The 10 Most Crowded Tourist Destinations In America

If you’re looking to travel to popular tourist destinations in the United States, you might be curious about which places are the most popular. Whether you love to go to places with crowds or not, knowing which tourist destinations are the most crowded will help you know what to expect when you arrive. While many of the items on this list might be expected given their location, there are also a few that might not be on your radar. Many of these places are worth checking off your bucket list.

Here are the ten most crowded tourist destinations in the United States.

10 10. BALBOA PARK

Balboa Park is the tenth most visited tourist destination in the United States. This large park is located in San Diego, California and receives about 13 million visitors per year according to World Atlas. It’s also worth noting that Golden Gate Park in San Francisco also ties for tenth place. While this location might not be as talked about as others on this list, there is so much to do here. The park itself is beautiful and full of many museums including the San Diego Natural History Museum and the San Diego Air & Space Museum. There are also many gorgeous gardens including at the Japanese Friendship Garden.

9 9. FANEUIL HALL MARKETPLACE

Next on the list is Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, Massachusetts. This area gets around 15 million visitors each year. This marketplace is an urban space that has a lot of places to eat and shop. Part of Faneuil Hall is Quincy Market which is a historic marketplace area that was used all the way back during the Revolutionary War. As such, it has historic significance as well as modern shopping.

8 8. GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic landmark in the United States. Located in San Francisco, this grand, red bridge is beautiful when set against the water and the skyline of the city. Many people travel from all over to get a glimpse of this bridge, especially since it’s been featured in many movies and television shows over the years. The Golden Gate Bridge is estimated to get about 15 million visitors every year. Tourists can walk in the park area to get a good view of the bridge or drive or walk over it.

7 7. DISNEYLAND

While many of the places on this list are iconic historical landmarks or parks, one of the most visited places in the United States is actually Disneyland located in Anaheim, California. Depending on the time of year that you visit, Disneyland can definitely feel very crowded. Given how popular Disney is, especially since they also own Star Wars and Marvel now, it’s no wonder that so many people come to the park. Disneyland gets over 16 million people visiting each year, which is quite an impressive number.

6 6. DISNEY WORLD

As far as the number of visitors per year, there is only one theme park that has more visitors than Disneyland and Disney World in Orlando, Florida. This park is even bigger and older than Disneyland, so it’s not a surprise that it’s a bit more popular. Plus, Orlando is a destination for many people as it contains multiple theme parks. Disneyworld gets just over 17 million visitors per year, so its number of visitors is about one million more than at Disneyland.

5 5. GRAND CENTRAL

It’s no surprise that some of the most crowded and highly visited destinations in the United States are in New York City. As the biggest city in the country and one that is used over and over in pop culture, it’s a popular destination for people all over the world. Grand Central Station is seen in many movies and is a historical train station, so it’s not a surprise that many people visit. Plus, it’s also still used as a hub of public transportation in NYC. Grand Central gets about 21 million visitors every year.

4 4. LAS VEGAS STRIP

While all of the other top five most crowded tourist destinations in America are on the east coast, the number four most crowded spot is in Nevada. The Las Vegas Strip gets nearly 30 million visitors each and every year. This area is known as a party destination and is full of hotels, casinos, and more. There is also a lot of luxury shopping here as well as many shows and concerts, including Cirque du Soleil. As a center of entertainment and letting loose, it’s no wonder it’s so popular.

3 3. UNION STATION

Washington D.C. is the nation's capital, so it makes sense that millions of people around the world and the country try to visit. While you might think the most visited places in D.C. is the White House or National Mall, it’s actually Union Station. Similar to Grand Central, this historic train station. It’s still used today and is also full of shops and restaurants as well as a movie theater.

2 2. CENTRAL PARK

The two most crowded tourist destinations in America are unsurprisingly in New York City. Central Park is the second most crowded with around 40 million visitors per year. Seeing as how Central Park is featured in so many movies and television shows, it makes sense that people visiting want to see it for themselves. Plus, the park is quite beautiful and large and allows for biking, walking, seeing performances, and much more. The juxtaposition of the beautiful nature in the park surrounded by tall buildings and bustle of the city is also quite impressive.

1 1. TIMES SQUARE

It’s definitely not a shocker that the most crowded tourist destination in the country is Times Square. The area gets almost 50 million viewers every year. This location as seen as one of the most iconic and well-known places in NYC. When visiting Times Square it’s clear that the area can get super crowded. During busy days and times, it can be hard to navigate through as it’s packed with people.

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