• Best Time to Visit: Early fall (September to early October) is the best time to visit Boston. It’s neither too hot nor too cold, and you’ll really experience Boston during its best, most visually stunning season.
• How Much to Budget:
  • Accommodations: $230-430 per night
  • Flights: $150-300 round-trip (sampled using ORD ⇄ BOS routes)
  • Activities: $120-250 total (CityPASS Boston is around $90 for four attractions)
  • Dining: $65-120 per day
• Things to Do & See:
  • Explore the Museum of Fine Arts
  • Walk the Freedom Trail
  • Take a North End food tour
  • Spend a few hours in to Salem
  • Try a cannoli (a scrumptious Italian pastry)
• Where to Stay:
  • citizenM Back Bay (the North Station one is nice too, but there isn’t much to do in the area besides to eat)
  • Omni Boston at the Seaport
  • The Godfrey Hotel Boston

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Home to Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, Lay’s, The Walking Dead, and some finger-licking chicken wings, Atlanta is widely considered the capital of the south. I like visiting not only because I have family there, but also because of the year-round good weather.

QUICK ATLANTA PLANNING TIPS:

• Best Time to Visit: Fall (September to November) is the best time to visit Atlanta, with October being the best month. While there’s more to do in summer, temperatures are often unbearable and hotel prices increase quite a bit.
• How Much to Budget:
  • Accommodations: $110-210 per night
  • Flights: $80-260 round-trip (sampled using ORD ⇄ ATL routes)
  • Activities: CityPASS Atlanta is around $110 for five attractions
  • Dining: $75-160 per day
• Things to Do & See:
  • The Belt Line
  • Georgia Aquarium
  • Visit a farmer’s market
  • National Center for Civil and Human Rights
  • Attend an event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Where to Stay:
  • Atlanta Marriott Marquis
  • Loews Atlanta Hotel
  • Signia by Hilton Atlanta Georgia
  • Hyatt Centric Midtown Atlanta

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Seattle is a great solo trip destination because there’s a good number of activities to do, a strong coffee scene and beautiful views to take in. I just recently visited in September 2026 and had an amazing experience.

QUICK SEATTLE PLANNING TIPS:

• Best Time to Visit: The shoulder seasons — September to October, and March to May — are the best times to visit Seattle. Temperatures are moderate, crowds are tolerable, and nearly every major attraction is open.
• How Much to Budget:
  • Accommodations: $110-210 per night
  • Flights: $305-473 round-trip (sampled using ORD ⇄ SEA routes)
  • Attractions: $140 with CityPASS Seattle for five attractions
  • Dining: $70-120 per day
• Things to Do & See:
  • Take a day trip to Mount Rainier Park
  • See the skyline from an observation deck (Space Needle or Sky View Observatory)
  • Explore the Seattle Art Museum
• Where to Stay:
  • citizenM Seattle South Lake
  • citizenM Seattle Pioneer Square
  • Hyatt Regency Seattle

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

San Francisco is another excellent destination for a solo trip. You’ve got the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, historic street cars, delicious burritos, and that “big city” energy without everything being overwhelming.

In term of safety, SF’s reputation has gone a bit downhill (no pun intended), but as long as you stay aware of your surroundings, avoid the more dangerous areas, and only go out during the day, you should be fine.

QUICK SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING TIPS:

• Best Time to Visit: Fall (September to Early November) is the best time to visit San Francisco. Skies are mostly clear, rain is infrequent, temperatures are comfortable, and crowds are moderate.
• How Much to Budget:
  • Accommodations: $150–320 per night
  • Flights: $320–520 round-trip (sampled using ORD ⇄ SFO routes)
  • Attractions: $90-100 with CityPASS San Francisco for four attractions
  • Dining: $80–140 per day
• Things to Do & See:
  • See the Golden Gate Bridge
  • Try a Mission burrito
  • See the Painted Ladies
  • Visit Alcatraz Island
  • Walk through the Japanese Tea Garden
• Where to Stay:
  • citizenM San Francisco Union Square
  • Hotel Zephyr San Francisco
  • Hotel Emblem

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

San Juan is the perfect destination if you want to feel like you’re leaving the country, but don’t have a passport or don’t want spend hours on a plane.

Puerto Rico is full of culture, from beautiful art to delicious food and much more. I haven’t visited yet, but I’ve heard great things about this island. And I’m absolutely looking forward to visiting in the near future!

BEST TIME TO VISIT SAN JUAN:

This one is a toss-up, and I know it’s not the answer you’re looking for.

While October-April is the best to visit San Juan for the perfect weather, it’s also most expensive season for the same reason. That said, the “best time” depends on whether you prefer to save money or avoid hurricane season.

I’d personally visit during the high season (mid-December to April) and accept I’d have to account for higher prices. I don’t usually recommending visiting a destination during the high season, but Puerto Rico is a special case.

TYPICAL BUDGET:

• ACCOMMODATIONS: $220–420 per night
• FLIGHTS: $350–700 round-trip (sampled using ORD ⇄ SJU routes)
• ACTIVITIES: $50–100 total
• DINING: $80–140 per day

BEST THINGS TO DO IN SAN JUAN:

• Join an El Yunque Rainforest Tour
• Drink a Pina Colada (San Juan is the birthplace)
• Explore Old San Juan
• Spend a Day at Condado Beach

WHERE TO STAY IN SAN JUAN:

• The Royal Sonesta San Juan
• La Concha Resort, Puerto Rico, Autograph Collection
• O:live Boutique Hotel
• Condado Vanderbilt
• Hotel El Convento

Be mindful when choosing a place to stay in Puerto Rico. Guesthouses and boutique hotels keep more money within the community Large chains — like Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt — provide stable employment and infrastructure. If considering a short-term rental, look for locally-owned listings.

PLACES TO AVOID ON YOUR FIRST SOLO TRIP

Based on the criteria I listed earlier, there are some cities that actually AREN’T good destinations for your first solo trip.

I’m not saying you should never visit these alone (or in general). But with this being your first experience, I think it’s smarter to ease into it, y’know? Test the waters for a bit and branch out.

Here are three destinations I’d avoid visiting on my FIRST solo trip:

• New York City, NY: I’m sure you’re shocked that NYC — the most-visited city in the US — didn’t make the cut. But that’s for a reason: even though there’s tons to do and about a million options for food and hotels, NYC isn’t exactly the most ideal destination for a first-timer’s solo trip. You can very easily get overwhelmed by the sheer number of people there and trying to figure out the city’s train system. On top of that, NYC can be quite expensiveif you’re not intentional with your spending. If you do pick NYC, just prepare yourself for the crowds and prices. Spring and fall tend to be the best seasons for this.
• Los Angeles, CA: Another highly-visited city in the US, I understand why you might be shocked it didn’t make the cut. Even though LA is iconic, I don’t recommend it for your first solo trip destination. Not only is it an extremely car-dependent city, but things are quite expensive, and it’s not particularly the safest city. If you pick LA, keep these things in mind.
• Portland, OR: If you’re planning on visiting the Pacific Northwest (PNW), I suggest skipping Portland for your FIRST trip. Even though there are tons of food trucks and some jaw-dropping scenery, there isn’t quite that much to do. If you’re looking for more of a touristy destination, Seattle is more up your speed. There are more attractions and sights to see, and getting around is easier, thanks to their extensive bus network. I still recommend visiting Portland at some point in your travels, though — consider pairing it with Seattle if you’ve got extra time or saving it for a later trip.

WHAT MAKES A DESTINATION SOLO-FRIENDLY?

As a solo traveler, I like to believe that some destinations are better for solo travelers, and others are better for those traveling in a group. Here are a few things I consider when searching for a solo travel destination:

• Number and variety of solo activities: you’re likely going to be doing nearly everything alone, from museum visits to neighborhood exploration. You’ll want to find activities that don’t typically require heavy group participation, like parties or ATV riding.
• Range of solo dining experiences: you’re going to eat every meal alone — and if you’re not fully comfortable eating alone or simply want to feel a bit less secluded, you need to find restaurants that have bars, small tables, private booths, or other solo-friendly eating accommodations. The best kind of solo dining experience is at a bar or at a small table. These still feel like you’re in a traditional restaurant, but don’t feel uncomfortable for solo travelers.
• Ease of getting around: navigating a new city can be difficult, and that only gets more challenging when you do it alone. As a solo traveler, you need to pick a city that’s fairly easy to get around. Whether you’re able to walk, take the train, or take the bus. Ideally, you shouldn’t have to take too many Ubers or taxis. Practically every major city on the east coast of the US is easy to get around, and the downtown areas of other major cities are pretty easy as well.
• Cost of visiting: as a solo traveler, you’ll be spending more money on your trips since there’s nobody to split costs (like accommodations or transportation) with. Every expense lands on you, so you need to keep this in mind when choosing your first solo trip destination.
• Size of the destination: if a city is too small, it could feel limiting. But if a city is too big, it might feel like you’re navigating a maze. For your first solo trip, I’d recommend picking a city that isn’t too big, but also isn’t too small. All of the cities in this post fit that criteria, so if you pick one of them, you should be all good!
• Safety: safety is your number-one priority as a solo traveler. You’ll want to pick a destination that is safe. This means you should avoid cities that are known for heavy crime, discrimination, war, political unrest, or any other factors that would make a city unsafe to visit.

HOW TO FIND MORE SOLO TRAVEL DESTINATION IDEAS

I understand this list isn’t exactly the longest. That’s because I’m still fairly early in my travel journey!

If you’re looking for more solo travel destination ideas, feel free to the resources below. I personally used these to plan my first solo trip.

• The /solotravel thread on Reddit
• YouTube: travel vlogs, travel guides + ideas content
• TikTok: travel vlogs + ideas content
• Any solo travel group on FaceBook
• ChatGPT (yes, even AI can give some decent recommendations — you’ll just want to be really detailed and specific with your prompt)
• Word of mouth
• Other travel blogs

QUICK GUIDE FOR DECIDING BETWEEN TWO DESTINATIONS

Now you’ve got some good ideas for your first solo adventure. Great. But how do you choose between two destinations?

This quick guide — the special one I mentioned in the introduction — is perfect whether you have two specific cities in mind or need a general guide on deciding where to go.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself to pick between two destinations:

• Which is cheaper?
• Which have you already visited?
• Which fits the kind of experience you need right now?
• Which is safer?
• Which do you feel more drawn to? What does your heart or gut say?
• Which takes less time to get to? Which is easier to get to?
• Which has better weather?
• Which has better public transportation?
• Which has the better food?
• Which has a lower language barrier?
• Which has better day trip options?

FINAL THOUGHTS + NEXT STEPS: SOLO TRIP IDEAS

In this post, I shared some solo trip ideas for your first solo adventure. I hope this gave you a bit of insight on the types of destinations that are perfect for your first solo trip. I will continue to update this guide as I progress through my solo travel journey!

📧 If you still have questions, feel free to reach out. My email is demarcus@thesolosolstice.com and I’d be more than happy to help you plan an unforgettable first solo trip!

ABOUT DEMARCUS

DeMarcus is a Midwest-based travel content creator and the founder of the solo travel blog, The Solo Solstice. He began his solo travel journey in December 2025 and since has been creating practical, in-depth travel guides for a like-minded community of first-time solo adventurers.

Visit the About Page to learn more about DeMarcus, and visit the Ethical & Responsible Tourism Page to learn more about his efforts to promote responsible tourism.