The best US vacation spots are as diverse as the country’s population and its natural features, which range from desert to mountains, forests to plains, coastal beaches, rivers, and lakes. The first of the USA travel tips if you are on a tight budget and/or only have a couple days is to look close to home. Every single state and region offers at least one readily accessible spot that can get you away from it all very cheaply. The top destinations in the US can include anything from the light of Las Vegas to the beaches of the East Coast to fabulous National Parks.

If you live in the middle of the quintessential plains state of Nebraska, you can head to Lake McConaughy and be at this huge recreational reservoir from anywhere in the state in a matter of hours. It is also easily accessible from Denver in neighboring Colorado even quicker. Here you will find a 35,700-acre body of water excellent for boating and waterskiing, sailing, and fishing, beach camping and beach activities. This Nebraska reservoir is man-made, created by the New Deal Kingsley Dam, and is similar to scores of other dams and recreational lakes that can be found around the United States. Some of these deserve to be among the top destinations in the US, including Hoover Dam and its Lake Mead near Las Vegas, Lake Powell and its Glen Canyon Dam on the border of Utah and Arizona, and Cumberland Lake created by Wolf Creek Dam on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky.

The destinations that draw the largest number of visitors are the country’s numerous National Parks. There are scores of them—including the Great Smoky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone—plus scores more National Monuments. National monuments include the magical Canyon de Chelly in Arizona, Fort Sumter in South Carolina, and the Statue of Liberty in New York City. And, the number one of all USA travel tips is to look for these for the most rewarding and cheapest travel options. Many of them have no entry fees, and most of the others have nominal fees affordable even for large families.

After this, the most visited and best US vacation spots are the nation’s beaches. While many are found in the interior on lakes and rivers, most of them are along the coastline, which is more than 12,000 miles long. The top beach destinations in the US include Florida, Hawaii, and California. Head to the Florida Keys for idyllic vacations at Bahia Honda State Park, which boasts the second most popular beach in the country, or enjoy the stunning scenery of Kailua Beach on the windward side of the Hawaiian island of Oahu or head for the bustle of Waikiki Beach framed by the high-rise resorts of Honolulu and in the dramatic shadow of volcanic Diamond Head. Equally stunning is the scenery of California’s Big Sur with its unspoiled beaches.

The best US vacation spots also include theme parks, which are extremely popular with foreign visitors, as well as one of the most popular of American families. The granddaddy of theme parks has to be Disneyland in Anaheim, which has been drawing throngs of visitors since it opened in 1955. Since that time, theme parks, amusement parks, and water parks have blossomed across the country. Go to Orlando, Florida and you will find several—they include the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom around Disneyworld, Epcot, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and more. One of the most visited in the country is the Cedar Point Amusement Park located in Ohio on Lake Erie between Cleveland and Toledo.

Another of the great USA travel tips is to consider your own state capital and the other large cities near you. These also are among the most visited destinations in the country. From the Wyoming capital of Cheyenne or Dover Delaware to the sprawling metropolis of Washington DC, capital cities showcase the rich history of our nation and offer some of the most outstanding attractions to be found anywhere. New York City is one of the most visited cities of the world, and boasts attractions like the previously mentioned Statue of Liberty, the iconic Empire State Building, and the World Trade Center Site—not to mention Broadway shows and prestigious venues like Lincoln Center, world-famous museums, internationally respected zoos, and a couple of the most famous bridges in the world. And this only scratches the surface. Similar things can be said about Los Angeles or Boston and Philadelphia, the cradle of American history. Las Vegas is high on the list. After Times Square in New York City, the famous Strip in Las Vegas is the most visited city destination in the country. Surely, you’re not out of possible US vacation spots yet, but if you want to look further, don’t forget sporting events that range from annual marathons and championship football games to periodic Olympic Games.