USA Bucket List: 84 Fundamentally American Things to Do Before You Die
Even if you don’t like to think about it, your clock’s ticking. So, while you’re still above ground and in the country, you might as well pack in as many weird, wild, and very American experiences as possible. And this land has many strange things.
For me, a USA bucket list means roadside diners, national parks, shooting ranges, football stadiums so loud your ribs shake, and towns where the world’s largest ball of something is apparently a big deal.
I started building this list back in 2014. It’s grown into a massive catalog of things I want to do across the US, from the obvious landmarks to the oddly specific stuff you only find here. It’s always growing, always changing, and always giving me something to look forward to.
If you’re putting together your own list, feel free to use this one as a jumpstart. Some of it’s ridiculous. Some of it’s pretty meaningful. All of it is worth doing before you run out of time.
Iconic Landmarks & Places
1. Bike Across the Golden Gate Bridge
Pedal your way across one of the most iconic bridges in the US, with fog, bay views, and the occasional headwind dragging you back.
2. Camp at the Grand Canyon
Sleep under the stars at one of the deepest and most dramatic gashes in the Earth on one of the toughest trails in the country.
3. Drive the Full Length of Route 66
Cruise America’s most legendary highway from Chicago to Santa Monica, with kitschy stops and diner pie all along the way.
4. Go to the Top of the Empire State Building (or Any Tall NYC Building)
You may have to wait for two hours and pay 45$ to get to the top, but the bird’s eye view of towering skyscrapers and iconic landmarks is pretty amazing. You can also try going up the Rockefeller Center, the Freedom Tower or make some very wealthy friends.
5. Visit an Active Volcano in Hawaii
Nothing says ‘extreme’ like visiting the edge of an active volcano. You will have to time it while it’s erupting, but you can take a boat ride in Volcano’s National Park in Hawaii to watch the lava flow into the water or glow at night. The last eruption was in 2024.
6. Jaw Drop at the Rainbow Ice Caves in Mount Rainier
Formed by melting glacial ice and illuminated by sunlight, these caves are a real-life frozen rainbow deep in the Pacific Northwest. Entering these caves can be extremely dangerous due to the risk of collapse, and the National Park Service advises against it.
7. Put Gum on the Seattle Gum Wall
Add your own xylitol graffiti to a weirdly satisfying alley of chewed-up gum in the back street of Seattle’s Pike Place Market. You can bet I added my own little contribution.
8. Ride the Staten Island Ferry to See the Statue of Liberty
If you don’t want to pay New York City prices, catch a free ride with prime views of Lady Liberty, plus bonus skyline shots.
9. See Mount Rushmore
Make a pit stop at South Dakota’s iconic monument featuring 60-foot sculptures of four of America’s most influential presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
10. Tour the White House
Walk the same halls as presidents, press briefings, and power players to see where history is made. Choose from self-guided or guided tours, available Tuesday through Saturday.
11. Visit Alcatraz
Take a ferry to this infamous former prison and get locked into one of the most fascinating tales in US crime history.
12. Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge
Take a long stroll across the first steel-wire suspension bridge ever built, an architectural icon with skyline views and about a million photo ops along the way.
13. Watch Old Faithful Erupt and the Grand Prismatic Spring Sparkle in Yellowstone
You could spend weeks in Yellowstone, but these giant-spraying geysers and rainbow-colored springs are not to be missed.
14. Visit a Plantation Site and Learn the History
Watch the moss sway in the breeze as you take a tour of one of the many restored plantation homes throughout the South. While these beautiful sites glimpse into the lives of the wealthy, it’s also a reminder of the brutal history of the enslaved people who lived and worked on these plantations.
Big Events & Festivals
15. Experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Take your top off to join the bead-covered, music-filled chaos that takes over the French Quarter every spring. This was one of the most entertaining weeks of my life.
16. Go to Burning Man
Camp in the Nevada desert with 70,000 other creatives, and maybe build a flaming octopus while you’re at it.
17. Go to the Indy 500
Watch drivers risk it all at 230 mph and experience the loudest left turns in America.
18. Go to the Kentucky Derby
Experience one of America’s most iconic sporting events with mint juleps, extravagant hats, and two minutes of horse-powered history.
19. Go to a Music Festival Like Coachella or Electric Daisy Festival
Thousands of people. One giant field. More fringe, flower crowns, and bass drops than your senses can handle.
20. Join a Political Rally or Protest
Show up and stand up for what you believe in. Or just watch as others flex their First Amendment muscles and be part of a movement.
21. See the Ball Drop in NYC on New Year’s Eve
Stand for hours in freezing weather on this tourist trap without a bathroom just to witness 10 seconds of communal countdown euphoria—and say you did it.
22. See the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Grab a spot along the parade route and watch as oversized balloons, Broadway numbers, and celebrity appearances bring some Thanksgiving holiday cheer to the streets of New York City.
23. Tailgate at an NFL Game
Join the ranks of devoted fans as you grill up some burgers and hot dogs in the parking lot, have a few drinks, and cheer on your favorite football team.
24. Visit a State Fair (Iowa or Texas)
Experience the epitome of American culture at a state fair, where you can eat fried anything, ride carnival attractions, and witness quirky competitions like butter sculpting and pig racing.
25. Watch Fireworks on the 4th of July in Washington, DC, or Any Other City
Celebrate Independence Day with a spectacular display of fireworks over iconic landmarks and a general sense of national pride from onlookers.
26. Attend Comic Con
Dress up in cosplay or don’t, but either way you’ll be surrounded by fans, panels, and movie-like make-up creativity you never knew existed.
Road Trips & Drives
27. Cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Fall
Drive one of the most scenic routes in the eastern US, where winding roads weave through Appalachian forests glowing with fall color.
28. Hit the Open Road on Historic Route 66
Experience classic Americana and quirky roadside attractions along the iconic “Mother Road” that stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica.
29. Do a BBQ Road Trip Through Texas
From Franklin’s to Terry Black’s, don’t miss the smoky, sauce-drenched brisket and ribs that will stain your shirt and have your buttons popping off.
30. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway
From the waterfall cliffs near Big Sur to the beach towns of Santa Barbara, every curve has insanely gorgeous views on this legendary California road trip.
31. Drive Through the Florida Keys on the Overseas Highway
Cross 113 miles of turquoise water and sun-scorched bridges, connecting island after island on one of the most surreal road trips in America.
32. Road Trip the Entire US
If you really want to go all out, plan a road trip across the entire United States. From sea to shining sea, there’s cornfields, deserts, diners, and everything in between.
National Parks & Outdoors
33. Hike in Yosemite
Hike past waterfalls that look to be on fire, climb sheer granite cliffs, and ancient sequoias in one of America’s most popular national parks.
34. Hike the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail (at Least a Stretch)
Even a short section of these legendary trails gives you a taste of the life of a thru-hiker, who may spend 6 months of straight-up walking to complete the full trail.
35. Kayak in Lake Tahoe
Paddle crystal-clear alpine water surrounded by pines and mountains in one of the best areas to ski in the country.
36. See Wild Alligators in the Everglades
Spot prehistoric reptiles cruising through the swamps on an airboat ride through Florida’s most famous wetlands.
37. Visit a Redwood Forest
Stand beneath skyscraper-sized trees that can reach up to 379 feet tall and live for over 2,000 years. Muir Woods near San Francisco is the most accessible, otherwise you can drive to Redwood National Park in Northern California.
38. Visit Every National Park in the USA
Collect jaw-dropping landscapes like Pokémon. From sledding down sheet white sand dunes to hiking up mountains to see a glacier, no two US national parks are the same. I’d give my vote to Yellowstone for the most impressive and White Sands National Park for the most photogenic.
39. Hike Through Zion National Park
Hike the vertigo-inducing Angel’s Peak or wade through the Narrows in Utah’s first national park.
40. Visit Niagara Falls
Get a wet and wild view of Niagara Falls by taking a boat tour to the base of this massive waterfall. To see another perspective, make a quick border run to the Canadian side.
41. Walk Through a Slot Canyon
Squeeze through winding sandstone corridors shaped by centuries of flash floods and Instagram hikers. Antelope Canyon is in every way as beautiful as in the photos, and Buckskin Gulch is one of the longest in the whole world.
42. Salmon Run
Watch thousands of salmon fight upstream to spawn as bears snatch them out of the air. It’s like a real-life National Geographic documentary.
City-Specific Experiences
43. Explore Deep-Dish Pizza in Chicago
Sink your teeth into a casserole disguised as pizza. I love Chicago’s local favorites like Lou Malnati’s, but in my personal opinion, Pequod’s pan pizza is even better.
44. Go Back to Disney World
Tied for the most visited vacation spot in America, visit (or revisit) the most magical place on Earth as an adult to see what’s changed.
45. Go Honky-Tonking in Nashville
Hop between bars, blasting live country music until your boots ache and your voice is gone. Nashville is one of the most underrated cities in the country.
46. Hit the Casinos in Las Vegas
Even if you’re not a gambler, the world’s most famous city of excess is a must-visit for its entertainment, energy, and life-like facades.
47. Hike to the Hollywood Sign
I know it’s just a sign, but seeing it in movies and TV shows since I was a kid made it feel like a big deal. It’s also an amazing spot to view the city and snap iconic photos.
48. Watch a Broadway Show
My mom and I have a tradition of seeing a Broadway Show every year, and it never gets old. After the show, you’ll likely be singing the soundtracks for days.
49. Go to the Smithsonian Museums
With 21 museums and the National Zoo, the Smithsonian Institution is the largest museum complex in the world and it’s all free.
50. See the 9/11 Memorial in NYC
I may have only been 6 when the towers fell, but being from New Jersey it made a big impact on many of the lives of my classmates. Located at Ground Zero, this somber and powerful tribute honors the lives lost and the resilience of a shaken but united city.
51. Visit the Alamo
Remember the Alamo, as you walk through the site of one of Texas’s most legendary last stands while traveling to San Antonio.
52. Be a Member of a TV Audience
Clap, cheer, and pretend it’s spontaneous. Being in a studio audience is 90% waiting, 10% whooping. I’ve gone to one late-night comedy quiz show, and it was almost always cringey but I would do it again.
53. Be an Extra in a Movie
Spend all day pretending to walk past a hot dog stand just so your blurry shoulder appears for half a second on screen.
American Pastimes
54. Attend a Monster Truck Rally
Watch massive vehicles with names like “Grave Digger” crush cars and defy physics while a crowd screams in approval. This was one of the most fun date ideas I’d been on.
55. Fire a Gun at a Shooting Range
Did you know there are more guns in America than citizens? Experience recoil, ear protection, and a strangely satisfying paper target with bullet holes where you aimed.
56. Go to a Drive-In Movie
Catch a flick from your front seat with popcorn in your lap and static-y sound coming through your car radio. There’s not many left, but having seen “The Emoji Movie” chomping down popcorn from the seat of my car in the suburbs of Tennessee, I left to be living an American OG pastime.
57. Go to a Rodeo
See real cowboys ride angry animals and try not to fall off, all in front of a very enthusiastic audience. All along the American plains, cowboys compete in events like bull riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing.
58. Ride in a Pickup Truck
Whether hauling hay or cruising to Walmart, nothing says Americana like a bench seat and a truck bed.
59. Visit a Gun Show
Wander rows of rifles, handmade knives, and booths that smell like beef jerky and constitutional pride.
60. Ride a Real Bull
Cling to half a ton of raw muscle for dear life. Did you know you only need to hold on for eight seconds to qualify? I tried this dangerous hobby, and never lasted longer than two, and I’m talking about a real bull.
Weird USA Bucket List
61. Stand on the Four Corners Monument
I’m not sure I would go out of my way for this monument, but if you are driving past anyway, this is the only place in the US where you can be in four states at once.
62. Stop at a Roadside “World’s Largest” Attraction
From the world’s largest ball of twine to a giant frying pan, these Guinness World Record giants are peak road trip Americana and great for ironic selfies.
63. Tour the Winchester Mystery House
A sprawling, bizarre mansion full of staircases that go nowhere and doors that open into walls built under the guidance of ghosts, allegedly.
64. Try the Clown Motel in Nevada
Located next to a cemetery and filled with hundreds of clown figurines, this motel is either a dream or a dare, depending on how you feel about clowns.
65. Visit the House on the Rock, Wisconsin
It took me 5 hours to wander through the entirety of this “house.” One mad architect spent his life building this bizarre, eclectic collection of artifacts and oddities that will make you question reality.
66. Visit a Corn Maze in the Midwest
Test your sense of direction (or lack thereof) in a family-friendly labyrinth carved into acres of actual corn.
67. Visit a UFO Museum in Roswell
This New Mexico institution explores the famous 1947 incident and all things extraterrestrial, from conspiracy theories to alien autopsy lore.
68. Go to a Random, Weird Convention
Whether it’s haunted dolls, Bigfoot believers, or people who collect barbed wire, there’s probably a convention for it, and it’s likely in a Holiday Inn ballroom.
69. Participate in a Sweat Lodge Purification Ceremony
Experience the ancient Native American tradition of a sweat lodge ceremony, where you will enter a small dome-like structure and participate in prayer, singing, and hot steam therapy to cleanse your mind, body, and spirit.
70. Stay in a Roadside Motel
Pull off the highway and check into a place that may or may not have retro signs, wood paneling, and a vending machine that still takes coins. I guarantee your room will probably smell like cigarettes.
71. Visit a Roadside Fireworks Warehouse
It’s part explosives, part carnival, and 100% legal (in that particular county).
American Food Experiences
72. Do a Food Truck Crawl in Portland or Austin
Sample gourmet street food from trucks serving everything from Korean tacos to deep-fried avocado.
73. Eat Chicken and Waffles in the South
I can’t understand this monstrosity mixture, but this sweet and savory combo is a Southern classic.
74. Eat Gumbo or Crawfish Boil in Louisiana
Dig into a bowl of spicy, soul-warming stew or peel crawfish elbows-deep in a newspaper-lined table. Since you’re here, go to Drago’s for the best charbroiled oysters you’ll ever have.
75. Eat Something Fried at the Texas Fair
From fried Coke to bacon-wrapped Oreos, the State Fair of Texas takes deep-fried to scientific extremes.
76. Get a Cheesesteak in Philly
Order it ‘wit’ or ‘witout’ onions and prepare for juicy, cheesy glory stuffed into a hoagie roll.
77. Go to an Eating Competition
Nothing says “America” like people speed-eating 50+ hot dogs in 10 minutes to a cheering crowd. It’s not just hot dogs, these weird eating competitions star anything from “no hands” blueberry pies to bull testicles.
78. Try In-N-Out in California
I still think Shake Shack rules, but you can get your burger animal style and feel like a local even if you waited 45 minutes in the drive-thru.
Seasonal Stuff
79. Go Leaf-Peeping in New England in Fall
Every October, the forests of New England erupt into reds, oranges, and golds. This is the most popular time of year for tourists to visit the small towns on the east coast.
80. Go to a Haunted House in October
Get chased by chainsaw-wielding actors and question your life choices for the price of a ticket and a good scream. This used to be my annual tradition since middle school.
81. Go Tubing Down a River in the Summer
Grab a tube, a cooler, and a lazy river and float your way to sunburned bliss.
82. Ice Skate at Rockefeller Center
Glide (or wobble) on one of the most famous rinks in the country, beneath a massive Christmas tree and twinkling NYC lights.
83. Pick Pumpkins or Apples in Autumn
Get your fall on with hayrides, cider donuts, and take a guess at how heavy is that monster size of a pumpin.
84. Visit a Christmas Lights Drive-Thru
Load the car with snacks and holiday music, and cruise through a glowing Christmas world of inflatable Santas and LED reindeer. Ultra-festive neighborhoods that go all out like Dyker Heights in Brooklyn and the Bronx Zoo are also must-sees.
Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.
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