25 Best Places to Visit During Christmas in the USA (2026 Guide)
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The best places to visit during Christmas in the USA start with New York City, home of the Rockefeller Center tree. Chicago follows for its German-style market, while Nashville wins for families thanks to the ICE! show at Opryland. Warm-weather travelers should look at St. Augustine, Florida, where millions of white lights cover the old town.
Every pick below comes with verified 2026 dates where organizers have published them. We also flag which cities you can reach by intercity bus, since holiday airfares climb sharply in the last two weeks of December. If you want a shorter shortlist first, start with our guide to the best destinations to visit at Christmas.
Where are the best places to travel for Christmas?
The table below compares our top picks by what each place does best. Use it to build a shortlist of trips before reading the detailed sections. For a month-wide view, compare these picks with the best places to travel in December.
| Destination | Christmas highlight | Best for |
| New York City | Rockefeller Center tree lighting on December 2 | First-time holiday trips |
| Chicago | Christkindlmarket from November 20 | Christmas markets |
| Nashville | ICE! featuring Home Alone at Opryland | Families with kids |
| New Orleans | Bonfires on the levee on Christmas Eve | Unique traditions |
| St. Augustine | Nights of Lights from November 21 | Warm weather |
| Gatlinburg | Smoky Mountain lights with Dollywood nearby | Mountain cabins |
| San Antonio | River Walk parade on November 27 | Texas road trips |
| Las Vegas | Free Bellagio holiday conservatory | Adults |
Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting in New York
The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting takes place on Wednesday, December 2, after the tree arrived on November 7. Crowds fill the plaza hours before the switch is flipped, so most visitors watch the televised ceremony instead.
A better plan is to visit the tree on a weekday morning, when the plaza is calmer. Pair the stop with the skating rink below it, then walk Fifth Avenue to see the department store windows. The tree sits in Midtown, so pair the visit with our guide to the best things to do in Midtown Manhattan.
Travelers coming from Boston can skip airport security with a bus from Boston to New York. The ride drops you in Manhattan, a short subway trip from Rockefeller Plaza.
Christmas tree lighting events beyond New York
A Christmas tree lighting is a free way to start the season in almost any big city, though two ceremonies stand out for their history.
The National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. lights up on December 3, 2026. According to the National Park Service, the tradition began in 1923, with free tickets awarded through a lottery.
Visitors from the Northeast can reach the capital easily, since buses run from Washington to New York in both directions throughout December. Once the ceremony ends, the tree stays lit for walk-up visitors through the holidays. Fill the rest of the day with the best things to do in Washington DC, most of them free around the National Mall.
Christmas in Boston
Christmas in Boston centers on the giant tree that arrives on Boston Common each November as a gift from Nova Scotia. The City of Boston says 2026 marks the 55th year of the tradition, which thanks Boston for its help after the 1917 Halifax explosion.
The 2026 tree arrives on November 24 with a police escort. Once lit, it anchors a walk that continues past the Public Garden toward the shops of Newbury Street.
Boston also makes an easy add-on to a New York trip. Many travelers split a long weekend between the two cities by bus. Use our guide to the best things to do in Boston to plan that walk in full.
Christmas in Chicago
Christmas in Chicago means the Christkindlmarket, a German-style market that celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026. The main market at Daley Plaza runs from November 20 to December 24 with free admission.
A second market at Gallagher Way near Wrigley Field stays open until December 31. Try the mulled wine served in a collectible mug, which many visitors keep as a souvenir. For the rest of your stay, see the top 15 things to do in Chicago.
The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival usually opens the season on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Riders from central Illinois can connect through the Peoria to Chicago route.
Christmas in Philadelphia
Christmas in Philadelphia revolves around the Christmas Village at LOVE Park, a German-style market with more than 120 vendors. A preview weekend runs November 21-22, 2026, before the regular season opens on November 26.
The village closes on December 25 but reopens briefly, running through December 27. Extra booths spill into the City Hall courtyard, so plan at least two hours to browse.
Christmas in Nashville, TN
Christmas in Nashville, TN starts at Gaylord Opryland, which hosts its 43rd annual A Country Christmas from November 6, 2026, to January 2, 2027. The 2026 ICE! exhibit recreates scenes from Home Alone in more than two million pounds of carved ice.
Downtown Nashville adds live country music in decorated honky-tonks along Broadway. Book ICE! tickets early, since weekend time slots sell out by early December.
Families visiting for Christmas in Nashville should bring warm layers, because the ice exhibit stays well below freezing inside. Our local guide to the best things to do in Nashville covers what to add beyond Opryland.
Christmas in Gatlinburg
Christmas in Gatlinburg pairs a mountain town with the light displays of nearby Pigeon Forge. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas runs from November 6, 2026, to January 3, 2027, with more than six million lights.
Winter weather in the Great Smoky Mountains stays fairly mild in the valleys. The National Park Service notes that Gatlinburg averages only one to three inches of snow per month in winter.
Rent a cabin with a fireplace for the full experience. Higher park roads can close after snow, so check conditions before driving up.
Christmas in New Orleans
Christmas in New Orleans blends Creole food with a unique river tradition. Bonfires line the Mississippi River levees on Christmas Eve, lit to guide Papa Noël, the Cajun Santa Claus.
According to the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the best views sit around the town of Lutcher in St. James Parish. The tradition is believed to date back to French-German settlers in the 1700s.
Back in the city, Celebration in the Oaks fills City Park with lights from November 27, 2026, to January 1, 2027. Many French Quarter restaurants serve réveillon dinners, a holiday menu rooted in 19th-century Creole custom. Many of those stops appear in our list of 19 free things to do in New Orleans.
Christmas at Disney World
Christmas at Disney World runs from mid-November until early January, when the parks fill with themed decorations. Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on select evenings, with a separate ticket required.
EPCOT adds its International Festival of the Holidays, featuring food booths themed to holiday traditions around the world. Expect peak crowds during Christmas week, when lines stretch longest at popular rides.
Arrive at opening time on any day between December 20 and January 1. Weekday visits in early December offer the same decorations with shorter lines.
Christmas in Florida
Christmas in Florida offers palm trees wrapped in lights instead of snow. St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights runs from November 21, 2026, to January 18, 2027, covering the nation’s oldest city in white lights.
Evening trolley tours let you see the display without hunting for parking. December highs usually sit in the upper 60s, comfortable enough for a waterfront walk after dark.
Texas travelers can reach Florida by bus, with service from Dallas to Miami running through the holiday season.
Christmas in Las Vegas
Christmas in Las Vegas mixes Strip glamour with surprisingly traditional displays. The Bellagio Conservatory installs a free holiday display each season, open around the clock from mid-November into early January.
Glittering Lights, a drive-through show at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, celebrated its 25th season in 2025.
Southern California visitors often skip the drive across the desert. Buses from Las Vegas to Los Angeles run daily, including the busy weekend before Christmas.
Christmas in San Francisco
Christmas in San Francisco centers on Union Square, where a towering tree stands beside a seasonal outdoor ice rink. Cable car rides through the decorated downtown make the visit feel like a classic holiday film.
Walk to Ghirardelli Square afterward for hot chocolate with a view across the bay. See more ideas in our guide to the top things to do in San Francisco.
Christmas lights in Dallas
The best Christmas lights in Dallas fill the Dallas Arboretum during its Holiday at the Arboretum season. The 2026 season is the final year for the famous 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, which first appeared in 2014.
Grand Prairie’s Prairie Lights adds a two-mile drive-through route with more than five million lights. The route ends at a holiday village where kids can meet Santa. Our guide to things to do in Dallas, Texas also has a December and holidays section.
Christmas lights in Atlanta
The best Christmas lights in Atlanta glow at the Atlanta Botanical Garden during Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. The 2026 event runs from November 14 to January 10, 2027, with timed-entry tickets.
Millions of colored lights wrap the garden’s trees and pathways. Weeknight tickets usually cost less than weekend slots, while crowds also stay thinner on those nights. Plan the rest of the trip with our guide to things to do in Atlanta, Georgia.
What are the best Christmas light displays in the USA?
Christmas light displays come in two main formats: walk-through gardens or drive-through routes. The list below covers standouts from both formats across the country.
- Nights of Lights, St. Augustine: Millions of white lights wrap the historic streets of the old town.
- Smoky Mountain Christmas, Pigeon Forge: More than six million lights fill the Dollywood theme park.
- Prairie Lights, Grand Prairie: A two-mile drive-through route with over five million lights.
- Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, Atlanta: Timed-entry tickets lead you through a glowing botanical garden.
- Celebration in the Oaks, New Orleans: A City Park tradition dating back to the 1980s.
Where to see a Christmas light show in Texas
A Christmas light show feels bigger with a crowd, which is why Texas cities turn theirs into events. Austin’s 62nd annual Trail of Lights runs December 10-23 at Zilker Park, with seven free nights.
San Antonio lights the River Walk during the Ford Holiday River Parade on November 27, 2026. Decorated floats drift along the river beneath thousands of lights strung through the cypress trees. Our guide to things to do in San Antonio covers the River Walk and the Alamo in detail.
How to find drive-through Christmas lights near me
Searching for drive-through Christmas lights near me works best when you add your city name to the query. City parks departments run many of the cheapest displays, so check their event calendars too.
Follow these steps to plan a smooth night out.
- Search your city parks department calendar for holiday light events.
- Check whether the display sells timed tickets online before you drive there.
- Pick a weeknight, since weekend lines often stretch past an hour.
- Tune the car radio to the station listed at the entrance.
- Keep headlights on low beam unless staff tell you otherwise.
Well-known examples include Glittering Lights in Las Vegas and Prairie Lights near Dallas.
Christmas towns in the USA
Christmas towns in the USA offer small-scale charm without big-city crowds. Five towns have built their identity around the holiday.
- Leavenworth, Washington: A Bavarian-style village that lights up every December weekend.
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Nicknamed Christmas City, USA, the town runs its own Christkindlmarkt.
- Frankenmuth, Michigan: Home to Bronner’s, which calls itself the world’s largest Christmas store.
- McAdenville, North Carolina: Known as Christmas Town USA for its lit-up neighborhood streets.
- North Pole, Alaska: A town near Fairbanks where candy-cane streetlights glow all year.
Leavenworth restricts street parking on December weekends, so plan to stay overnight in town.
Best Christmas markets in the USA
The best Christmas markets in the USA copy the German tradition of wooden stalls selling ornaments with mulled wine. Three markets lead the list thanks to their long history.
- Christkindlmarket Chicago: Daley Plaza, November 20 to December 24, 2026, with free entry.
- Christmas Village, Philadelphia: LOVE Park, November 26 to December 27, 2026, with more than 120 vendors.
- Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem: Covered halls at SteelStacks keep shoppers warm on cold days.
Christmas markets in USA cities stay free to enter, though food prices run high. Bring cash for smaller vendors, since card readers sometimes fail in cold weather.
Christmas festivals worth planning a trip around
Christmas festivals give a trip a fixed date to build around. Louisiana’s Festival of the Bonfires in Lutcher fills a December weekend with live music next to Cajun food stalls.
Leavenworth’s Village of Lights draws visitors every December weekend. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas works as a full-day festival in its own right.
Check each festival’s official site before booking hotels, since weekend dates shift each year slightly.
Christmas train rides
Christmas train rides turn the journey itself into the main event. Heritage railroads across the country run decorated holiday trains, usually on weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
Most rides last about an hour, with hot chocolate served on board. Tickets go on sale in summer, so families planning a December trip should book by early fall.
Polar Express train rides
Polar Express train rides recreate the children’s book under an official license, so every location follows a similar script. The Galveston Railroad Museum runs its 2026 version from November 13 to December 23.
Guests board after a short play in the 1932 Union Station depot. Chefs serve hot chocolate while passengers follow the story in the book. Every guest takes home a keepsake sleigh bell at the end.
Galveston tickets range from $40 to $135, depending on the car and departure time. Wear pajamas, since most children on board will be dressed for bed.
Christmas activities for kids
Christmas activities for kids work best when they mix a big outing with simple traditions. Plan one headline event per day, leaving time for rest between activities.
- Meet Santa: Most big light displays include a Santa photo stop near the exit.
- Ride a holiday train: Polar Express rides suit children roughly between ages 3 and 10.
- Skate outdoors: Outdoor rinks in New York City rent skates on site.
- Decorate cookies: Many family hotels run free cookie-decorating stations during December.
Christmas trips for families
Christmas trips for families go smoothly when travel days stay short. Pick a destination within one day of ground travel, then stay at least three nights.
Nashville suits families with young children because Opryland keeps every attraction under one roof. Gatlinburg works better for older kids who enjoy mountain hikes.
Christmas vacation destinations: where to go for Christmas vacation
Choosing where to go for Christmas vacation starts with the weather you want. Christmas vacation destinations split into three clear groups, depending on your idea of a perfect holiday.
- Snow with cozy cabins: Gatlinburg in Tennessee offers fireplace cabins near the Smoky Mountains.
- Sun with holiday lights: St. Augustine in Florida pairs mild weather with its Nights of Lights.
- Big-city sparkle: New York City delivers the classic tree, with Boston a short bus ride away.
Book hotels by early November for December 20-26, when rates peak in every popular city.
Christmas getaways: easy Christmas weekend getaways
Christmas weekend getaways fit busy schedules, since most require only one night away. The best Christmas getaways sit within four hours of a major city.
- From New York: Boston works well for the Common tree with a Faneuil Hall stroll.
- From Houston: Galveston suits families who want to ride the Polar Express train.
- From Austin: San Antonio rewards an overnight stay with its glowing River Walk.
- From Los Angeles: Las Vegas tempts adults with the free Bellagio holiday display.
Affordable Christmas vacations
Affordable Christmas vacations start with smart travel dates on the calendar. Prices drop noticeably during the first two weeks of December, when most displays are already lit.
Free attractions keep costs low in almost every city on this list, since markets with tree lightings cost nothing to enjoy.
Ground travel saves the most money on any holiday trip. A bus ticket booked a few weeks ahead usually costs far less than a holiday flight, especially for families. Choosing the right travel dates helps too, see the best days to travel in the US for the holidays on a budget.
National parks to visit in December
National parks to visit in December sit mostly in the desert Southwest, where winter brings comfortable hiking weather. Summer heat makes these parks punishing, while December days feel ideal for walking. For park ideas beyond the desert, see the most Instagrammed national parks in the US.
The National Park Service lists average December highs of 65°F at Furnace Creek in Death Valley. Big Bend in Texas runs slightly warmer at lower elevations, with highs near 74°F at Rio Grande Village, according to park data.
Pack layers for both parks, since desert nights drop close to freezing. Joshua Tree National Park near Palm Springs also makes a good December choice.
Christmas celebration traditions across the US
Traditions across the US reflect the country’s mix of cultures. Louisiana lights levee bonfires, while Pennsylvania towns keep German market customs alive.
Texas cities blend American holiday traditions with Mexican customs. San Antonio hosts Las Posadas processions along the River Walk, reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter.
Food varies by region too, with many Texas families making tamales together on Christmas Eve.
Christmas in Mexico by bus
Many travelers extend a Southwest trip with a Christmas celebration south of the border. Mexican cities hold posadas each night from December 16 to 24, with candlelit processions ending in a piñata.
Guadalajara makes a strong choice for a first visit, since its historic center fills with nativity scenes during December. Buses from Los Angeles to Guadalajara run through the holiday season.
Carry a valid passport, since border agents check documents in both directions.
How to travel by bus at Christmas
Holiday bus travel works smoothly with a little planning, so follow these steps for an easier December trip. Our 2026 holiday travel report on bus travel costs for Thanksgiving and Christmas shows why December fares climb and why early booking matters.
- Book at least three weeks ahead for any departure between December 18 and 24.
- Choose a morning departure, since afternoon buses fill first.
- Pack snacks for longer routes, since rest stops may close early on holidays.
- Arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure.
- Save your e-ticket on your phone in case the station has weak signal.
Conclusion
The best places to visit during Christmas suit every budget, since many markets and tree lightings cost nothing at all. New York delivers the classic tree, while St. Augustine offers holiday lights without the cold.
Lock in your dates first, since the week before Christmas fills fastest. Then compare bus routes to cut the biggest travel cost of the season.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best places to visit during Christmas on a budget?
San Antonio offers free River Walk lights, while Chicago hosts a free German-style market. Pair one of them with a bus ticket instead of a flight to keep costs low.
When is the 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting?
The 2026 ceremony takes place on Wednesday, December 2, at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. The tree stays on display through the holiday season after the lighting.
Where is the best place to spend Christmas with warm weather?
St. Augustine, Florida, usually sees December highs in the upper 60s during its Nights of Lights display. San Antonio offers similar mild weather with its River Walk decorations.
How early should I book Christmas travel?
Book hotels by early November for the week before Christmas. Bus tickets for December 18 to 24 should be booked at least three weeks ahead.
Are Polar Express train rides worth it?
Polar Express rides suit families with children between about 3 and 10 years old. Tickets sell out quickly, so buy them as soon as sales open in summer.
