The United States is home to over 20 fascinating UNESCO World Heritage sites, all recognized for their cultural significance. If you plan to tick a few of these off your bucket list, you’ll need the help of our comprehensive guide that details how to visit them, when to go and the best hotels near UNESCO sites.
From iconic national parks and archaeological gems to historical buildings, each of the sites offers the opportunity to learn more about America’s rich history. With over 400 million annual visitors to HotelsCombined, we’ve uncovered the UNESCO-worthy highlights of each site, the best time to visit and where to stay.
Yellowstone National Park – Wyoming, Montana & Idaho
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Established as the world’s first national park in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is one of America’s most iconic UNESCO sites. Full of natural wonders, it’s one of California’s most beautiful destinations. It is featuring more than 10,000 geothermal features and is home to the world’s largest concentration of geysers. Keep your eyes peeled for bison and bears, snap photos of the renowned Old Faithful geyser. Visit the hot springs and enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and fishing.
Best Time to Visit:
While it’s open year-round, spring sees fewer visitors and it’s a perfect time to see wildflowers blooming.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Old Faithful Inn Yellowstone National Park
Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins – Inside the Park
Canyon Lodge & Cabins – Inside the Park West Yellowstone
Hotel Location
Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
At 29 kilometres wide and 1.6 kilometres deep, the Grand Canyon dates back more than 1.8 billion years. Considered one of the world’s most remarkable natural wonders, a visit here is like exploring an outdoor museum for the history of the Earth. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to this UNESCO site experience its layered bands of colourful rock via scenic hiking trails and rafting excursions.
Best Time to Visit:
Spring and fall offer the best weather and facilities on both rims are open.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon
El Tovar Hotel
Kachina Lodge
Hotel Location
Redwood National and State Parks – California
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Most nature lovers know Redwood National and State Parks as the home to the world’s tallest trees (that date back over 160 million years), but it’s much more than that. Along with protected prairies, oak woodlands and nearly 64 miles of rugged coastline, its local wildlife includes Roosevelt elk, sea lions and grey whales. It’s also a popular spot for backcountry camping, hiking and ranger-led tours.
Best Time to Visit:
Late April to November is best in order to avoid the rainy season.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Anchor Beach Inn Crescent City
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Arcata/Eureka-Airport Area
View Crest Lodge
Hotel Location
Yosemite National Park – California
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is full of fascinating geological wonders and best known for its collection of cascading waterfalls. Throughout the 3,100-square-metre park, nature lovers can appreciate its grand meadows, deep valleys, giant sequoias. Don’t miss the famous Half Dome – a granite formation rising 1,500 metres above the valley floor. Other highlights include El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls and Mirror Lake.
Best Time to Visit:
For prime waterfall viewing, visit in April and May when the snow has melted.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Yosemite View Lodge
The Ahwahnee
Chateau du Sureau
Hotel Location
Mesa Verde National Park – Colorado
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Home to nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites and 600 cliff dwellings, Mesa Verde National Park offers the best-known example of the prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan culture. You can see spectacular cave dwellings on guided tours dating from AD 450 to 1300. Including the famous Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Spruce Tree House. To learn more about the unique Puebloan culture, visit the artefact-filled Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum.
Best Time to Visit:
From late May to mid-September, when four of the park’s cliff dwellings are open to the public.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Far View Lodge
Holiday Inn Express Mesa Verde-Cortez
Hampton Inn Mesa Verde Cortez Co
Hotel Location
Everglades National Park – Florida
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
After basking in the sunshine at Florida’s sunny beaches, visit Everglades National Park to see the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. Open 365 days a year; it’s a popular spot for airboat swamp tours, as well as hiking, kayaking, and camping. It scores bonus points with animal lovers, home to rare and endangered wildlife such as the American alligator, manatees and Florida panthers.
Best Time to Visit:
Spring, fall and winter are best for avoiding Florida’s extreme heat.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort
JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort
Marco Beach Ocean Resort
Hotel Location
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve – Alaska
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Roughly the same size as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Switzerland combined, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a wild landscape about 320 kilometres east of Anchorage. The largest U.S. national park offers opportunities for adventure-seeking travellers, boasting beautiful peaks, glaciers and prime Alaska wildlife viewing. You can hike mountains, float on a river and ski its glaciers.
Best Time to Visit:
In summer, around June and July, for warmer weather and wildflower-strewn landscapes.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Embassy Suites by Hilton Anchorage
Hotel Captain Cook
Hilton Garden Inn Anchorage
Hotel Location
La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site – Puerto Rico
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Outside of the Continental U.S., the La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site is located in Puerto Rico. U.S. citizens don’t need a passport to visit this UNESCO site, which features impressive defensive structures built to protect the city and the Bay of San Juan. Still in use today, the three forts and historic executive mansion are historically and culturally important to the Americas. Take a guided tour to explore the Moorish gardens, dungeon and chapel.
Best Time to Visit:
While rain can be expected year-round at this tropical destination, April is considered the dry season. Avoid visiting from June to November during hurricane season.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort
San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
Caribe Hilton
Hotel Location
Independence Hall – Pennsylvania
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Visitors fascinated by American history should put Independence Hall in Philadelphia at the top of their itinerary. It was the setting where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and signed, establishing the founding principles of the United States. See the birthplace of America and its founding documents and take a guided tour to learn about the lives of America’s forefathers.
Best Time to Visit:
March to May and September to November for pleasant temperatures and January and February or after 5pm during summer hours when tickets are not required.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing
Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia
Hotel Location
Mammoth Cave National Park – Kentucky
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Home to 456 kilometres of cave passageways, Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest known cave system in the world. This popular UNESCO site in Kentucky is home to thousands of years of human history, as well as a rich diversity of cave-dwelling flora and fauna. Formed more than 100 million years ago, visitors can marvel at underground rivers and springs or join ranger-led tours that go deep beneath the earth.
Best Time to Visit:
With a year-round temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, you can visit in the off-season in winter, while late fall and early spring are also ideal.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Comfort Inn & Suites Cave City
Holiday Inn Express – Horse Cave
Sleep Inn & Suites Cave City
Hotel Location
Olympic National Park – Washington
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
With 120 kilometres of picture-perfect coastline, Olympic National Park is a dream come true for outdoor lovers. It offers a spectacular combination of ecosystems, from temperate rainforests to glacier-capped mountains and protects a vast wilderness. Encompassing nearly 400,000 hectares, the popular UNESCO site in the U.S. is all about diversity – perfect for outdoor pursuits such as hiking, fishing, paddling and wildlife viewing.
Best Time to Visit:
Wildlife viewing is best between May and June, while most roads and facilities are open from July to August. For whale watching, visit between April and May.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Olympic Lodge
Kalaloch Lodge at Olympic National Park
Lake Crescent Lodge Port Angeles
Hotel Location
Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Tennessee & North Carolina
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
If you’re looking for epic views, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will blow you away with its stunning natural landscapes and diverse plant and animal life (including 30 salamander species). Visitors can take in its expansive views of picturesque mountains, streams and forests while hiking, horseback riding or fishing. Open 365 days and year and free-to-enter, it is America’s most visited national park.
Best Time to Visit:
Fall brings gorgeous fall foliage, while spring is known for its blooming of wildflowers.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Gatlinburg Downtown
The Park Vista A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Gatlinburg
Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort
Hotel Location
Statue of Liberty – New York
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Nicknamed “Lady Liberty”, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from France, recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It’s been greeting visitors at the entrance of the New York Harbor since 1886, holding her torch high at 93 metres tall. Possibly the most iconic UNESCO site in the U.S., come here to explore the pedestal of the statue or soak up the views from the crown.
Best Time to Visit:
Join the first boat out in the early morning on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown
The Wagner Hotel
Andaz Wall Street – a concept by Hyatt
Hotel Location
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park – Hawaii
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Is volcano viewing on your bucket list? The UNESCO-listed Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Exploring this park is like visiting another planet, where you can drive the crater rim, hike through the backcountry and join ranger-led tours. It’s also a haven for endemic species such as meat-eating caterpillars and the world’s rarest goose.
Best Time to Visit:
Ideal times for observing the glow is before sunrise, or after 9pm when most visitors have left. Spring and fall see fewer tourists.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Volcano Rainforest Retreat
Volcano Inn
Volcano Village Lodge
Hotel Location
Carlsbad Caverns National Park – New Mexico
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Hidden beneath the surface, Carlsbad Caverns National Park boasts more than 100 natural limestone caverns, including the Carlsbad Cavern and Lechuguilla Cave that dazzle visitors with their unique rock formations. Above ground, you can appreciate the beauty of the high ancient sea ledges, rocky canyons, flowering cactus and desert wildlife. If you time your visit right, you can enjoy a ranger program about the cavern’s resident Brazilian free-tailed bats.
Best Time to Visit:
From late May to late October when the bats hang around the Carlsbad Cavern.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Hampton Inn & Suites Carlsbad
La Quinta by Wyndham Carlsbad
Great Western Inn & Suites
Hotel Location
Taos Pueblo – New Mexico
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Taos Pueblo is a living Native American community, with its adobe-walled village the largest pueblo still in existence. Continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years, the settlement of adobe dwellings and ceremonial buildings is an exceptional example of traditional Native American architecture. Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and rich history of the settlement on a guided tour, where you’ll get a unique insight into the ancient traditions of the Pueblo people.
Best Time to Visit:
Time your visit for one of the religious Feast Days when tribal members honour ancient Pueblo traditions.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Inn on La Loma Plaza
Palacio De Marquesa
The Blake at Taos Ski Valley
Hotel Location
Monticello and the University of Virginia – Virginia
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
In 1987, Monticello and the University of Virginia’s Academical Village were together named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Monticello is the historic home of Thomas Jefferson, who is considered one of the most influential figures in U.S. history. He was not only the third president and author of the Declaration of Independence but also the founder of the University of Virginia. Make sure to admire the flower-filled gardens.
Best Time to Visit:
From June to September, when the gardens are in full bloom.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
Oakhurst Inn
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
Hotel Location
San Antonio Missions – Texas
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
The historic San Antonio Missions were originally established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among the local natives. The UNESCO sites, Missions Concepción, San José, San Juan, and Espada represent the largest concentration of Spanish colonial missions in North America. Stroll along the 12-kilometre recreational trails to see each of the locations, then stop at the visitors centre to watch video presentations.
Best Time to Visit:
January through March for pleasant temperatures and blooms of bluebonnets.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Econo Lodge Downtown South
Super 8 by Wyndham San Antonio/Alamodome Area
Embassy Suites San Antonio Brooks City Base Hotel & Spa
Hotel Location
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site – Illinois
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
History enthusiasts should put Cahokia Mounds at the top of their must-see UNESCO list, as it’s the largest and earliest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico. Most of all, it’s one of the most important archaeological sites in North America. It features an impressive Interpretative Center with exhibition galleries, self-guided tours and a 30-metre high Monks Mount – the largest earthwork in North America.
Best Time to Visit:
Weekdays in June and July, when archaeologists are working their way through excavations.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Drury Inn St. Louis Collinsville
Comfort Inn Collinsville
Hampton Inn St. Louis/Collinsville
Hotel Location
Chaco Culture National Historical Park – New Mexico
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is an exciting destination for culture lovers, as it represents more than 10,000 years of human cultural history in the Chaco Canyon. See the homelands of the Puebloans of New Mexico, the Hopi tribe of Arizona and Navajo of the Southwest. Marvel at the structures and artwork that have remained, including ceremonial buildings, kivas and petroglyphs.
Best Time to Visit:
For the most pleasant temperatures, visit in spring or fall.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
Super 8 Hotel Bloomfield
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Farmington
Comfort Suites Farmington
Hotel Location
Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point – Louisiana
UNESCO-worthy Highlights:
Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point is a UNESCO site 3,400 years in the making. Hunters, fishers and gatherers constructed on the ancient settlement that comprises multiple earthworks created for residential and ceremonial purposes. Learn about the extensive trading network that spanned hundreds of kilometres. Visit the informative museum, which highlights interesting artifacts from the site.
Best Time to Visit:
Spring, fall and winter when the weather is comfortably cool.
Hotels Near UNESCO Sites:
The Mansion at Red Hill
Best Western Delhi Inn
Champions Black Bear Lodge
Hotel Location
Discover the Top UNESCO Sites in the U.S.
Designated as the best representations of natural beauty and cultural significance in the U.S., these spectacular UNESCO sites are all bucket-list-worthy in their own way. Whether you prefer national parks or historical landmarks, you can use this guide to help plan your next adventure.
What is your favourite UNESCO Site in the U.S.? Let us know in the comments below.
