San Diego Ranks Among Nation's Best Vacation Spots: Report

SAN DIEGO, CA — Planning a vacation in 2026? San Diegans should consider a staycation, according to a new report.

U.S. News & World Report this week released its list of the Best Places to Visit in the United States in 2026, which includes America's Finest City.

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.

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

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

Five spots in the Golden State made the rankings. 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.

Lake Tahoe ranked No. 9, San Francisco ranked No. 16, Big Sur ranked No. 19, and San Diego ranked No. 20.

"San Diego's Southern California charm appeals to many kinds of vacationers," the report states. "The city's activities range from hiking in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, which sits just north of the city, to surfing at Mission and Pacific beaches. Gastronomes won't want to miss the city's central Gaslamp Quarter, which features a variety of bars and restaurants serving fresh seafood, authentic Mexican cuisine, craft beer and more. Other must-do's include wandering around museum-filled Balboa Park, taking a quick ferry ride to Coronado Island and watching the sun set in La Jolla."

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.