The Southeast U.S. is home to nine national parks, incredible beaches, world-class vineyards and distilleries, and some of the most beautiful cities in the country.

Top Vacation Homes in the Southeast U.S.

So from outdoor adventures and epic road trips to dreamy coastal towns and mountain retreats, I’ve got the perfect destination for you.

Here are the best getaways in the Southeast United States!

Charleston is an iconic destination because of its eighteenth-century buildings, food scene, and free beaches. Must-do activities when you’re here are a walking tour of the historical city center (that includes the French Quarter, Rainbow Row, Broad Street, Waterfront Park, and King Street), walking along The Battery, seeing the Angel Oak Tree, and touring Fort Sumter National Monument.

Charleston is one of the Best destinations to visit in April because the flowers will be blooming, temperatures will be pleasant in the 70s, the humidity will still be low, and prices and tourist numbers will be less than in the summer.

Fall is also a great time to visit Charleston because Restaurant Week is in September, and the Taste of Charleston festival is in October.

Miami or The Florida Keys

Miami and The Florida Keys are two of the best winter destinations in the U.S. to escape the cold. If you want a high-energy, cosmopolitan getaway, then Miami – with its nightlife, famous beaches, and party scene – is for you.

The best things to do in Miami are to stay at The Confidante, take a day trip to Everglades National Park, kayak with manatees at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, have a Cuban sandwich from Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop, and “live it up” on South Beach.

If you want a more relaxing and laid-back getaway, then head to one of The Florida Keys. Spend a day exploring Dry Tortugas National Park, drive the Overseas Highway, lounge on a quiet beach, and snorkel in the crystal-clear water.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the United States. This is a year-round destination, but The Smokies is one of the best destinations to visit in October because of the Fall foliage.

My favorite hikes are Spruce Flats Falls (easy-moderate), Walker Sisters’ Cabin (easy), Spence Field (strenuous, but the views are worth it, and Rocky Top is only one mile further), and Andrews Bald (moderate).

The best scenic drives in the park are Newfound Gap Road, The Road To Nowhere, The Foothills Parkway, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and Cades Cove Loop.

My favorite accommodation in The Smokies is glamping with Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have a hotel for every budget and preference, and I’ve got the coolest vacation homes near the Great Smoky Mountains for you.

New Orleans

New Orleans is one of the best destinations to visit in February because of Mardis Gras. Yes, Mardis Gras is crazy here, but it’s something everyone should do at least once in their life.

For your accommodation, I recommend one of these dreamy vacation homes or one of these incredible hotels.

My top activity suggestions for your New Orleans trip are a Honey Island Swamp Tour, a food and drink tour, exploring the French Quarter, visiting the St. Louis Cathedral, a steamboat river cruise, and partying on Frenchman Street.

Georgia’s Golden Isles

St. Simons is the heart and soul of Georgia’s Golden Isles. This quaint, picturesque island is perfect for a girls’, mother-daughter, or romantic trip. The other Golden Isles are Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island.

These barrier islands are home to fantastic beaches, historic sites, nature preserves, incredible resorts, and mouth-watering restaurants.

My favorite thing to do on St. Simons is rent bikes for a self-guided tour of Ocean Boulevard, Saint Simons Pier, the World War II Homefront Museum, Neptune Park, and the St. Simons Lighthouse.

Other activities to do are a tour and tasting at Richland Rum, take a cruise on the Emerald Princess Casino, hike at Cannon’s Point Reserve, lounge on one of the white sandy beaches, and visit the Fort Frederica National Monument.

Destin

If you want a quintessential beach getaway, then head to Destin, one of the most popular beach towns on Florida’s Panhandle and one of the best summer destinations in the U.S. The beaches here along the Gulf of Mexico are stunning, and the coastal waterways are perfect for boating.

The best hotels and vacation homes in Destin

Plus, there’s so much more than just beaches to enjoy here. You’ll be close to incredible golf courses, the Destin Harbor Boardwalk, amazing restaurants, and nature trails at Henderson Beach State Park.

Many people drive through Chattanooga, Tennessee (my hometown!) without stopping to explore this vibrant, beautiful, and bustling city. Chattanooga is home to Rock City, an incredible craft beer scene, and one of the largest freshwater aquariums in the world.

This is one of the top Spring destinations in the U.S. because of the warm weather, low humidity, and abundance of outdoor activities.

You can easily explore Chattanooga in a weekend, or you can stay longer if you want to double down on the hiking, rafting, and wineries near the city.

My favorite restaurants are Taco Mamacita, Bella Lisboa, Urban Stack, Mellow Mushroom, and Clumpies Ice Cream. I highly recommend staying in a hotel or vacation home downtown to be able to walk or take the free shuttle to places.

Savannah

Savannah is known for its Spanish moss-covered trees, stunning parks, horse-drawn carriages, cobblestone squares, and riverboat cruises. it’s also one of the best budget cities in the U.S.

Know Before You Go: Savannah is a very walkable city, but many of the roads, sidewalks, and squares are uneven or cobblestone, so wear comfortable shoes.

This is the best self-guided walking tour route to explore the historic city center: start by walking the length of River Street. Then make your way to the City Market and Ellis Square. Next, head south down Bull Street and then hang a left to visit Chippewa Square (the filming site of the park bench in the movie Forest Gump) and the Cathedral of St. John (make sure you go inside!). Then keep heading south to Forsyth Park.

Asheville

Asheville is one of the best U.S. cities for solo female travelers. You’ll love this trendy, artistic city that’s turned almost every empty warehouse, church, and historic building into an art gallery or restaurant.

When you’re here, you’ll want to visit The Biltmore and do a wine tasting on the property. Other can’t-miss activities are hike to Looking Glass Falls, paddle on the French Broad River, explore Downtown Asheville, hike to Craggy Gardens, and do a self-guided craft brewery tour.

My top restaurant recommendations are White Duck Tacos, Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria, Old Europe, Biscuit Head, Chiesa, and the Sunset Terrace at the Omni Grove Park Inn.

Highlands

Highlands is a quaint, picturesque mountain town in North Carolina that you’ve probably never heard of. Somehow, this stunning, foodie-destination has remained under the radar even though it’s just a short drive from Asheville and the Great Smoky Mountains.

This town has hiking, waterfalls, golf, a spa, and shopping, so there’s no shortage of things to do here. And because of the foliage change, Highlands is one of the best fall destinations in the U.S.

Must-do activities when you’re here are hike to Glen Falls, drive the Cullasaja River Gorge along the Waterfall Byway, do a wine tasting at the Highlands Wine Shoppe, have a spa day at Old Edwards Inn, walk up and down Main Street, hike Whiteside Mountain (moderate), and make the short drive to Whitewater Falls and see the cascade from the Upper and Lower Overlooks.

My favorite restaurants in Highlands are Madisons at Old Edwards Inn, Wolfgangs, Blue Bike Cafe, Four65 Woodfire Bistro and Bar, and SweeTreats Craft Ice Cream.

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This article about the best getaways in the Southeast United States is not a sponsored post, and the thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Some of the links in this post about the best getaways in the Southeast United States are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.