8 Best First-Time Solo Travel Destinations in the U.S. (Safe + Easy Starter Cities)
Updated 4/5/2026
Planning your first solo trip can feel exciting, but also a little intimidating. The good news is that you don’t need to be fearless or extroverted to travel alone, you just need to choose the place that’s right for you, and I’ve got you covered with the best first-time solo travel destinations in the U.S. These are some of the safest and easiest places in the U.S. to travel alone for the first time, plus they’re full of things to do alone and ideal if you’re nervous about your first trip.
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Trying to choose your first solo destination? Start here:
| If you want | Start with |
| warm weather + walkability | Key West, FL |
| history + charm | Charleston, SC |
| music scene | Austin, TX |
| mountains + nature access | Denver, CO |
| quirky, artsy, creative small city | Asheville, NC |
| culture + food scene | New Orleans, LA |
| lakes + small city feel | Minneapolis, MN |
| ocean + West Coast starter trip | San Diego, CA |
Not sure which one fits your travel style? Here’s how to plan your first solo trip step-by-step.
What Makes a Good First-Time Solo Travel Destination?
Not every great destination is great for a first solo trip. These are the qualities that matter most when you’re just starting out:
Easy to get around: Your first solo travel destination should be walkable or have good transit options so that you don’t have to stress about logistics. All of the destinations below are walkable or have reliable transit, which makes them ideal starter cities.
Manageable overwhelm: Solo travel can be overwhelming, even to experienced travelers. When you’re planning your first solo trip, I would recommend a small to mid-sized city that isn’t too hard to navigate.
Safety: This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’ll want to choose a place where you feel comfortable walking around alone.
Plenty to do solo: Though I have been to traditionally family-friendly and couples’ destinations alone, I wouldn’t recommend it for your first solo trip. Choose a place where wandering is fun and that has lots of solo-friendly activities–think cafes, museums, parks, and other activities where you won’t feel out of place.
Where you can blend in: Skip small towns where tourists only show up during one specific season (especially if you’re visiting off-season). You’ll feel out of place.
8 Best First-Time Solo Travel Destinations in the U.S.
I’ve visited all of these destinations solo and chose them specifically because they’re some of the easiest places in the U.S. to take your first solo trip. If you’re planning your very first solo trip in the U.S., these are the cities I recommend starting with.
Key West, Florida
Key West is perfect for first-time solo travelers. It’s small, easy to get around, and has a very laid-back vibe that’s welcoming to solo travelers. It’s very safe and you can walk to just about anywhere you want to go. Also, it feels tropical and exotic, so if you’re dreaming of escaping to an island far away, you can do that right in the U.S.
Best things to do alone
Key West is one of the easiest destinations in the U.S. to explore independently. Some solo-friendly activities include:
- watching the sunset at Mallory Square
- checking out the bars on Duval Street
- visiting the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum (and cats!)
- taking a booze cruise
- spending a day at Dry Tortugas National Park
These are all experiences where exploring solo feels completely natural.
Where to stay for your first solo visit
Honestly, Key West is so compact that I think you could stay just about anywhere and be able to walk to where you want to go. If you want to be in the middle of everything, look at Old Town.
Getting around
Key West is one of the most walkable destinations in the U.S. It’s compact, which means you can walk just about anywhere. This makes it especially beginner-friendly for solo travelers.
New Orleans, Louisiana
While it’s true that parts of New Orleans are not ideal for tourists, the French Quarter and surrounding areas are very safe, and you won’t feel in danger or out of place as a solo traveler.
New Orleans is one of the easiest cities in the U.S. to visit for your first solo trip because there’s always something happening and you’ll rarely feel out of place exploring on your own. If you stay in the French Quarter, you can walk to restaurants, live music, historic sites, and riverfront views without needing a car.
Best things to do alone
Some of the best solo-friendly activities in New Orleans include:
- a haunted tour
- listening to live jazz on Frenchmen Street
- admiring the mansions in the Garden District
- exploring local cafés and beignets spots
- checking out the art galleries on Royal Street
These are all activities where exploring independently feels completely natural.
Where to stay for your first solo visit
For your first solo trip to New Orleans, stay in the French Quarter or nearby Warehouse District. Both areas are central, walkable, and make it easy to return to your hotel whenever you want a break.
Getting around
If you stay centrally, you can walk almost everywhere you’ll want to go. The streetcar is also easy to use if you want to visit neighborhoods like Uptown or the Garden District.
Charleston, South Carolina
If you’re looking for a charming, walkable city that feels calm and manageable for a first solo trip, Charleston is a great place to start. onus: the beach is close too!
Best things to do alone
Charleston is ideal for relaxed solo exploring. Some great activities include:
- walking through the Historic District
- visiting Rainbow Row and The Battery
- exploring Waterfront Park (home of the famous pineapple fountain)
- taking a carriage or walking history tour
- doing a half-day trip to nearby beaches like Sullivan’s Island
Where to stay for your first solo visit
For your first trip, stay in the Historic District so you can walk to most major sights, restaurants, and waterfront areas without needing a car.
Getting around
Charleston’s historic center is very walkable. If you plan to visit nearby beaches, you may want to use a rideshare or rent a car for part of your trip, but it’s not necessary for exploring downtown.
Austin, Texas
If you enjoy live music and general weirdness, you’ll love Austin. It’s easy to get around, and there’s no shortage of fun activities for solo travelers. It has a strong live music scene, excellent food, and plenty of outdoor spaces. It’s a good choice if you want a city destination but without the intensity of somewhere like New York or Los Angeles.
Best things to do alone
Austin has lots of solo-friendly activities that are easy to build into a relaxed itinerary:
- listening to live music on Dirty Sixth Street
- visiting food truck parks (There are so many food trucks. Everywhere.)
- walking along Lady Bird Lake
- exploring South Congress Avenue shops and cafés
- swimming at Barton Springs Pool
- spend a Sunday at Chicken Shit Bingo
Where to stay for your first solo visit
For your first trip, stay downtown or near South Congress. Both areas are central, walkable, and close to many of Austin’s most popular attractions.
Getting around
Downtown Austin is walkable, but you’ll likely want to Lyft if you plan to explore beyond the central neighborhoods. I took the bus a few times, too.
Asheville, North Carolina
Hike in the mountains by day and enjoy craft beer and live music by night in Asheville. It’s creative, walkable, and surrounded by easy access to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Best things to do alone
Asheville is ideal for travelers who enjoy a mix of nature and city exploring. Some solo-friendly activities include:
- driving part of the Blue Ridge Parkway
- hiking short trails near the city
- exploring downtown art galleries and bookstores
- visiting local cafés and breweries
- touring the Biltmore Estate
- watching the street performers
Where to stay for your first solo visit
For your first trip, stay downtown Asheville so you can easily walk to restaurants, shops, and galleries without needing to drive at night.
Getting around
Downtown Asheville is very walkable, but you’ll likely want a car if you plan to explore nearby hiking trails or the Blue Ridge Parkway. Staying centrally makes it easy to balance both city time and nature access.
Denver, Colorado
Denver has no shortage of things for solo travelers to do, and no one will notice that you’re alone. You’re also not far from mountains if you want to do some solo hiking, but you will need a car to hike.
Best things to do alone
Denver offers a mix of city exploring and outdoor access that works well for solo travel:
- hiking (car required)
- exploring pretty neighborhood parks, like Wash(ington) or Cheesman Parks
- visiting psychedelic art gallery Meow Wolf
- touring the Church of Cannabis
- walking or biking along Cherry Creek Trail
- seeing a show at Red Rocks
Where to stay for your first solo visit
I loved Wash Park. It had a neighborhood feel but was still still easy to get to other parts of town.
Getting around
If you want to go to the mountains, you’re going to need a car. Denver is more spread out than some of the other cities on this list, so rideshares are helpful if you plan to explore multiple neighborhoods.
Minneapolis/St. Paul
I lived here for twelve years, including two years on my own. Though it gets cold in the winter, summers are beautiful. Think lakes, waterfalls, and mild temperatures. It has a big city feeling without the overwhelm. It has many of the same cultural attractions as larger cities, but it’s less crowded and easier to manage. The cities are clean, well organized, and connected by light rail, which helps reduce transportation stress if you’re traveling alone for the first time.
Best things to do alone
- visiting Minnehaha Falls
- walking around Lake Harriet (and seeing a show there, if one’s playing!)
- exploring Minneapolis Institute of Art
- walking across the Stone Arch Bridge
- checking out a brewery – so many good ones, like Surly or Prye’s
- go see one of the largest malls in the country, Mall of America
Where to stay for your first solo visit
For your first trip, stay in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis or the Grand Avenue area of St. Paul. Both areas are central, walkable, and close to restaurants, and have plenty to do.
Getting around
The light rail makes it easy to travel between Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the airport plus other attractions like Mall of America. You’ll be able to walk and light rail for many things to do, and the rest you can Lyft to.
San Diego, California
If you want to see gorgeous ocean views and maybe go snorkeling or surfing, San Diego is a great spot. It’s smaller and less nightmarish to get around than Los Angeles, which makes it a lot more solo-friendly.
Best things to do alone
- walking along the La Jolla coastline
- visiting Balboa Park and its museums
- exploring Coronado Island
- relaxing at Pacific Beach or Mission Beach
- watching the sunset along the waterfront
- going on a snorkeling tour
Where to stay for your first solo visit
I loved downtown San Diego. It’s walkable, central, and has plenty of nice restaurants and bars.
Getting around
Some central neighborhoods are walkable, but San Diego is spread out overall. You’ll need a car or Lyft to see everything.
Where Not to Go for a First Solo Trip
That was the best, now here’s the rest: where NOT to go for your first solo adventure. Don’t get me wrong: these cities are great places to visit solo later, but they can feel overwhelming for a first solo trip:
New York: As we say in the South, “love it to death, but…” NYC is generally a great spot for solo travelers, but I don’t know if I’d do it for my first solo trip. NYC is incredible for solo travel later, but the subway system, pace of the city, and neighborhood navigation can feel overwhelming if it’s your very first trip alone, unless you’ve been there before and already know what’s what.
Los Angeles: I love L.A., but getting around can be horrible. You’re better off choosing San Diego as a first-time West Coast spot.
Miami: Miami is very social overall and nightlife-centric. If that’s what you’re looking for, more power to you, but if you want a more low-key spot for your first solo trip, Miami ain’t it.
Related reading: What I Wish I Knew Before my First Solo Trip
FAQ: Best First-Time Solo Travel Destinations in the U.S.
Is solo travel in the U.S. safe?
Yes–as long as you stay in a touristy area and use the same common sense you’d use anywhere else. The destinations I’ve mentioned are all very safe–don’t let myths about solo travel stop you!
What’s the best length for a first-time solo trip?
I’d start with a long weekend, then work your way up.
Is the U.S. a good place for your first solo trip?
Yes. The U.S. is one of the easiest places to take your first solo trip because transportation is simple, English is widely spoken, and you can choose destinations that match your comfort level while still having plenty to do independently.
What is the safest U.S. city for solo female travelers?
The safest first solo destinations are typically smaller, walkable cities like Charleston, Key West, and Asheville where it’s easy to navigate and you won’t feel anonymous or overwhelmed.
Traveling solo? Here’s my solo travel survival kit:
How to Eat Alone in Restaurants Without Feeling Awkward
Guide to Making Friends When Traveling Solo
Traveling Solo as an Introvert
What I Wish I Knew Before Taking My First Solo Trip
Solo Hiking Tips Every Beginner Should Know
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