Nat Geo Best of the World 2027 US Destinations Guide

While international travelers often gravitate toward familiar metropolitan icons like New York or Las Vegas, National Geographic’s Best of the World 2027 selection reveals that America’s most compelling travel frontiers are defined by 290 city parks on a Wisconsin lake isthmus, a 38.5-mile island trail where 88% of the wilderness is strictly protected, and a 200-year railway bicentennial in Baltimore. Covering four distinct editorial selections alongside Catalina Island as the Readers’ Choice winner, the prestigious 2027 roster celebrates American destinations that have prioritized sustainable recreation, historic preservation, and community-driven cultural investment. From singletrack mountain biking in the Ozarks to windswept headlands along California's coastal highways promoted by Visit California, these five honorees offer travelers unforgettable journeys grounded in local authenticity.

National Geographic Best of the World 2027: The American Roster

The selections for 2027 avoid generic tourism popularity rankings, focusing instead on destinations where thoughtful conservation and new infrastructure have enriched the visitor experience.

In the Upper Midwest, Madison, Wisconsin, secured its spot for combining an energetic university capital with exceptional outdoor accessibility. Set on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, the city provides urban travelers with car-free mobility supported by Travel Wisconsin. In California, the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) was recognized for its untamed coastal drama, particularly along Northern California's Mendocino County.

In the Mid-South, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and Missouri were honored for transforming regional forests into a global mountain biking capital centered around Bentonville. In the Mid-Atlantic, Baltimore, Maryland, captured editorial acclaim as the birthplace of American railroading ahead of the historic 200th anniversary of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 2027. Finally, Southern California’s Catalina Island earned the coveted Readers' Choice accolade for its world-class habitat stewardship.

Honored Destination	State or Region	Selection Category	Defining Signature Draw	Primary Traveler Profile
Madison	Wisconsin	Editorial Honoree	290+ city parks & 13-mile Lake Monona Loop	Cyclists, families, urban-lake vacationers
Pacific Coast Highway	California	Editorial Honoree	Coastal Highway 1 bluffs & Mendocino arts	Road-trippers, photographers, nature lovers
Ozark Mountains	Arkansas & Missouri	Editorial Honoree	OZ Trails cycling & Crystal Bridges Museum	Mountain bikers, hikers, cultural explorers
Baltimore	Maryland	Editorial Honoree	B&O Railroad bicentenary & Fort McHenry	History buffs, museum lovers, maritime tourists
Catalina Island	California	Readers' Choice	42,000 acres protected & Trans-Catalina Trail	Backpackers, marine enthusiasts, eco-tourists

What Makes Each Destination Distinctive

Each of the five recognized American destinations showcases a distinct balance of ecology, infrastructure, and heritage.

1. Madison, Wisconsin: An Isthmus of Cycling and Lakeside Culture

Wisconsin’s capital sits on a narrow glacial isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. The City of Madison Parks Division maintains more than 290 public parks, ensuring that green space is accessible within minutes from anywhere in town. Cyclists revere the scenic 13-mile Lake Monona Bike Loop, while the ongoing Madison LakeWay project is expanding public shoreline promenades and ecological boardwalks. Surrounding the granite dome of the State Capitol, the weekly Dane County Farmers' Market—the largest producer-only farmers' market in the nation—celebrates the state’s rich agricultural bounty.

2. Pacific Coast Highway, California: Coastal Wilds and State Park Heritage

California's Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1) remains the quintessence of the American road trip. While southern segments near Big Sur receive intense travel visibility, National Geographic spotlighted the misty, forested shores of Mendocino County, where 19th-century timber villages host independent art workshops, Victorian guesthouses, and wild coastal headlands. The route connects with California State Parks’ network, which manages 280 park units statewide, safeguarding more than 340 miles of pristine coastline and approximately 3,543 miles of non-motorized recreational trails.

3. Ozark Mountains, Arkansas & Missouri: The New Capital of Mountain Biking

Spanning ancient limestone plateaus and hardwood forests, the Ozarks have undergone a remarkable economic transformation driven by trail infrastructure. Bentonville, Arkansas, anchors this renaissance with the OZ Trails network, featuring roughly 20 miles of purpose-built singletrack within its central OZ Trails Bike Park, alongside the 98-acre 8th Street Gateway Park, which includes six miles of dedicated beginner trails. Cyclists can pedal off dirt berms straight onto the grounds of the Moshe Safdie-designed Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, blending backcountry adventure with world-class American masterpieces.

4. Baltimore, Maryland: Two Centuries of American Transportation History

Baltimore’s inclusion anticipates a monumental milestone: the 2027 bicentenary of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, chartered on 28 February 1827 as America’s first commercial common-carrier railroad. The B&O Railroad Museum is undergoing extensive historic restoration to celebrate 200 years of locomotive ingenuity. Along the harbor, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine—where American forces held off British naval bombardment during the Battle of Baltimore in September 1814, inspiring Francis Scott Key to pen the national anthem—welcomed 394,175 recreational visits in 2024.

5. Catalina Island, California: An Island Wilderness Preserved

Resting 22 miles southwest of Los Angeles, Santa Catalina Island earned National Geographic’s Readers' Choice award. The non-profit Catalina Island Conservancy protects approximately 42,000 acres—representing 88% of the island’s total land area. This protected wild sanctuary shelters over 60 endemic plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth, including the Catalina Island fox. The island offers approximately 165 miles of trails and unpaved roads, crowned by the legendary 38.5-mile Trans-Catalina Trail, which traverses rugged interior ridges and isolated Pacific coves from Avalon to Two Harbors.

Destination	Specific Metric Tracked	Verified Official Figure	Authoritative Agency Source
Madison, WI	Municipal Public Parks	More than 290 parks	City of Madison Parks Division
Madison, WI	Lake Monona Bike Loop	Approximately 13 miles	National Geographic Travel Data
California	Statewide State Park Units	280 protected park units	California State Parks Department
California	State Park Coastal Mileage	More than 340 ocean miles	California State Parks Department
Ozarks, AR	OZ Trails Bike Park Network	Approx. 20 miles of trails	National Geographic Field Reporting
Bentonville, AR	8th Street Gateway Park	98 dedicated acres	City of Bentonville Parks & Rec
Baltimore, MD	Fort McHenry Annual Visits	394,175 visits (2024)	US National Park Service (NPS)
Catalina Island	Protected Wilderness Acreage	Approx. 42,000 acres	Catalina Island Conservancy
Catalina Island	Island Land Under Conservation	88% of total land area	Catalina Island Conservancy
Catalina Island	Trans-Catalina Trail Length	Approximately 38.5 miles	Catalina Island Conservancy

Visitor Insider Tips: Exploring the 2027 Winners

To experience these five destinations beyond conventional tourist routes, incorporate insider local strategies:

Breeze Around Madison on an Electric B-Cycle: Madison's citywide electric bike-share system features stations along the entire 13-mile Lake Monona Loop. Grab an e-bike from Capitol Square, pedal down to Monona Terrace designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and stop at the Memorial Union Terrace on Lake Mendota for locally churned Babcock Dairy ice cream at sunset.
Navigate Mendocino Headlands Early on Weekdays: If driving Highway 1 through Mendocino County, explore Mendocino Headlands State Park before 10:00. The coastal fog typically rolls back mid-morning, revealing dramatic sea arches and blowholes before road-trip traffic picks up. Always check Caltrans road advisories for slide repairs.
Pair Ozarks Riding with Crystal Bridges Morning Access: In Bentonville, rent a gravel or mountain bike and ride the paved greenway directly through the forest canopy into the Crystal Bridges Museum grounds. The outdoor sculpture trails open at sunrise and are free to access before museum gallery doors open.
Explore Baltimore’s Historic Mount Clare Roundhouse: When visiting Baltimore for railway heritage, head to the Mount Clare historic shops at the B&O Railroad Museum, widely considered the birthplace of American railroading. Combine this with steamed Maryland blue crabs in the cobblestone waterfront district of Fells Point.
Secure Catalina Backcountry Permits Months in Advance: Hiking the 38.5-mile Trans-Catalina Trail requires advance campsite reservations at Blackjack, Little Harbor, and Parson's Landing through the Catalina Island Conservancy portal. Passenger ferries on the Catalina Express from Long Beach or San Pedro fill up rapidly on summer weekends, so book transit tickets concurrently with trail permits.

Cultural and Environmental Context: Community Roots and Conservation

National Geographic’s 2027 selections highlight a profound evolution in modern travel: destinations that succeed are those that safeguard their environmental assets and celebrate their distinct cultural identity. In Catalina, strict conservation of 88% of the island prevents suburban sprawl, providing a sanctuary for fragile maritime chaparral and wild bison herds while educating thousands of visitors on ecological stewardship.

In the Ozarks, private philanthropy and civic planning transformed a former timber and poultry region into a world-class outdoor recreation hub, drawing young families, outdoor apparel entrepreneurs, and international athletes to northwest Arkansas. Meanwhile, in Madison and Baltimore, investments in public waterfronts and railway monuments revitalize urban heritage without displacing local neighborhoods. These five American destinations demonstrate that tourism at its best is not extractive, but a catalyst for community pride, environmental resilience, and historical remembrance.

FAQ: Visiting National Geographic’s 2027 US Destinations

Which five US destinations were chosen by National Geographic for 2027?

The 2027 honorees include four editorial selections—Madison (Wisconsin), the Pacific Coast Highway (California), the Ozark Mountains (Arkansas and Missouri), and Baltimore (Maryland)—plus Catalina Island (California) as the Readers' Choice winner.

What is the special anniversary happening in Baltimore in 2027?

Baltimore will celebrate the bicentenary (200th anniversary) of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, chartered in 1827 as America’s first commercial common-carrier railroad, featuring restored museum exhibits and heritage events.

How difficult is the Trans-Catalina Trail on Catalina Island?

The Trans-Catalina Trail spans roughly 38.5 miles across steep coastal ridges and interior canyons. It is a challenging multi-day trek requiring good physical fitness, advance camping permits, and self-sufficient hydration planning.

Is Madison, Wisconsin, easy to explore without a rental car?

Yes. With more than 290 public parks, an extensive electric bike-share network, and the scenic 13-mile Lake Monona Loop, Madison is one of the most pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly capitals in the United States.

[Across windswept Pacific bluffs, sunlit Midwest lakes, and rugged mountain singletracks, America's greatest journeys in 2027 await where conservation and community spirit unite.]

National Geographic Names Five Must-Visit US Destinations for 2027: Insider Cultural and Travel Guide