With blockbuster anniversaries and international events, 2026 is set to be a remarkable year for travel to the US. Distributed with the April issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK), the 100-page annual USA guide marks the occasion by rounding up some of the greatest American journeys.  

The cover story celebrates the centennial of Route 66 with tales of roadside revival. Events officially start in April, but locals along the Mother Road have been preparing well in advance, revitalising neighbourhoods, sprucing up vintage motels and modernising motor traditions for a new generation of drivers.  

Elsewhere, we look at some of the best trips that tie in with America’s 250th birthday, as well as FIFA World Cup host cities worth exploring beyond the games. You’ll also find a list of urban tours taking in the year’s most exciting openings.  

Angela Locatelli, editor of the USA guide, said: “There’s much to look forward to this year — but it’s not all about the big headlines. The USA guide spotlights the diverse communities that make our trips so memorable, from the stewards cleaning up Oregon’s riverways to the bar owners shaping the Bay Area’s natural wine scene. Often, the encounters you don’t expect create the memories that live the longest.” 

Also inside:   

• California in focus Shots from the Sunshine State 
• Drink trends The rise of American craft sake breweries 
• Florida relief The hurricane-hit Gulf Coast sees visitors return 
• Tennessee An active trip to the Appalachian Mountains  
• Montana Elaborate regalia at Indigenous powwows 
• Meet the trailblazer Las Vegas’s ‘Lady Elvis’ officiant  
• Alternative New York Five offbeat experiences   
• How to Get to grips with the new tipping etiquette 
• The lowdown The future of the country’s high-speed rail  
• Worth the detour Our contributors share local finds 

For a 26-page digital sample of the USA guide, visit:  magazine.natgeotraveller.co.uk/usa26

National Geographic Traveller (UK) has a cover price of £6.25, is available via subscription and on newsstands, and is published 10 times a year. Find out more at nationalgeographic.com/travel  

Current subscription offer: Get 10 issues for £35  
checkout.natgeotraveller.co.uk/offers  

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National Geographic Traveller (UK) digital edition is available for Apple, Android and Kindle: ngtr.uk/NGTdigital  

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Notes  

National Geographic Traveller (UK) is published under licence by APL Media Limited, from National Geographic Partners LLC in Washington, DC. The travel and lifestyle magazine launched in December 2010 and is packed full of you-are-there photography, authentic travel experiences and inspiring narratives. nationalgeographic.com/travel  

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Pat Riddell, editor  
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