There are endless ways you can travel America – you could plan under your own steam, or go for an all-inclusive. However, there are seldom few approaches to heading to the Land of the Free which allow you a combination of flexibility, local culture, untapped adventure, and the ability to make friends for life. Enter: backpacking tours.

On a Coyote Trip across America, you get the chance to see places you’d never think of yourself, or take part in once-in-a-lifetime activities that are perfect for groups. If you still need convincing that it’s the way forward, we’ve compiled a list of reasons why you should take a backpacking tour of the USA. 

Immersive Cultural Experiences 

America is a melting pot of cultures, meaning that somewhere as specific as one city can be home to endless cuisines, traditions, languages, and ethnicities. A backpacking tour places you in the very heart of it all in a way that your standard trip might not, meaning you’re able to immerse yourself in the rich communities. From the vibrant neighbourhoods of New York to the fascinating mix of histories in New Orleans, a tour offers you the chance to engage with locals, learning about an area’s heritage from the people within it.  

Backpacking enables you to gain a deeper appreciation for these cultures simply by allowing you to live amongst them. You can try traditional Creole cooking in the Deep South, or try the cheesesteak that’s almost as famous as Philadelphia itself. Your Adventure Leader can take you to the best local joints, for dishes favoured by the communities. You can take part in dance classes run by locals, see important local historical sites, or hit the same nightlife as the people down the street do. A backpacking tour of the USA provides you with a chance for truthful engagement into the areas you’ll visit in a way that your hotel trip might not.

Natural Wonder 

Nothing allows you to get up-close-and-personal with the natural world like a backpacking tour. A Coyote Trip staple is a pair of walking shoes, because we know the value that exploring places on foot holds. Indeed, America has some of the most amazing scenic wonders on the planet, and a group tour puts you in the prime position to see them all.  

Hiking is a must-do whilst in the USA, and there’s no finer place to do it than Yosemite National Park. You and your group can take to the slopes and the forests to explore one of the most beautiful places on earth – guided and supported the whole way by your Adventure Leader. A group tour means you can hike as a team, supporting one another and sharing your awe when you reach a viewpoint or hit a milestone. You can explore the Grand Canyon or the stunning coastline of the East Coast. You can spot wildlife in national parks, and grab photos that National Geographic could only dream of. Backpacking America offers you the perfect opportunity to see as much of the beauty that the country has to offer as possible.  

Flexibility & Freedom 

From a logistical standpoint, a backpacking tour of the USA also offers you unparalleled access thanks to the sheer flexibility of the tour. Not content with staying in one place, a group tour means you’ll be travelling the width and breadth of the country – meaning there’s no limitations on what you can see. The itinerary of a Coyote Trip will also often mix busy days of sightseeing with free time, meaning that you’ve got the freedom to explore your must-sees at your own leisure. Everyone’s bucket list is different, so it’s this combination that truly allows you to make the most of your time in America.  

Importantly, a backpacking tour of the USA also offers you the financial freedom to see more. It’s no secret that many of the biggest cities in America aren’t exactly cheap, but backpacking offers a budget-friendly alternative that allows you to see and do more – without sacrificing on quality. Backpacking America means you can get to grips with local transportation to avoid costly travel fares, invest in local, quality accommodations that are easier on your wallet, and immerse yourself in cultural activities that you might ordinarily pay a premium for elsewhere. Backpacking injects the adventure back into travel – but a group tour offers you the structure and security that guarantees you an unmissable experience.  

Know Thyself (& Others too!)

Perhaps the most important thing on a backpacking tour is the people. Yes, you’ll be exploring an entirely new country – but you’ll be doing it with likeminded travellers, people just like you. Our Coyotes often make friends for life on their trips, and it’s this community-minded focus on travel that we think sets a tour apart from any other way of exploring the country. You can meet people from different backgrounds – different countries, even – who are all united by a passion to explore authentically. It’s these connections that help expand worldviews and, in some cases, change lives forever.  

Backpacking also offers you the chance to grow as individual in a way that a standard trip might not. You’ll be amongst local communities, keeping up with an exciting itinerary, and planning the best ways to spend your own free time. So many travellers finish a backpacking tour with more self-confidence, a reignited passion for travel, and a whole load of independence. If you’re a first-time traveller, a backpacking tour of the USA can also be a great way to break yourself into the world of travelling without the fears of language barriers or unfamiliar territories to unsettle you. Backpacking truly is the most fulfilling way to see the world, and a backpacking tour of the USA can be the perfect way to introduce you to it.  

If you’re interested in amazing cultural experiences, stunning views, and leaving your trip the best version of yourself, a backpacking tour of the USA is the one for you. It’s a vast country that’s waiting to be explored – so be sure to do it the right way.  

You can find our full list of America tours here. We also offer unforgettable backpacking tours of Canada, which can be found here.