Ranking the Best Views in the United States

Traveling provides us with a special opportunity to see the world but some locations are better than others when it comes to gaining a new perspective. Leading digital financial services provider for immigrants and their families, Remitly recently scoured over countless TripAdvisor reviews for every state in the U.S. to determine which viewpoints are the most lauded by travelers based on the number of mentions of the word "view" that wasn't used negatively or for another context. The top 10 ranges from New York to Los Angeles and while it's loaded with some of the country's most iconic viewpoints there are a few surprises. The list features observation decks, bridges, tramways, monuments, memorials and more and should easily inspire your next trip.

With an impressive 3,652 mentions of "view" on TripAdvisor, San Diego's Cabrillo National Monument rounds out the top 10 best viewpoints in the U.S. The glorious vista commemorates the place where Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo became the first European to set foot on the West Coast of the U.S. back in 1542.

Albuquerque, New Mexico is where travelers will find the longest aerial tram in the Americas. The Sandia Peak Tramway has inspired more than 5,140 mentions of "view" on TripAdvisor as of May 2022 and that number is likely to grow as more and more visitors experience the mesmerizing climb through the Sandia Mountains and the 11,000 square-mile panoramic view that awaits.

Overlooking Coconino National Forest in Sedona, Arizona, the Chapel of the Holy Cross wows visitors with sensational views of the region's famous red rock formations. Completed in 1956, the chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places just over a decade ago.

The Lincoln Memorial provides travelers with arguably the best view in the nation's capital. "I have always seen photos but to see the memorial in person is amazing," wrote TripAdvisor user Joline A. "You can capture an amazing view from the top of this memorial of the Washington Monument and reflection pool."

For the best view in the Midwest, travelers can head to Chicago, specifically Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower. Located all the way up on the 103rd floor of the former Sears Tower, this one-of-a-kind observation area boasts views extending to as many as four states. Visitors can enhance their experience by stepping into the Ledge's glass boxes, which sit 1,353 feet in the air and extend out 4.3 feet from the Skydeck.

The West Coast is well-represented in the top five, which rounds out with the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. Southern California's gateway to the cosmos has racked up more than 10,150 mentions of "view" on TripAdvisor and it's no wonder as visitors are able to soak in epic views of Downtown L.A., Hollywood and even the Pacific Ocean.

Seattle's Space Needle is one of the world's most unique landmarks and its views are also singular. The Observation Deck here has inspired nearly 12,750 mentions of "view" within countless TripAdvisor reviews. Features such as the world's first and only revolving glass floor certainly make it easy to fall in love with this lookout spot.

San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge attracts millions of visitors each year who flock to experience its overwhelming mass and beauty up close. Declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the bridge is also the most photographed bridge in the world.

The best view in Sin City can be found at the High Roller, where guests can enjoy sweeping 360-degree views over the Las Vegas Strip and surrounding desert from a whopping 550 feet above the ground. The attraction is clearly a hit with travelers, who have mentioned the views in their TripAdvisor reviews approximately 15,535 times.

The battle for the best view in the U.S. isn't even close. Mentioned by reviewers over 42,500 times, the Rockefeller Center's "Top of the Rock" is undoubtedly the best viewpoint in the country, according to the masses. The popular spot offers visitors panoramic views of the unmistakable New York City skyline, including the Empire State Building, Central Park and the Statue of Liberty.