9 places to travel without a passport

No passport? No big deal. The U.S. has plenty of incredible and diverse destinations to visit. 

This selection highlights a few special places that shouldn’t be missed. And though you don’t need a passport to see them, some might even give you the feeling you’re not in America anymore.

What you’ll learn:

• There are many destinations within the U.S. where you can experience something new or different.

• You could island-hop across the Florida Keys, listen to jazz in New Orleans, or get lost in the myths and legends of Hawaii.

• You’ll still need an acceptable form of ID to fly even if you don’t need a passport.

• You can consider whether travel insurance or a travel rewards credit card might be useful for your trip.

Find your perfect vacation among these nine U.S. cities, states and territories, no passport needed.

Looking to commune with the magnitude of Mother Nature? Add Alaska to the bucket list. In the United States’ largest state, with the highest mountains and the most glaciers, everything feels larger than life. Take a cruise or a train, a bus or a boat and enjoy Alaska’s almost-7,000 miles of coastline, 3,000 rivers and 3 million lakes. The best part? Alaska has the longest summer days to get it all done.

It’s island hopping, but on dry land—and in your own vehicle. The 110-mile Overseas Highway from Key West to Key Largo connects the 44 islands of the Florida Keys, each with its own distinct vibe. Take an ocean-view road trip through them all, or find a reason to stay somewhere awhile. You might choose swimming with dolphins in Grassy Key, sunbathing on Sombrero Beach or sport fishing in Islamorada.

If you like a bit of history with your holiday, you might be challenged to find a U.S. destination with more stories per square mile than Guam. This 30-mile-long island has been populated for more than 4,000 years. You can walk among ancient structural foundations called latte stones, explore the ruins of Spanish forts or dive among the shipwrecks of two world wars.

There are lots of destinations in this list that could make you feel like you’re in another country. But Hawaii might just make you feel like you’re in another world. There are craters and canyons, waterfalls and volcanoes, snow-capped mountains and beaches of green sand. It’s no wonder Hawaii’s geology and climate have inspired so many myths and legends. How else could it feel so magical?

Miami is a popular spring break destination, a living art deco exhibition and a people-watching paradise. But it’s the Cuban and Latin influences that might make you feel you’ve traveled farther than you have. Little Havana is at the heart of that, with its art galleries, cigar shops, salsa music and walk-up windows selling pastries and coffee. Don’t miss the locals’ surprisingly competitive dominoes games in the park.

Many consider its Mardi Gras to be the best in the world. But Carnival’s not the only reason to visit New Orleans. The sounds of jazz and the aromas of Creole food fill the air year-round. There’s always a festival to look forward to. And you might even spot a gator or two on a swamp tour.

A secret getaway in America? The Northern Mariana Islands are probably among the least known in the U.S. But this group of 14 islands in the Northwestern Pacific, of which Saipan, Tinian and Rota are the most popular, has everything you’re looking for in a tropical vacation. There are white-sand, palm-fringed beaches and all the snorkeling, jungle treks and cave-exploring you might crave.

With world-class beaches, bioluminescent bays and a melting pot of indigenous, Spanish and African cultures, Puerto Rico is a worthy Caribbean destination. But for something unique, how about checking out El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System? Among the forests, rivers and waterfalls, you could spot hundreds of native plants and animals, including the territory’s treasured coqui frogs and the endangered Puerto Rican parrot.

Its nickname is “America’s Paradise”—what else do you need to know? Whether you visit St. John, St. Croix or St. Thomas, a U.S. Virgin Islands vacation offers all the classic elements of a Caribbean getaway—white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and a vibrant mix of West African, European and American food and culture—without even having to visit a currency exchange.

You’ve picked the destination; now it’s time to plan the trip. Here are a few things to consider before you set off on your U.S. vacation.

You don’t need a passport for U.S. travel. But if you’re flying and you’re over 18, you’ll need to show an acceptable form of ID: 

• A state-issued driver’s license or ID 

• A U.S. passport

• A U.S. passport card

• A Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler card

And soon, any state-issued ID or license you use must be Real ID compliant. So make sure you’re ready.

Travel insurance can help protect you financially if things go wrong before or during a trip. It can cover things like food and lodging if you experience an airline delay or medical treatment if you become sick. If you’re considering travel insurance coverage, looking at your situation, the type of trip and the terms and conditions of your existing insurance policies could help you determine whether it’s worth it.

If you’re a Capital One cardholder, your credit card might come with travel insurance coverage. You can check your card’s benefits guide to learn more.

You might want to look into how a travel rewards card could help you earn rewards to redeem for upcoming travel costs. Here are a few ways to maximize a travel card’s benefits and rewards:

• Explore bonuses. Some travel cards may give new cardholders the chance to earn bonus miles. For example, with the Capital One Venture X card, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles if you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account. Understanding the timing and spending requirements of your sign-up bonus could keep you from missing a good opportunity. 

• Understand all your card’s benefits. If you’re just using a travel rewards card for the miles, you could be missing out on other valuable perks. Benefits may include everything from a Global Entry statement credit to exclusive airport lounge access.

• Use your full range of redemption options. Your options for redeeming your rewards may vary from card to card. Some may allow you to redeem rewards for cash back. Others may let you transfer miles to qualifying hotel and airline loyalty programs. Just keep in mind that the value of your rewards may vary depending on how you use them.

• Book through the card issuer’s travel site. Some issuers may have travel sites that let cardholders book trips and earn a higher rate on those purchases. If you’re a Capital One rewards cardholder, Capital One Travel can help you book confidently, with smarter tools and thousands of trip options. Price prediction on flights can help you save an average of 15% by alerting you when it’s time to book.* And depending on the card, you can earn up to 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights.

From the mainland to its island territories, the U.S. offers many options for extraordinary vacations. But though you may not need a passport, you’ll still need an accepted form of identification if you’re flying.

Travel credit cards let you earn rewards to use on travel expenses like airline tickets, hotel stays and more. You also may be able to enjoy exclusive perks and benefits. You can compare Capital One travel credit cards to find one that’s right for you.