With travel costs soaring and wanderlust still running high, Americans are keeping their adventures closer to home. The goal is to save money, skip the hassle and find experiences that actually mean something.
CashNetUSA decided to make that mission easier by identifying the highest-rated free attraction in every state—plus the top 10 in the country—using Tripadvisor data. These spots prove you don’t need a lot of cash (read: any cash) to have a memorable adventure.
Leading the pack is a Florida gem that’s equal parts art, industry and transformation: the Duncan McClellan Gallery in St. Petersburg. Once a fish and tomato packing plant, this 7,800-square-foot space now glows with glass sculptures, outdoor installations and live glassblowing demos that make a weekend visit feel electric. Visitors love its creative energy so much, it holds a near-perfect 4.95 rating.
Not far behind sits Virginia’s National Museum of the Marine Corps, located just outside Marine Corps Base Quantico. Its soaring design nods to the iconic flag raising at Iwo Jima, while inside, immersive exhibits and rare artifacts tell stories of courage and sacrifice. Travelers say you could easily spend two full days exploring and still feel like there’s more to see.
The third spot goes to Ohio’s National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, the world’s largest military aviation museum. Since 1923, it’s evolved from a small engineering collection into an epic tribute to air and space power. You can wander through hangars of legendary aircraft, from Wright brothers–era planes to Cold War bombers, and come away with a whole new appreciation for the country’s reach above the clouds.
Rounding out the top five are Georgia’s National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center in Columbus and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia—two free experiences that carry enormous emotional weight.
To find out the best free attraction in your state, check out the list here.
Ten best free attractions in the U.S.
- Duncan McClellan Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida
- National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia
- National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio
- National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center in Columbus, Georgia
- The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia
- Yachats Coastline in Yachats, Oregon
- Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
- Mendocino Coast in Mendocino, California
- Bicycle Heaven in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine