Top 20 New Year's Eve Destinations in the USA

1: New York City, New York

Being in New York City on New Year's Eve is an unmatched experience.

But what is it about NYC on NYE that is so unparalleled? Well, aside from the ball dropping in Times Square, which marks the new year with massive crowds of hopefuls as well as celebrity-filled performances, the entire city enters a celebration mode.

In other words, the energy that just about anything can happen is palpable in the city all night long.

So, whether you’re joining the crowds in Times Square and making new friends while at it; popping from party to party (as the whole city seems like one massive party); dining at a world-renowned restaurant; or hitting up one of NYC’s unbelievable New Year’s Eve concerts, you will find no shortage of possibilities in the city that never sleeps.

Thus, NYC tops our list of best New Year's Eve destinations in the USA, and you'll simply have to see it to believe it.

2: Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida

Now, not everyone reading this list is a 20-something partyer looking for the ideal destination for that New Year's Eve soirée.

Walt Disney World fits the bill if you are searching for a kid-friendly New Year celebration in the USA.

Magic comes to life at Orlando's Walt Disney World on New Year's Eve.

Fireworks light up the sky behind the famous castle, performances by your kids' (and your) favorite characters will provide endless entertainment, and the range of activities presented exclusively on New Year's Eve will have your kids charmed for a lifetime.

Not to mention, because school is out for New Year in America and thus, there are lots of people at the park, it gives your kids and you a chance to meet new friends and enjoy the company of others while on vacation.

3: Los Angeles, California

This list of the very best New Year's Eve destinations in the USA would be amiss without mention of the City of Angels.

Firstly, everyone knows that Los Angeles is home to some lavish people who throw lavish parties.

Indeed, if you are looking for one of the best New Year parties in USA, you will likely find it in Los Angeles.

The events feature incredible music, epic food, and drink and are usually situated in some high-caliber venues. For example, the many rooftop clubs, restaurants, and bars around the city open up for New Year’s Eve special events with gorgeous views of the city’s lights.

Ever considered spending New Year’s Eve on a rooftop surrounded by the country’s most stylish and chic? If so, Los Angeles is the place to be.

Check out Harriet’s Rooftop NYE Party at the 1 Hotel West Hollywood if this sounds like your perfect New Year’s Eve celebration.

4: Las Vegas, Nevada

Any list of the best places in the US for an epic New Year celebration (or a celebration of any kind) will likely include Las Vegas, Nevada.

Las Vegas is chock-full of things to do on New Year's Eve; however, this suggestion comes with a disclaimer: Las Vegas on New Year's is crazy.

Firstly, any hotel in the city will have New Year’s events which often include performances, dining experiences, and activities.

If you are in the market for performance, check out the resident artists that year, as their New Year's Eve performance will likely be one-of-a-kind.

But remember to book early because these shows will fill up quickly. To mention just one: Cirque du Soleil on New Year's is magical.

Now, if you'd rather have an exciting dining experience, you could go to one of the city's dining in the dark restaurants, where you undergo the epic sensual experience of eating in the darkness.

Essentially, any event you are looking for on New Year’s will likely be happening in Las Vegas.

5: Atlanta, Georgia

If nothing rings in the new year to you like football, then Atlanta, Georgia, is your place to be.

The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is a huge college football event featuring some of the country's best, like Florida State, LSU, and Georgia.

This New Year's Eve sporting event first began in 1968 and has been a staple in the city ever since.

Again, if you're hoping to attend the Peach Bowl, you'll have to be sure to secure your tickets well in advance of New Year's Eve, as this is an annual event that most people wait all year for!

If football isn't your cup of tea, Atlanta still has incredible parties, events, concerts, and dining on New Year's, so the city is a guaranteed great time regardless of your affection for sports.

There's always a party nearby in the Peach State as everyone waits for the 800-pound peace to drop. Nibble on hors d'ouevres with the Atlanta symphony or dance the night away at famous nightclubs like the Cosmopolitan Lounge.

6: Miami, Florida

Still not satisfied with the above best places for New Year in the USA; well, Miami never misses.

Miami is renowned for many things, including its art shows, glamorous venues, and turquoise views.

And these many things draw some of the coolest crowds in the country on New Year's Eve. In 2022, for example, Doja Cat and Alesso took the stage at Fontainebleau Miami Beach to give a dreamy performance.

While the W Hotel held one of the most fabulous New Year's Eve parties in the country, complete with an open bar, local DHs, and 360-degree views of Miami's skyline.

And if you're into fireworks, the city is ablaze with them all night long.

7: New Orleans, Louisiana

New Year night in the USA lasts all night long in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Begin with the Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year's Eve Parade, which will walk the excited crowds through the city's stunning French Quarter.

Next, why not celebrate on a steamboat? The Steamboat Natchez New Year's Eve Extravaganza will take you back in time to one of the best parties you've ever been to, filled with lights, music, and elaborate costumes.

Now, if you’re a Bourbon drinker, New Orleans will knock your socks off.

The New Year’s Eve Bourbon Street Balcony Party will take you to the city’s best Bourbon spots.

With some of the city’s very best music, food, and fun, New Orleans will provide a night to remember – to say the least!

8: San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio, Texas, is an excellent spot to take your family for a fun-filled New Year's Eve in the USA.

San Antonio has ample activities designed to make New Year's Eve unforgettable for families.

One of these family activities is the Dave & Buster's Family New Year's Eve celebration, for which a ticket gets the whole family bottomless soft drinks, a buffet, and endless games in their arcade.

Plus, if you and your partner are looking for some time off from entertaining your kids, the arcade will have them entertained for hours while you two can enjoy a moment of relaxation.

If Dave & Buster's isn't your idea of a good time, then be sure to check out the Whataburger Zoo lights at the San Antonio Zoo, which will take your family through a beautiful, immersive light display.

9: Denver, Colorado

If you’re a Northerner and the best places to go for New Year in the USA need to include snow, Denver could be the right place for you.

If the answer to the question, "where to celebrate New Year in the USA?" must involve snow for you, then look no further than Denver.

Colorado is home to picturesque mountains, charming towns, and endless indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family.

Start your weekend by visiting some of the world-class art exhibitions around town, take advantage of the New Year’s Eve resort packages and make sure you make it to the firework show in the evening.

If your family is outdoorsy, then be sure to hike in the nearby forests and mountains.

If your family prefers the comfort of a pool-side margarita, check in to one of the fantastic resorts that can be found in and around town.

In short, Denver offers it all.

10: Boston, Massachusetts

If you are looking to party, then Boston is your ticket.

Parties are ubiquitous across the lively city on New Year's Eve.

In part due to the many students living in the city and the colder weather, because of which indoor events are preferable, Boston has some top-of-the-line celebrations to offer.

Begin the evening with the Boston 80's themed New Year's Eve prom.

You can relive the glory days dressed in your best 80's outfit and dance to your favorite tunes under a disco ball and (of course) seemingly endless confetti.

If the '80s weren't your ideal decade, then be sure to hit up the Resolution Ball, where you can partake in a full-course Tuscan dinner and soak up all the champagne you've ever dreamed of with some of Boston's finest.

Alternatively, check out the city’s parades, fiestas, and fireworks.

11: San Francisco, California

If your idea of the best new year celebrations in the USA includes waterfront views, the charms of a stylish city, and the excitement of world-class entertainment, then San Francisco, California, has you covered.

One offering that really distinguishes San Francisco from the other cities on this list is the New Year's Eve cruises.

Various hotels and venues set up gorgeous bay cruises that provide a glorious destination for any New Year's Eve enthusiast.

Ring in the new year with delicious food, fabulous entertainment, and of course, views of the San Francisco coastline (not to mention the postcard-worthy Golden Gate Bridge).

12: Honolulu, Hawaii

Looking to make a vacation out of your New Year’s Eve celebrations? Honolulu attracts tourists from around the world because of its stunning terrain, ocean views, and tropical weather.

Sea, surf, and sand are all included in this top New Year destination.

Check into a gorgeous hotel or rent a seaside Airbnb, and you'll find yourself in a little slice of heaven.

Most hotels in Honolulu offer special dinners for New Year's Eve, complete with fireworks shows and traditional music and dance.

Other spots throw grandiose beach parties with bonfires and night swimming.

The best part is that you can wake up on January 1st and dive into a beautifully refreshing ocean to kick off your new year.

Nothing beats a hangover like a day in the sea.

13: Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee, is a fantastic city any time of year; however, New Year's Eve in this country music hub simply outdoes itself.

We highly recommend Nashville if you are a music lover.

From the concerts that take place in the city's iconic venues to the more intimate shows in any dive bar in town, you'll hear voices and musical talent that will blow you away as the city attracts the very best.

If you're there for the day, then be sure to check out Nashville's music hall of fame and famous studios.

14: Chicago, Illinois

As a world-class city for culture, food, and art, Chicago is an excellent destination for anyone looking for a memorable New Year’s Eve.

Chicago, Illinois, boasts some of the most luxurious hotels and fine dining experiences in America.

At any of these fabulous hotels and restaurants, you will find spectacular events and menus explicitly designed to help you welcome the new year.

Get started in one of Chicago's mixology-inspired cocktail bars, then move along to one of the endless parties offered around the city with all the DJs and balloon drops you could ever want.

Plus, the Chicago public transport system offers free travel all night long on New Year's Eve, so you can stay out all night and skip the hefty cab fare when you're ready to hit the hay.

If you're looking for something more low-key, check out the light show in Lincoln Park's Zoo!

15: Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Another one of the best places in the USA for New Year celebrations is Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Sure, you may hear Cape Cod and imagine a summer-exclusive destination; however, New Year in Cape Cod is a profoundly underrated experience.

Firstly, the fireworks show in Cape Cod is incredible.

Picture the sky being lit with gold and silver over a picture-perfect harbor as the clock strikes midnight.

The best part about a Cape Cod New Year is the various things to do at either end of the New Year's Eve celebrations.

Hiking, whale watching and glorious seafood meals are just a few unique experiences you will find in Cape Cod on December 31st.

16: Phoenix, Arizona

New Year's Eve in the USA is a pretty big deal, especially in Phoenix, Arizona.

The events planned in Phoenix for December 31st will surely blow any local or traveler away.

Check out the Gatsby's House New Year's Eve party if you're ready to dance from dusk to dawn.

This Great Gatsby-themed event takes place inside the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel and takes its cue from the energy of the roaring twenties: extravagance and dancing.

Be sure to dress up and prepare yourself for a night to remember.

If glitz and glam aren't your things, then you can mosey on to the Annual Flannel Ball.

Which (as it sounds) has a strict dress code: your favorite flannel shirt.

17: Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas, is a fantastic city for several reasons, including its epic restaurants and fresh take on the southern style.

These many attributes make New Year's Eve in Austin a unique experience.

Various hotels offer deals for the days around New Year's Eve, which makes staying at a luxurious spot somewhat more attainable.

While themed events and set menus are offered all across the city.

If you're in Austin for the New Year, wander into one of the city's renowned speakeasy bars for a truly exhilarating experience – as any locals for suggestions for these!

18: Aspen, Colorado

Finding your ideal New Year’s Eve in the USA can be tricky if that ideal must include snow, skiing, and of course, the Après Ski cocktails.

Well, luckily, that idea comes to life in Aspen, Colorado.

With some of the finest mountains for skiing in the country, this spot simply had to make our list of best places for the new year in the USA.

Aspen draws people from around the globe because of its fantastic mountains, unparalleled views, and overall ski town energy.

Aspen is a glorious spot to be on New Year's, from fireworks shows to mountain-side concerts.

19: Atlantic City, New Jersey

You may not have naturally considered Atlantic City, New Jersey, one of the best places to spend New Year in the USA, but if you are looking for a nightclub experience, then Atlantic City could be your ideal destination.

Atlantic City is home to many nightclubs filled to the brim on New Year's Eve because of its many concerts, themed events, and drink packages.

Atlantic City may be your ticket if you are ready to dance the night away.

20: Washington, D.C.

Our final destination on this list of best places to go for New Year in the USA is Washington, D.C.

There are many great ways to celebrate the new year in our nation's capital.

If you're looking for patriotic excitement, try one of Washington's pub crawls, which will take you through some of the city's most historic spots for a night to remember.

Join the crowds at the National Mall for a spectacular fireworks display at midnight or get a group together and go bar hopping around Dupont Circle or Adams Morgan.

Whatever you do, make sure you have a great time and ring in the new year with style!