Though organized tours can cost a fair amount of money on the outset, considering what you and your travel companions will save on transportation between destinations, admission to popular sites and on hotels, the best US tours can turn out to be some of the best cheap family vacations in America. The extra money will also guarantee you some time with an expert guide that will uncover the most delicious secret menu items across America and introduce you to some of the best hiking trails across America. So, whether you’re looking for outdoor adventure in Hawaii, a history-filled sightseeing expedition in Alaska or an exciting trip through California, these tours have got you covered.
1. Best of Hawaii Tour
For many Americans living in the continental United States, making the trip to Hawaii might be a once in a lifetime dream vacation. Why stay confined to just one resort or one island when you could experience Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, Kona, Maui, Keauhou bay and the Volcanoes National Park in 10 days? Trafalgar has your itinerary, travel, accommodations and many of your meals covered with this tour which includes visits to pineapple plantations, historic sites, snorkeling, luaus and, of course, some of the 50th state’s most gorgeous beaches. Prices start at $2,993.20 per person
2. Grand Canyon and Indian Lands Tour
See some of America’s most staggering natural wonders and learn the history of the Native Americans who live in the South West on this eight-day tour with Grand American Adventures. On the trip you’ll see Monument Valley, an icon of Westerns and an important site for the Navajo Nation, the red sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park and, of course, the Grand Canyon. Along the way, local guides will share the legends of the area as well as plenty of facts about the geology and people of the area. In addition to several scenic hikes, the van will make stops on Route 66 and breeze through the Las Vegas Sunset Trip. $1,464 per person, includes hotel accommodations and transportation
3. Western Belt from San Francisco to Los Angeles
The West’s warm glow of bright lights, thriving metropolises, ancient trees and jaw-dropping geology has won over America’s imagination in films and books for generations. See it for yourself on Trek America’s seven-day trip, which starts with a walk on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and ends with the stars in L.A.’s Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Along the way, you’ll see America’s tallest waterfall and thousand-year-old sequoias at Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon, swim in the Colorado River and spend the night on the Las Vegas Strip. Sounds like a safe bet to us. $1,080 per person, price includes transportation, admission to National Parks, stays at budget hotels and hostels
4. Southern Charm Tour
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTCyN3CDAmG/Whether you and your travel companions are looking for a vacation filled with historic architecture and trolley rides or would rather get some high thrills and craft beer, this nine-day Topdeck tour will make you love the South. Leaving from New York City, this voyage focuses on the cities South of the Mason-Dixon line that have plenty to offer: In Washington, DC, peruse the museums and monuments; in Wilmington, North Carolina, see the moss covered oaks and taste ales from local breweries; while in Savanna, Georgia, sign up for a ghost tour that will leave you shaking in your boots. Luckily, the fun of Orlando—Kennedy Space Center or the world famous amusement parks—and the tasty delights of Little Havana in Miami should counter any spooky spirits. $1,442 per person, includes transportation, hotels, city tours and 11 meals
5. New England Fall Foliage Tour
Sure, there are plenty of places in America that boast pretty fall foliage, but no region’s leaves can quite compare to the crisp smells, cool air and gorgeous trees of the North East. During this nine-day Caravan tour, you’ll stay in hotels and inns in Boston, Plymouth Rock, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Along the way, you’ll stop in historic whaling towns, museums like Vermont’s Norman Rockwell museum and tour gorgeous mansions and homes. Many of the meals, like a lobster dinner in Maine, are included in the tour. $1,095-$1,675, includes accommodations, breakfast and some dinners
6. New Orleans & Deep South
Any true foodie with a love for Cajun food and culture should check out Go College’s Heart of the South Tour. During this eight-day trip you’ll visit a small accordion store and hear authentic regional music, learn a recipe at the New Orleans School of Cooking, or really dive into Creole and Cajun culture at the living-history museum Vermilionville. The trip includes stops in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Natchez, Mississippi and Lafayette. As you travel by the Atchafalaya Basin Swamp, America’s largest wetlands, be on the lookout for alligators and magnificent birds. $1,599 per person, tour includes 11 meals, transportation and accommodations
7. Route 66 Tour from Chicago to Los Angeles
Though it’s been 30 years since Route 66 was officially removed from the United States’ highway system, you can still get your kicks on stretches of historic Main Street in Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico and Arizona. With Grand American Adventures, you’ll travel as so many millions of Americans before you did while taking in some iconic sights including the Abraham Lincoln House and Museum, the St. Louis Gateway Arch, Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch and the Grand Canyon over fourteen days. $3269 per person, price includes travel and accommodations
8. Wine Country Trekking in Napa Valley
Sure, you could take one of those limo rides around the wineries, but why not really appreciate the beauty of Napa Valley’s landscape while traveling on foot between vineyards, inns and scenic towns? Wine Country Trekking, a local guide, provides transport in the morning from your hotel to the beginning of your hike through Yountville, Oakville, Napa Valley State Park and Calistoga. During the five days touring the region, you’ll never walk more than 7 miles in one day, and there will be plenty of time to stop and enjoy a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon, special reserve bottles and spa treatments at the luxury inns. $1,775 per person December-March; $1,950 per person April-November. Price includes accommodations, luggage transportation between inns, breakfast, lunch and wine tastings
9. Adventures in the Wild Northwest
Want to visit the Pacific Northwest but can’t decide which world-class city to explore or national parks to frolic in? With Trafalgar’s 11-day trip, you’ll get two days of exciting culture, tasty food and amazing sights in each of the region’s big cities: Seattle, Portland and San Francisco, as well as hikes through Redwood National Park and Olympic National Park. Whether you’re interested in learning about the engineering feat of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Space Needle or would rather go on a brisk bird-watching cruise off the coast of Newport, Oregon, there’s something to keep everyone in your family entertained. $2,857.50 per person, accommodations, travel, breakfast and four dinners included
10. Tour of Yellowstone Park, Wyoming
Although there is no single way to see the crown jewel of all national parks, all visitors can agree that it will take several days to fully take in the wonder of canyons, hot springs and the miles upon miles of wilderness and alpine forests that make the spot special. A van tour, which involves letting someone else take over the wheel while you take your pictures and look for magnificent endangered animals, will let you cover the most ground, while a half-day stagecoach tour ($15 adults, $8 children) will make you feel like a wild west pioneer. For an unforgettable vacation curated by local experts, sign up for a five-day package from Flying Pig, which includes a stay in a cabin for the entire family, a white-water rafting adventure, a horseback tour and the inside scoop on which areas to hike and visit to get the most of your stay (cabin prices start at $190 per night, plus activity packages which start at $349 per adult, $296 per child). Best to visit in summer, June-August. Tours prices vary
11. America’s Historic East
For those folks who couldn’t get enough of their American history class or who want to feel closer to the country’s distant past, jump on board this eight-day tour. Globus Journeys will expertly guide you through historic presidential houses like Mount Vernon and Monticello, beautiful parks like Shenandoah National Park, Valley Forge and Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, and the living history museums at Jamestown and Williamsburg. The trip ends in Philadelphia, home to the Liberty Bell and to a great set of stairs Rocky once ran up (in case all this learning has left you feeling energized). $2,269 per person, includes travel, accommodations, entrance to attractions, breakfast and some dinners
12. Northern Lights Viewing Tour in Alaska
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPU3ihGDJ1Y/Alaska might not be the only place in the United States where you can catch a glimpse of the awe-worthy, spectacular Northern Lights, but it is where you’ll get one of the clearest views of this natural wonder. After a full day exploring Anchorage, the Go Alaska Tour takes you to the Northern, historic city of Fairbanks for four days in the hopes of catching the Aurora Borealis. During the trip, you’ll see dog sledding (and can even opt to purchase a ride), the Aurora Ice Museum, the Chena Hot Springs Resort, where you can take a dip in the relaxing waters, and an unforgettable astronomical experience. $1,535 per person August 2-August 31; $1,360 September 1-15; $1,060 September 16-April 15. Price includes travel between locations, admission to the Chena Hot Springs, Aurora Borealis viewing, accommodations, breakfast
13. Texas the Lonestar State
https://www.instagram.com/p/BR6nDO7lIfC/A true paradox, Texas can feel like both one of the most American states in the union and a country into itself all at once. Including many of America’s biggest cities, a savory type of food all its own (Tex-Mex) and a lion’s share of historic sites, Texas is truly unique. See most of it when signing up for Cosmos’ 13-day tour, from Dallas to New Orleans. Highlights of the tour include the Sixth Floor Museum, where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shot that killed President John F. Kennedy, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Austin’s Texas White House, San Antonio’s Mexican market place El Mercado and Houston’s Johnson Space Center. There will be plenty of good eating and sightseeing along the way. $1,929 per person, includes travel, accommodations and breakfast
14. Highlights of Sunny Florida
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTEuBLPFW0d/Laying out on pristine beaches, exploring cultural institutions and eating delicious Caribbean and Cuban food make for an ideal Florida vacation, but why choose just one of the premiere tourist destinations when you could visit nearly 10 in 10 days? On Cosmos’ coach bus tour, you’ll visit the amazing museums of St. Petersburg, the history of St. Augustine, Cape Canaveral Kennedy Space Center, the white sands of Clearwater, the boisterous streets of Miami, gorgeous Key West and more. $1,675 and up, tour includes travel, accommodations and four breakfasts
15. Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills
While South Dakota isn’t always thought of as an ideal vacation destination, its history and nature should be on any American’s list of places to see at least once. Get the most of your trip to the badlands and beyond by booking a day tour with Black Hills Adventure Tours. This local company is full of experts on the region who offer different tours highlighting the one-of-a-kind creation Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse memorial, as well as the wild buffalos of Custer State Park. Learn about the culture, art and history of the area’s Native Americans at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Tours typically last 7 to 9 hours, $129-375. Tour includes transportation and guide