North America Travel Guide
Looking for an in-depth North America travel guide?
Then you’re in the right place!
As the third-largest continent in the world, it’s hard to boil North America down to just a few sentences. The cultures of each of the three major countries in North America — the United States, Canada and Mexico, are so unique and each country offers something different to travelers of all kinds.
With such vast geographic and natural diversity on the continent as well, there’s also much beauty to see wherever you go. From the Rocky Mountains of the U.S. and Canada to the beaches of Mexico, North America really does have something for everyone. And don’t forget the gorgeous Caribbean region and Central America!
In this guide, we’ve put together some tips to plan your ultimate North American adventure, whether you want to road trip through the United States, climb Canada’s highest peaks, or explore the ancient ruins in Mexico.
Check out each of our individual destination guides to learn more about the top countries, states, and cities to visit on the continent. We’ve also got you covered with safety information, budget hacks, visa questions, and more.
Keep reading to dive into resources that will help you with planning a trip to North America.
Note: This ultimate North America guide contains affiliate links to trusted partners!
North America Map
Use this North America travel map to begin planning your trip to this incredible country!
Click here for an interactive Google Map version of the above graphic.
North America Travel Tips
Check out these guides sharing tips & itineraries around the continent:
20 Best Beach Destinations For Solo Female Travelers (North America & Beyond!)
Canada Travel Guide
Planning a trip to Canada? The following guides can help you create the perfect travel itinerary!
Alberta Travel Guide
British Columbia Travel Guide
Nova Scotia Travel Guide
Ontario Travel Guide
Quebec Travel Guide
Mexico Travel Guide
Planning a trip to Mexico? The following guides can help you create the perfect travel itinerary!
Mexico Travel Advice
Baja California Sur Travel Guide
Mexico City Travel Guide
Puebla Travel Guide
Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide
Yucatan Travel Guide
USA Travel Guide
Planning a trip to the USA? The following guides can help you create the perfect travel itinerary!
USA Travel Tips
Arizona Travel Guide
California Travel Guide
San Francisco City Guide
Los Angeles Travel Guide
Southern California Travel Guide
California Hiking Guides
California Road Trip Guides
California Travel Tips
The following California travel advice can help you plan the perfect trip to The Golden State!
Colorado Travel Guide
Denver Travel Guide
Grand County Travel Guide
Vail Travel Guide
Ouray Travel Guide
Other Colorado Places To Visit
Tips For Visiting Colorado
Connecticut Travel Guide
Florida Travel Guide
Georgia Travel Guide
Atlanta Travel Guide
Savannah Travel Guide
Hawaii Travel Guide
Big Island Travel Guide
Oahu Travel Guide
Hawaii Travel Tips
Maine Travel Guide
Minnesota Travel Guide
New Mexico Travel Guide
Albuquerque Travel Guide
New Mexico Travel Tips
New York City Travel Guide
New York City Travel Tips
Staten Island Travel Guide
New York State Travel Guide
Hudson Valley Travel Guide
Long Island Travel Guide
Other New York State Destinations
North Carolina Travel Guide
Things To Do In Puerto Rico
Want to travel in the Caribbean? Puerto Rico has so much to offer, like…
South Carolina Travel Guide
Texas Travel Guide
Austin Travel Guide
Houston Travel Guide
San Antonio Travel Guide
Solo Travel In Texas
Planning a solo trip to Texas? These guides can help!
Utah Travel Guide
Virginia Travel Guide
Washington Travel Guide
Seattle
Best North America Tours
Explore local culture with a North America tour guide through these unique excursions:
- Click here for a full list of Canada travel tours!
- Click here for a full list of Mexico travel tours!
- Click here for a full list of USA travel tours!
Renting A Car In North America
Need a rental car for your North America trip?
Use Discover Cars to quickly compare your car rental options.
Their comparison tool does the homework for you, so there’s no need to have up 10+ tabs trying to figure out which company is the most affordable. Actually, you can save up to 70% using their tool!
Public Transportation In North America
Getting around North America by train, bus, or ferry?
Omio is a must! You can use this tool for all of your public transportation needs when traveling around the continent.
The site is straightforward and user-friendly — and you can pre-book your tickets in advance at a discount.
They even offer flight and car deals!
Hotels In North America
Click here to browse the best North America hotels!
Prefer self-contained stays?
Click here to check out unique local rentals!
You can also use this map to search for local stays and experiences!
It’s set to NYC, but you can easily change the location to your specific destination:
North America Travel Insurance
It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling solo or with a group on a North American tour. When visiting North America — or any other country in the world — make sure to get travel insurance to protect your health and safety.
In my opinion, the best travel medical insurance for travelers is SafetyWing as they’ve got a large network and offer both short-term and long-term coverage — including coverage if you’re traveling for months as well as limited coverage in your home country).
Additionally, SafetyWing is budget-friendly and offers $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.
With coverage, you’ll have peace of mind as you embark on your North America travel itinerary.
Click my referral link here to price out travel insurance for your trip in just a few clicks.
North America Travel Guide FAQ
Below, find answers to frequently asked questions about traveling around North America.
Q: What is the cheapest way to travel in North America?
The cheapest way to get around North America is probably by car. Car rentals in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are fairly affordable and will allow you the freedom to visit some off-the-beaten-path destinations.
North America is a huge continent and public transportation varies significantly from place to place. If you want to visit a lot of destinations in one trip, renting a car is often your best bet.
Q: What is the best road trip in North America?
There are tons of great road trips to take throughout North America but Route 66, that classic highway that stretches from Illinois to California, is probably the most iconic.
On this trip — which is one of the best solo road trip ideas in the USA — you can pass through eight U.S. states, see gorgeous natural sites like the deserts of the Southwest, and stop by fun roadside attractions like the Cadillac Ranch in Texas.
Have a little extra time and want to cross another country off your travel list? Drive down the California coast from Los Angeles (where the route ends) and dip into the Mexican state of Baja California, driving Big Sur and spending a weekend in Paso Robles along the way.
Q: What are the best things to do in North America?
If you’re visiting the U.S. for the first time, make sure you hit some of the country’s major cities like New York City, New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and more. Visiting these cities will give you a taste of the true diversity of the country and the culture of each region. Moreover, these are some of the best places to travel solo in the USA.
In NYC, you can explore the many reasons New York is so popular. For instance, you can catch a Broadway show, visit iconic sites like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, check out some of the more local things to do, and feast on foods from all around the world — or even take a day trip to explore some of the best hiking trails in Upstate New York! And if you’re going to New York alone, there is loads for solo travelers, too.
You can party it up in New Orleans, home of Mardi Gras, while learning about the Cajun culture that has endured on the Gulf Coast for centuries.
San Francisco will give you a taste of the West Coast, with a mix of great sites and fabulous natural wonders to explore. Moreover, a Big Sur road trip can be a scenic and adventurous experience to add to your California itinerary, or you can do a larger California road trip.
A visit to Canada is all about the great outdoors. Canada has tons of incredible national parks to explore, like the iconic Banff National Park in Alberta. This is one of the best places to see the Canadian Rockies in all their glory, hike through the hills, and do some rowing on crystal clear lakes. Bonus: There are a number of gorgeous Jacuzzi suites in Banff for relaxation after your adventures.
Additionally, there are some beautiful hiking trails near Toronto.
Canada is also a top destination for winter sports, boasting some of the best ski resorts in the world. Whistler in British Columbia is an incredible place to visit all year round, whether you’re into backcountry skiing or mountain biking.
Mexico is probably best known for its beaches but there’s so much culture and history to explore here as well.
You can get a bit of both on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula — one of the best places in Mexico to travel alone.
Here, you can relax on the beach and see some of the country’s top historic sites. The Yucatan is home to Chichen Itza, a Maya city with some of the best-preserved examples of pre-Columbian architecture still around toda.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site really gives you an idea of what daily life looked like for the ancient Mayas. Once you’re done exploring, relax at one of the famous beaches in cities like Tulum, Cancun, and Cozumel. If you have the time, spending 7 days in Cancun is highly recommended!
Q: How many days do you need for North America?
The length of your trip to North America definitely depends on your destination. If you’re looking to do a big trip visiting the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, plan for a long trip — like over a month if possible.
You’ll need lots of time to get from place to place; drives between destinations can take hours. You can also save some time and fly or take the train between cities if that’s available to you.
If you’re just planning on visiting one country at a time, plan for a week or two away.
Visit our individual country guides above to learn more!
Q: Is North America safe to travel?
This will vary depending on where you go. Each country and city has different crime levels and some types of crime are more common than others in different destinations.
In general, North America is fairly safe to visit. Most travelers do not run into any major issues in any of the major North American countries.
That said, petty crime like pickpocketing does happen, particularly in more popular tourist destinations, so knowing how to avoid pickpocketing is important.
Q: How long can a tourist stay in North America?
The length of time a tourist can stay in North America depends on the specific country being visited. It’s recommended to visit the following pages for more information:
Q: Do I need a North America travel visa?
Visa requirements for visiting North America depend on the specific country being visited. It’s recommended to visit the following pages for more information:
Q: Where is North America?
North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere and is a northern subcontinent of the Americas.
It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean (north), the Atlantic Ocean (east), South America and the Caribbean Sea (southeast), and the Pacific Ocean (west and south).
Q: Are credit cards accepted in North America?
Credit cards — particularly Visa and Mastercard — are widely accepted around North America, though it is always wise to carry some cash for smaller establishments and in case of emergency, as well as in more rural areas.
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