The United States is a mix of unique destinations and changing landscapes, so it’s no wonder that many of the world’s best tour companies offer guided tours around the U.S.A. that go deep into the country’s natural beauty and complex history. While many of the best U.S.A. tours cover the national parks, there are also a number of popular tours to the East Coast, Florida, Hawaii, and Alaska to consider.
2024’s Best Small Group Tours of the USA
No matter where you want to go, there’s a multi-day tour around the United States to fit your travel style and interests. Most of the details and logistics like accommodations, transportation, activities, and meals are included in the overall cost of 2024’s best U.S.A. tours, too. Here are my top picks.
WORLD’S BEST: 15 Best Group Travel Companies for Guided Tours in 2024
1. Autumn Colors Tour of New England
Trafalgar
Leaf peepers who want to get out and see what New England has to offer will want to consider the seasonal Autumn Colors group tour from Trafalgar. Over nine days, your group will travel through Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Along the way are hundreds of miles of hillsides awash in brilliant fall colors. The tour also includes a walk along Boston’s Freedom Trail, which traces the roots of the American Revolution.
FOOD AND WINE: 9 Best Companies for Culinary Tours and Food Tours in 2024
You’ll learn about the science behind nature’s vivid autumnal displays, sample artisanal chocolates, hike to waterfalls, and visit a lighthouse. Food lovers look forward to day six, where the evening meal is a traditional lobster dinner complete with a presentation from a local specialist who explains local lobster fishing practices.
- Length: 9 days
- Starting price: $4,275
- Average group size: 30 to 50 people
- More tours: 10 Best Trafalgar Tours to Take in 2024
2. In Freedom’s Footsteps – Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. Tour
Tauck
History buffs will enjoy the 11-day In Freedom’s Footsteps U.S.A. tour from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., with Tauck. You’ll stop at iconic spots including the Liberty Bell, Jefferson’s Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, and the National Archives, and you can expect to get exclusive experiences like early admission and behind-the-scenes access at the National Archives, and a private tour of the Museum of the American Revolution.
OLDER TRAVELERS: 8 Best Senior Travel Tour Companies in 2024
Other highlights include a day in Amish country and eating a traditional Amish lunch. The tour stops at five different hotels, including the Williamsburg Lodge, which is in the heart of the historic district, with easy access to the main streets and restaurants.
- Length: 11 days
- Starting price: $5,790
- Average group size: 35 to 44 people
3. Tailor Made Wyoming – Grand Teton and Yellowstone Tour of the Western USA
Abercrombie & Kent
Abercrombie & Kent’s customizable Tailor Made Wyoming private tour of Grand Teton and Yellowstone is a good fit for families or groups who want a memorable and easy national park tour. This Western USA tour is for you and people of your choosing, and that’s it, making it a truly private vacation with expert guides. Everything about these tailor-made trips is completely customizable, from the dates of the trip to what’s on the itinerary.
GO IT ALONE: 10 Best Tour Companies for Solo Tours in 2024
The private national parks tour starts in Jackson, Wyoming, where you’ll spend the day and then set out on five days of adventure, starting with a guided wildlife tour of Grand Teton National Park where you can look for bears, moose, and elk. Other activities include a private float trip on a wooden dory down the Snake River, seeing the Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone National Park, and taking part in a morning hike with a naturalist guide.
- Length: 6 days
- Starting price: $13,795
- Average group size: Just your family (private tour)
4. Waterfalls, Wildflowers, and Wineries Tour
Adventures in Good Company
Looking for a women-only U.S.A. tour? Consider Adventures in Good Company’s tour Waterfalls, Wildflowers, and Wineries. The small-group tour takes place in Dahlonega, Georgia, which is known for its wineries, hiking, and Appalachian culture. While on the tour, you’ll take part in private wine tastings, see the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River, and enjoy easy hikes.
TOURS FOR TWENTYSOMETHINGS: 7 Best Group Travel Companies for Young Adults in 2024
Included are transportation to and from the Atlanta airport, meals, and activities. The trip is hosted by one or two expert guides, who are there to make sure everyone gets to the destinations on the itinerary on time, prepare and arrange meals, and encourage you to venture outside your normal comfort zone while on the trip.
- Length: 4 days
- Starting price: $1,595
- Average group size: 12 people
5. Florida’s Fragile Coastal Treasure – Snorkel the Coral Reefs Tour
Road Scholar
Explore the Sunshine State’s beautiful ocean ecosystems with the Road Scholar trip Florida’s Fragile Coastal Treasure: Snorkel the Coral Reefs. On the seven-day tour, you’re treated to days of snorkeling, kayaking, and free time at John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo. Highlights of the trip include an easy hike through Everglades National Park, visiting Windley Key Fossil Reef State Park, and snorkeling the only living coral reef in the continental U.S.A.
TAKE A HIKE: 9 Best Travel Companies for Walking Tours and Hiking Tours in 2024
After mornings and afternoons of educational tours and snorkeling, most evenings are at your leisure, giving you time to explore Key Largo and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The guides on your trip can help with suggesting nighttime activities, including where to find the best ice cream in the neighborhood.
- Length: 7 days
- Starting price: $2,749
- Average group size: Up to 12 people
6. Adventures by Disney Alaska Tour
Adventures by Disney
One destination that’s on many people’s bucket lists is Alaska. With Adventures by Disney‘s eight-day Alaska tour, you and your family can explore the beauty and wonder of the Last Frontier together. The trip starts in Anchorage, where you’ll have the chance to sip craft favorites at a local brewery plus bike and kayak at Eklutna Lake. The middle of the trip offers the chance to spend a few days at Denali National Park, where kids are sworn in as “Junior Rangers” and everyone takes a bus ride through the park together.
FUN FOR THE FAMILY: 10 Best Guided Tour Companies for Family Tours in 2024
Animal lovers will enjoy being able to see the sled dogs in Girdwood, the final stop on this epic adventure. Then you can try your hand at gold panning in Crow Creek before getting to float out on rafts to see glaciers on Spender Lake. This is truly the trip of a lifetime for families looking for an Alaskan adventure.
- Length: 8 days
- Starting price: $6,399
- Average group size: 35 to 44 people
7. U.S. National Parks: The Grand Canyon to Yellowstone Tour
EF Go Ahead Tours
Head out into the wilderness of some of America’s most popular National Parks on the EF Go Ahead Tours itinerary U.S. National Parks: The Grand Canyon to Yellowstone. The 12-day tour takes you through five states and half a dozen national parks. Included in the cost of the tour are some meals, eight sightseeing tours, and the expertise of local guides.
BEFORE YOU BOOK: How to Choose the Best European Tour for Your Style and Budget
On this U.S. national parks tour, you’ll take a guided tour of Mesa Verde National Park, see the Grand Canyon from the South Rim, take a bus tour of Bryce Canyon National Park, and enjoy a nature walk through Grand Teton National Park. The highlight of the trip for many people is being able to visit America’s first national park, Yellowstone, home to Old Faithful geyser.
- Length: 12 days
- Starting price: $3,769
- Average group size: 15 to 35 people
