In every US state, a handful of attractions get a whole lot of hype – but there are plenty of lesser known places, from quirky museums to gorgeous natural sites, that are well worth your time too. We've picked the best underappreciated spots in every state, according to Tripadvisor reviews, that you may well find surpass the better known options.
Click through the gallery to discover the underrated gems to visit on your next trip...
The one-time home of The Great Gatsby author F Scott Fitzgerald and his writer-painter-dancer wife Zelda has been reimagined as a museum, with a pair of guest suites on the second floor. Fans of the late writers can pore over Zelda’s dresses and artworks and love notes shared between the pair, before overnighting in an apartment decked out in period furniture.
Reviewers say that the museum guides are delightful and the collection is a treasure trove for fans.
Vintage car buffs will love this quaint museum, which contains almost 100 rare pre-World War II automobiles. The sparkling vintage motorcars are dotted about a showroom, alongside vintage clothing, historic carriages, and wax figures.
Visitors are mightily impressed with the collection, praising the cars' careful restorations and excellent presentation.
Described by the National Park Service as a 'wonderland of rocks,' this site protects a landscape of rugged rhyolite pinnacles that thrust hundreds of feet towards the sky, plus caves, peaks, and lava flows. It was once frequented by the Chiricahua Apache, a nomadic Athabaskan people who spent winters in the region.
Visitors wax lyrical about the beautiful drives through the park, plus the bountiful birdlife and scenic hiking trails.
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The captivating Museum of Native American History in Bentonville celebrates Indigenous cultures through exhibitions, from the Paleo period to the Mississippian period and beyond. Gaze at elaborate headdresses, pottery, and death masks from millennia ago – visitors praise the enthusiastic staff and expertly curated displays.
The Sherman Library and Gardens in Newport offers both peaceful botanical gardens and a research library focusing on the American Southwest. The latter is home to some 15,000 tomes, while the grounds are filled with endless palm trees, more than 100 varieties of begonia, and a pretty tea garden.
Colorado has a wealth of natural wonders and Rifle Falls State Park is one of the state’s lesser-known jewels. Hikers come to drink in the plunging triple waterfall and get lost in forested trails, while limestone caverns prove popular with cave explorers.
The best of the American art world is showcased at this underrated museum in central Connecticut. Art lovers can take in more than 8,000 works, from sculptures to oil paintings, with big names represented including still-life artist Raphaelle Peale and Impressionist Ernest Lawson.
The place gets rave reviews from visitors, who particularly praise special exhibits such as the recent store of Hudson River School paintings.
Delaware’s outdoor spaces are wildly underrated, and that includes Cape Henlopen State Park, a sprawling coastal site that protects six miles of champagne-colored shoreline at the mouth of the Delaware Bay. A particularly lovely route is Gordons Pond Trail, which strikes through the park’s salt marshes for five miles connecting Lewes and Rehoboth.
Florida’s stellar arts scene is often overshadowed by dazzling Disney parks and powder-white beaches. But many of the state’s art institutions can more than hold their own.
Among them is the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts, an art powerhouse with impressive collections of Chihuly-sculpted glass, Royal Doulton ceramics, and fine British pottery. It's located in the sunny beach city of Hollywood.
Named for a key patron, this museum bills itself as a “dynamic, interdisciplinary center for the study of art and culture” and houses an impressive collection of artifacts – from stone and bronze Buddhas to the oldest Egyptian mummy in the Americas. There’s also a magnificent store of drawings in the Works of Art on Paper collection.
The Aloha State has natural wonders aplenty, but it's this lesser-known beauty that has to be Hawaii's number-one underrated attraction. A short drive from popular Waikiki, the Spitting Cave of Portlock is exactly what it sounds like.
Waves crash into the craggy coastal cavern, then burst out as if the rocks are forcefully spitting. Visit and you'll wonder why more people don't make the trip.
Experience Idaho's natural bounty at Mesa Falls, a little-known but worthwhile spot in the east of the state. You'll find both Lower and Upper Mesa along the rushing Snake River, pouring over craggy volcanic ash formations.
Take a bucolic hike and gaze out from the dramatic viewpoints.
America's Gilded Age is celebrated at this under-the-radar museum, named for its founder, philanthropist, and businessman Richard H Driehaus. It's home to a dazzling collection, with highlights including Tiffany lamps and fine vintage pianos.
There are also multiple ornate fireplaces and a stunning stained-glass skylight.
Many Tripadvisor reviewers think this graceful, Neoclassical-style war memorial should get way more attention than it does. It's a striking sight, with soaring Ionic columns and a triangular dome, and it houses an intriguing war museum.
Highlights include the Shrine Room, a cavernous space built with materials from across the globe intended to symbolize unity.
Art lovers in Iowa should beeline for the Des Moines Art Center, whose far-reaching collection includes landmark works from big names like Georgia O'Keeffe and Edward Hopper. You'll see work in the mediums of sculpture, fiber, photography, and print. A highlight for many is the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, where striking installations are spread across more than four acres.
Discover the world's most jaw-dropping sculptures and statues
Caney's Safari Zoological Park has to be Kansas' most underrated attraction. You won't see lions or bears, but you can't beat seeing some of Kansas' majestic animals in the wild.
We recommend heading to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, home to roaming bison (pictured), white-tailed deer, and abundant birdlife.
At present few visitors make for this cave and museum in the south of the state – but we think they're missing out. The attraction includes a complex of caverns that unfolds beneath the aptly named city of Horse Cave, plus a museum with detailed exhibits about the USA's fascinating cave systems.
The museum is tipped as the only one of its kind in the country.
Another art gallery comes in top for Louisiana's most underrated attraction. This time it's the RW Norton Art Gallery, in the under-the-radar city of Shreveport.
The collection covers a period of more than 4,000 years and includes some 400 paintings in impressive rooms with vaulted ceilings. Be sure to explore the botanical gardens too.
It's an artistic choice for Maine's most underrated attraction. The Ogunquit Museum of American Art holds some 3,000 works, with offerings from everyone from caricaturist Peggy Bacon to graphic artist Ernest Fiene.
But the most spectacular area of all is the oceanside sculpture garden, which sweeps out towards the Atlantic.
One of Maryland's most underrated attractions is located in one of the USA's most underrated cities. Baltimore isn't always held up as a top vacation destination, but it has some fabulous tourist spots, as well as stellar arts and food scenes.
Among the sights is the excellent Baltimore Museum of Industry, which hosts exhibits covering everything from Baltimore's role in the early automobile industry to the food brands that got a start in the city. You'll also see recreations of a 1910 pharmacy and a historic print shop.
Just off Boston's famous Freedom Trail (pictured), you'll find a much less touristy site that's well worth the detour. The Printing Office Of Edes And Gill dates back to Massachusetts' colonial era, with reproductions of revolutionary documents such as the Declaration of Independence, plus antique printing presses, and other tools.
Costumed guides help visitors interpret the site.
The city of Detroit is itself often underestimated, despite its wealth of cool arts spaces, world restaurants, and happening bars. Also underrated is this museum, housed in a former production site for the Ford Motor Company.
Exhibits celebrate Detroit's motoring heritage and visitors say the excellent docents really make the trip worthwhile.
Minnesota Marine Art Museum is an underrated gem with a huge store of magnificent artworks all inspired by the water. Pore over historic paintings and avant-garde contemporary pieces that all conjure images of lakes, oceans, and rivers.
The not-for-profit Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport is a worthy alternative to Mississippi's more celebrated attractions. It's committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of various marine creatures, from dolphins to turtles, and always releases the mammals back into the wild once it's safe to do so.
The flower-filled Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden honors philanthropist and business owner Ewing Kauffman and his wife, Muriel, also a donor and community leader. Come by to wander through beds laced with colorful perennials and pay your respects at the Kauffman burial site.
Montana is best known for its cinematic landscapes and natural wonders – but Bozeman's American Computer and Robotics Museum should also be on your itinerary for any visit to the state. Hailed as the oldest continually operating museum of its kind on the planet, you can duck your head in to see fascinating displays, including some of the world's earliest personal computers.
The Museum of American Speed, in the Nebraskan capital of Lincoln, is a triumph with visitors. Exhibits plot the history of racing, with displays of vintage motor cars, plus an impressive gallery showcasing automotive artwork.
Special events also draw in petrolheads for road tours and showcases.
Great Basin is one of America's most underrated national park sites, and that's a real shame. It wows both above and below the ground, with a dazzling cave system beneath and a sea of mountains up top.
One of the most striking is Wheeler Peak, a thrusting mountain (pictured here in the grip of fall) that can be viewed on the 12-mile Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive.
At Wolfeboro's Wright Museum of World War II visitors will find some 14,000 items that make up a poignant collection related to the conflict. There are also displays of working military vehicles.
Meanwhile, popular events include a lecture series and the chance to explore the museum after dark.
History and nature combine in this underrated National Historical Park in northeastern New Jersey. This was the USA's very first planned industrial city, founded towards the end of the 18th century.
And the mills and factory buildings were all arranged around the gushing Great Falls of the Passaic River, which still cascade today. Come by for a guided tour to learn the site's fascinating history.
A natural site takes the title of New Mexico's most underrated attraction. Sitting Bull Falls is enveloped within the Lincoln National Forest, surrounded by lush hiking trails and with picnic spots offering prize views.
You can even take a dip if you fancy it.
Strike about 14 miles north of New York City's 'green lung,' Central Park, and you'll find a remarkably untouristy and extremely underrated green space. Located in well-heeled Westchester County, in the NYC suburb of Yonkers, Untermyer Gardens spreads out for 43 acres, filled with rainbow-colored rhododendrons, rows of vegetables and, soon, an impressive floral sundial.
There's also a funky 'ruin garden' too.
North Carolina's most underrated attraction is this charming garden complex in the southeast of the state. You'll stumble across a serene Japanese area complete with a tea house, a fairytale garden geared towards kids, and a beautiful blooming rose garden as you wander the site's seven acres.
The seemingly endless landscapes of Theodore Roosevelt National Park are North Dakota's star attraction. Named for the 26th president, who pioneered conservation in the area, the national park is known for its rugged badlands – the North Unit's 14-mile scenic drive is a wonderful way to view them – epic backcountry trails and wildlife such as mule deer and bison.
Head towards Dayton and this charming museum, which purports to hold the biggest collection of Packard cars and relics in the United States. Some 50 automobiles bring to life the history of the Packard Motor Car Company, which was founded at the end of the 19th century.
Car-lovers should look out for special exhibitions too.
This extraordinary hidden gem in northeastern Oklahoma offers myriad attractions rolled into one. Set on a 3,700-acre working ranch, the Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve includes a huge exhibit packed with aviation artifacts and history, plus artworks and Indigenous craftsmanship.
Outside, keep your eyes peeled for bison, elk, sika deer, and fallow deer, while a hiking trail, animal barn, children's playground, and more will keep visitors big and small happy all day.
In addition to its impressive automotive collection, the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in the picturesque city of Hood River is known for its cinematic views of Mount Hood. The museum's USP is the fact that it has one of the USA's biggest holdings of still-driving and still-flying antique cars and airplanes.
Philadelphia is known for its revolutionary history, with landmark sites such as the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall. But the National Liberty Museum is a lesser-known museum offering insights into this tumultuous period of America's past.
The permanent exhibitions spread over four floors and include a replica of the Liberty Bell, an impressive glass sculpture named Flame of Liberty by Dale Chihuly; and a hall dedicated to those who continue to fight for freedom across the world.
If you find yourself in Rhode Island you should head to the National Museum of American Illustration. It's housed in the sumptuous Vernon Court, which is said to rival large estates like Biltmore and The Breakers, and showcases a fabulous selection of Gilded Age-era illustrations.
Note that the museum is temporarily closed for renovations.
While many head to South Dakota to gawp at the Crazy Horse Memorial, just an hour northeast will take you to this underrated yet fascinating museum. The Museum of Geology in Rapid City is in a region that's rich in fossils. Displays showcase everything from precious minerals to ancient bones.
Memphis itself is an underrated city, not least because of gems like this. The Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art has been going strong for some 25 years and now contains more than 1,400 artifacts, from jade sculptures to ornate ceramics.
There's also an impressive store of Judaic art from a range of contemporary Jewish artists.
Though this historic building is now used by Arlington Baptist University, it's had many guises over the years. It began life as a tearoom in the 1920s and quickly drew in punters with its mouth-watering chicken-fried steaks, before becoming a Prohibition-era nightclub with illegal alcohol and gambling.
Now the property retains the striking original turreted gates and organized tours tell its raucous history.
Zion, Arches, and Bryce Canyon get much of the love in Utah – but Capitol Reef, another of Utah's 'Mighty Five' national parks, is well worth a visit. Blazing red rockscapes, plunging canyons, and natural bridges – all uncovered by miles of rugged hiking trails – await visitors.
It's a top spot for backcountry horseback riding and stargazing too.
Around 160 miles southeast of Burlington, you'll stumble upon the city of Manchester and the state's most underrated attraction. This estate belonged to Robert Lincoln, the son of 16th president Abraham Lincoln, and the president of the Pullman Company.
Visitors can tour the elegant Georgian Revival mansion, filled with period furniture, then explore the formal gardens and observatory.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens has to be Virginia's most underrated spot. Visit to discover a tangle of manicured, flower-filled plots, koi ponds, and forested areas, which are particularly spectacular in the fall.
Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights is a highlight of Vienna's social calendar too.
Kubota is a serene, Japanese-inspired garden laced with graceful bridges, spring-fed ponds, flower-filled terraces, and an intricate stone garden. Trails for a range of abilities wiggle throughout the peaceful spaces.
If you're after total relaxation, head to this unique salt cave and spa in southeastern West Virginia. The cave's air – which is saturated with negative ions from thousands of pounds of Himalayan salt – is said to have a calming effect, as well as various health benefits.
The swish spa, offering indulgent treatments from facials to massages, will have you extra relaxed too.
This underrated and unusual attraction, south of the town of Wyoming in Iowa County, is completely bonkers. The remarkable 1940s building houses an array of eclectic exhibits, collections, and artifacts including a doll carousel room, circus room, Heritage of the Sea exhibit which boasts a 200-foot tall sea creature and octopus garden (pictured), as well as a tribute to nostalgia in the form of vintage vehicles, plus much more.
A moment of calm can be experienced in the Japanese Gardens and Inspiration Point walkway.
Those in the know come to these geothermal hot springs in Bridger-Teton National Forest, which have been developed into a pool with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. It's especially magical in winter, when the landscapes are dusted with snow, and you can zip towards the pool on a snowmobile or dog sled. Picnic tables dot the area too.