5 CA Destinations Rank Among Nation's Best Vacation Spots: Report

Planning a vacation in 2026? Californians don't need to travel far.

U.S. News & World Report this week released its list of the Best Places to Visit in the United States in 2026, which includes five spots in the Golden State.

The publication's editors considered a variety of factors when compiling the top 30 rankings of the best vacation destinations, including accommodations, attractions and dining options, as well as votes from thousands of travelers.

Yosemite National Park in California's Sierra Nevada mountains ranked as the best place in the state and the No. 6 best place to visit in the country. Yosemite features nearly 1,200 square miles of cliffs, giant sequoias, meadows, waterfalls and wilderness.

"A vacation at Yosemite National Park in California is all about reconnecting with nature," the report states. "Spend your visit checking out world-famous landmarks like Half Dome and Glacier Point, or hiking Cathedral Lakes, the Mist Trail and other popular paths. You'll also want to spend time admiring Yosemite's numerous waterfalls, including towering Yosemite Falls, which is one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, and Horsetail Fall, which has a golden 'firefall' effect at certain points in the winter."

Lake Tahoe, also in the Sierra Nevada mountains, ranked as the No. 9 best place to visit. San Francisco ranked No. 16. Big Sur, located along a rugged stretch of California's central coast, ranked No. 19. San Diego, America's Finest City, ranked No. 20.

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona topped the list, with U.S. News citing its "bucket list" designation among the reasons why.

"A bucket list destination for many, this Arizona park is a superb spot to hike, offering scenic paths like the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails," the report states. "The Colorado River weaves its way through the 277-mile-long canyon, which also makes it a perfect place for adventurous activities like whitewater rafting. But for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, view this impressive natural wonder on a helicopter tour."

According to the report, the top five spots to vacation are:

1. Grand Canyon National Park
2. Maui
3. Honolulu - Oahu
4. Glacier National Park
5. Zion National Park

Read the full report here.