Southern USA

USA

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2026

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.


Shop Book
Exterior of 19th century plantation house at Oak Alley Plantation.

Overview

The South falls from the granite, forested fists of Kentucky and Tennessee into craggy hill country and thick woods. This rugged landscape slowly changes as the waters of its rivers – including North America's greatest, the Mississippi – saturate the land into boggy, black-water blankets and sun-seared marsh, all thinning into the salty membrane of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

Lonely planet’s trusted travel insurance provider

Dreaming of Southern USA? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

LEARN MORE

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Take your United States (USA) trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

Time to book that trip to The USA

Lonely Planet Journeys takes you there with fully customizable trips to top destinations – all crafted by our local experts.

Must-see attractions

Southern USA and beyond