The COVID-19 pandemic brought huge changes to how we live and work. With lockdowns and social distancing, employees of many businesses began to work remotely. Home offices, kitchens, and spare bedrooms became the new office space for many people. What we thought would be a temporary adjustment has now become a more permanent aspect of many people’s lives.
If you can work remotely from your house, why not work remotely from San Diego, California or Boulder, Colorado?
More and more people are embracing this lifestyle of working remotely from a place other than their hometown. These digital nomads telecommute to work and spend their free time traveling from state to state or country to country.
Recently, we’ve been getting emails from people, inquiring about the best places to work remotely in the USA. People are now planning year long USA road trips, where they spend each month in a different place, working during the week and exploring nearby locales on the weekends.
If this sounds like something you would like to do, in this post we share with you 15 of the best places to work remotely in the USA, with ideas on what to do in each area. And if you like the idea of taking a one year USA road trip while working remotely, we have a sample itinerary as to how you can link 12 of these places together.
What is it Like to Work Remotely?
We have lots of experience working remotely.
Our experience began with a 13-month trip around the world in 2014. This was the year we started running this website. Not only were we learning how to run a travel blog, but we learned what it is like to constantly show up in a new place, connect to the Wi-Fi (which was sometimes terrible), and put in the necessary time to run a website and start a new business.
After the around the world trip, Tim had a full-time job. During this time, we spent our summers in Europe and he worked remotely.
In the mornings, Tim would go sightseeing or hiking with me, Tyler and Kara. At 1 pm (8 am on the east coast of the USA), Tim would return to our hotel and work remotely for the remainder of the day.
We planned travel days and big sightseeing or hiking days for the weekends, and did the lighter, less busy travel days during the week, so he wouldn’t miss out on too many things.
One of the most important things that we learned is that having fast Wi-Fi is crucial. Tim was doing a lot of video calls and connecting to the internet and having a high-speed connection was very important. When booking our hotels on Booking.com, the Wi-Fi speed score was the most important factor when choosing our hotels and apartments.
Working remotely does have some challenges but there are also huge benefits. If you have a job that allows you to work remotely, you have the opportunity to live in and explore a new area without giving up your career, and it is a wonderful experience.
Important Things to Know
The first thing you should do is to get approval from your business to work remotely from a location other than your primary residence.
When choosing where to stay, cost, cleanliness, and amenities are all important, but make sure you choose a place that scores high for fast and reliable Wi-Fi. Slow Wi-Fi speeds and dropouts are extremely frustrating. As a backup, you can hot spot off your phone, but you can use a lot of data doing this.
Another thing to be aware of are income tax laws. In some instances, you might have to pay taxes in more than one state, depending on the tax laws of where your business is located and where you will live and work. Here are three articles where you can read more about this:
Best Places to Work Remotely in the USA
Below is a list of 15 places to work remotely in the USA. Some of these places make a great home base for exploring the surrounding area (for example, from St. George, Utah you can visit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas). And some of these places simply are a wonderful place to live and work, whether it is one month, two months, or a full year.
Map of 15 places to work remotely in the USA
1. Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado was named as the #1 place to live in the USA in 2021 – 2022 by US News. Sitting at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, this town makes a great place to live and work for outdoor lovers, hikers, triathletes, rock climbers, and families.
This hip town offers a lot to do during the week. Embrace the active, outdoor lifestyle by joining a gym and hiking and rock climbing in the nearby Flatiron Mountains. Boulder is a gateway into the Rocky Mountains, and on the weekends, spend your time exploring Rocky Mountain National Park and if you are very fit and adventurous, hike the fourteeners in Colorado.
Weekend Getaway Ideas from Boulder:
Spend the weekend in Estes Park, the gateway into Rocky Mountain National Park. Drive Trail Ridge Road, hike to Emerald and Dream Lakes, and don’t miss our favorite hike in the park, Sky Pond. Those who are very fit can summit Longs Peak, the highest peak in the park.
Sky Pond, Rocky Mountain National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park is located several hours from Boulder. Go sandboarding, hike to the highest dunes, and watch the sunset.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
During the winter months, go skiing in the Rocky Mountains.
From Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, and the Garden of the Gods State Park are all just a short drive away. With more time, visit Mesa Verde National Park and lovely Ouray, or drive out to western Colorado to visit Colorado National Monument.
Garden of the Gods
For more things to see and do in Colorado, check out our Colorado Travel Guide.
2. Austin, Texas
Like Boulder, Austin is another city that makes it on the top of US News’ best cities to live in in 2021 – 2022 (it’s #5).
This city has had a huge explosion in population growth in recent years. Tesla, Apple, Google, SpaceX, Amazon, and Facebook have either been relocating or are opening new offices in Austin.
With over 250 music venues, multiple musical festivals held over the course of the year, great restaurants (including some of the top barbecue restaurants in the USA), and swimming holes, there is a lot here to keep you busy.
On weekends, you can also visit nearby San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Big Bend National Park.
Big Bend National Park
3. Seattle, Washington
If you like the idea of basing yourself in a city but want to escape to the mountains on the weekends, Seattle is a spot to consider.
There is plenty to keep you busy in Seattle. You can also take weekend trips to Vancouver, Canada, the San Juan Islands, and beautiful Leavenworth, a town that looks like it has been plucked out of Bavaria, Germany.
From Seattle, you are just a short drive from three of our favorite national parks in the USA: Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and North Cascades National Park.
If you plan to visit the nearby national parks, the best time to go is during the summer months (June, July, August and early September), when the roads and hiking trails are open.
Weekend Getaway Ideas from Seattle:
Go hiking in Mount Rainier National Park. This is best done on a long weekend or over several separate trips. With several areas in the park, it takes a minimum of 5 days just to visit the highlights of Mount Rainier National Park.
Hiking the Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier National Park
Road Trip through Olympic National Park. Like Mount Rainier, Olympic is a large national park. You can drive the main loop around the park in three days, so it’s possible to see the highlights in one long but very busy weekend.
Olympic National Park
Visit North Cascades National Park. Even though it is located just 2 hours from Seattle, North Cascades National Park is one of the least visited national parks in the USA. On a weekend getaway, drive North Cascades Highway through the park, stopping at overlooks along the way. Spend a night or two in Winthrop and hike the Maple Pass Loop, one of the best hikes in the park.
Maple Pass Loop in North Cascades National Park
For more information about what to see and do in Washington, check out our Washington Travel Guide.
4. St. George, Utah
St. George is located in southwestern Utah. This small city is one of the best places to work remotely in the USA if you want to explore the American Southwest.
From St. George, it is a very short drive to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Snow Canyon State Park. You can also take weekend trips to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, and the other national parks in Utah.
WEATHER IN ST. GEORGE: One of the advantages of living and working remotely in St. George is that it never really gets cold. From December through February, high temperatures are in the mid to upper 60’s and it rarely gets below freezing at night. The weather is the best in the spring and fall, with warm days and cool nights. In the summer, it can easily get above 100°, with temperatures sometimes topping out over 110°F.
Day Trip & Weekend Getaway Ideas in St. George:
Go hiking in Zion National Park. Hike Angels Landing, the Narrows, and/or Observation Point. Zion can be done as a day trip or a weekend getaway.
The view of Zion National Park from Angels Landing
Bryce Canyon. This is best done as a weekend getaway. On Friday night, drive to Bryce Canyon. The following day, watch the sunrise in Bryce Canyon and then spend the morning hiking the lovely Queens Garden Trail. In the afternoon, explore more of Bryce Canyon or venture into nearby Kodachrome Basin State Park or Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Las Vegas. Spend the weekend in Las Vegas. If you like hiking and desert landscapes, don’t miss the Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock Canyon.
Page, Arizona. Explore Antelope Canyon and watch the sunset at Horseshoe Canyon.
Lower Antelope Canyon
North Rim of the Grand Canyon. In the summer months, it takes just under 3 hours to drive to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, so this can be done as a long day trip or as a weekend getaway.
The Wave. The Wave is colorful canyon in Utah. Only a handful of people are permitted to visit it every day, but if you get a permit, it makes an awesome day trip from St. George.
Capitol Reef National Park. This underrated national park is 3.5 hours away from St. George. You can see the highlights of Capitol Reef in one day, but for the best experience, plan to spend the weekend here and visit Cathedral Valley.
Capitol Reef National Park
5. Sedona, Arizona
Looking at a map of the United States, Sedona is very close to St. George. Even though it is located near St. George, Sedona offers several different experiences and day trip ideas that you can’t get from St. George.
If you are looking for a warm spot to work remotely, like the idea of exploring the American Southwest, or love hiking, Sedona is a great place to consider. If I was going to choose a place to work remotely for an extended period of time, Sedona would be one of my top picks.
Sedona offers a wonderful mix of outdoor adventures, shopping, and restaurants. It makes a great vacation spot, but it would also be a fantastic place to work remotely. Not only is it relatively warm all year, but you can spend your days hiking and exploring Sedona and your weekends road tripping through Arizona.
Cathedral Rock in Sedona
Read about what to do to in Sedona in our Guide to Sedona.
Weekend Getaway Ideas from Sedona:
Spend the weekend on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Hike the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails, visit the South Rim viewpoints, or soar over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter.
South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Visit Monument Valley. Monument Valley makes a great weekend getaway from Sedona. Nearby, you can also drive Moki Dugway and visit Valley of the Gods.
Monument Valley
Antelope Canyon. Antelope Canyon can be done as a long day trip or a weekend getaway from Sedona.
Saguaro National Park. This national park is in Tucson, Arizona and is best visited on a weekend trip from Sedona.
Other weekend trips include driving Route 66 to Petrified Forest National Park, Havasu Falls, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, and Scottsdale, Arizona.
6. Nashville, Tennessee
Live country music, nightlife, and a long list of great restaurants to try…sounds nice, right?
Nashville is responsible for growing the country music industry over the past 100 years. It is home to the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and numerous honky tonks (the bars on Broadway).
This city is so much fun that you might not ever want to leave, but there are several great nearby destinations that are worth exploring on your days off. Go bourbon tasting in Kentucky, visit Mammoth Cave or Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or visit the nearby town of Memphis.
Weekend Getaways Ideas from Nashville:
Kentucky Bourbon Trail: The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. These are located primarily around Louisville, Bardstown, and Lexington, although there are a few outliers across the state. It takes a full week to visit all of them, but on multiple weekend trips from Nashville, you can sample all of them.
Mammoth Cave National Park: It takes an hour and a half to drive to Mammoth Cave National Park, making this a great day trip idea from Nashville.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Spend the weekend in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, using this town to explore the most popular national park in the USA.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Memphis: Memphis makes another great weekend getaway. Enjoy Memphis’ music scene, visit the National Civil Rights Museum and Graceland, Elvis’ former home.
7. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is one of our favorite cities in the USA. It’s a wonderful mix of historical sites, restaurants, sporting events, and outdoor activities. Walk the famous Freedom Trail, go to a Boston Red Sox game, take a stroll through Harvard Yard, and explore the cobblestoned streets on Beacon Hill.
This city offers plenty to do to keep you busy for a very long time, but on weekends, if you want to get away, you can road trip through New England or explore Cape Cod.
Boston, Massachusetts
Weekend Getaway Ideas from Boston:
Cape Cod: Spend the weekend on the beach in Cape Cod.
Plymouth, Lexington and Concord: For those with an interest in history, these three towns can be visited on a day trip from Boston. See where the pilgrims first made landfall in Massachusetts in Plymouth and follow Paul Revere’s footsteps to Lexington and Concord, where the first battles of the Revolutionary War were fought.
Plimouth Plantation
Newport, Rhode Island: On a weekend getaway, spend your time in Newport. Walk the Cliff Walk, visit the Newport Mansions, and go wine tasting in the nearby wineries.
New England Road Trip: On a long weekend, visit the New England towns of Portland and Provincetown, visit Martha’s Vineyard and Franconia Notch State Park, and drive the Kancamagus Highway. In the fall, this is one of the best places in the USA to see fall colors.
Acadia National Park: Located in Maine, it is a long drive to get here (about 4 hours). This is best done as a long weekend getaway, so you have several days to visit Bar Harbor, explore the lakes and beaches, and hike the thrilling Precipice Trail and Beehive Trail.
Acadia National Park
8. Bozeman, Montana
For those who like the idea of working during the week and having the time to explore the great outdoors on the weekends, Bozeman makes a great pick.
In 2020, it was the fastest growing city in Montana. Nestled at the foot of the Bridger Mountains, the things to do in and around Bozeman include hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and rock climbing. And on the weekends, venture to the nearby national and state parks.
WEATHER IN BOZEMAN: The weather varies widely throughout the year. The winter months are cold and snow is likely. Snow can fall in Bozeman from October through April (and in some years, even into May). Summers are warm, with daytime high temperatures in the low to mid-80’s.
Weekend Getaway Ideas from Bozeman:
Yellowstone National Park: From Bozeman, it takes an hour and a half to get to the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park. On a long weekend, or several long weekends, spend your time driving Grand Loop Road, visiting the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Old Faithful, the hot springs, and spotting wildlife along the roads.
Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone
Grand Teton National Park: This national park is farther away than Yellowstone, but still doable on a weekend getaway. This is one of our favorite national parks to go hiking, but you can also photograph wildlife and spend some time in nearby Jackson, Wyoming.
Hiking the Static Peak Divide in Grand Teton National Park
Glacier National Park: It takes 5 to 6 hours to get to Glacier National Park, so this is best visited on a long weekend getaway from Bozeman, but it’s worth the drive. Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the top scenic drives in the USA and the mountains and lakes in Many Glacier are jaw-dropping.
Glacier National Park
9. Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is a popular tourist destination but it also makes a great place to work remotely.
Downtown Savannah is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the USA. Explore the cobblestoned streets and historic buildings and visit the picturesque squares, some of which have been featured in movies (Forrest Gump sitting on a park bench is one of the most famous). Take a ghost tour, have a drink in a rooftop bar, and have fun picking out your favorite restaurants.
In 2012, Travel + Leisure rated Savannah the highest city for quality of life and visitor experience.
Wormsloe Historic Site
Weekend Getaway Ideas from Savannah:
Tybee Island: This island is located very close to Savannah (it’s just 20 minutes away). It’s a great place to get in your beach time without doing a longer day trip from Savannah.
Charleston, South Carolina: At this historic, seaside town, explore hidden alleys and passageways, take a ghost tour, take a walking tour of the city, and visit Fort Sumter.
Hilton Head: With resorts, beaches, and golf courses, Hilton Head makes a great weekend getaway from Savannah.
10. San Diego, California
San Diego is famous for its beautiful beaches, family friendly activities, and its near perfect year-round weather. Tour an aircraft carrier, visit the world famous San Diego Zoo, go on a day trip to La Jolla, and take your pick of numerous bars and restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter.
If you are looking for a place that is warm and sunny all year long, with easy access to beautiful beaches and surfing, San Diego is one of the best places to work remotely in the USA.
La Jolla Cove
Weekend Getaway Ideas from San Diego:
Joshua Tree National Park: Spend the weekend hiking and rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park.
Joshua Tree National Park
Palm Springs: Palm Springs is a popular weekend getaway destination in southern California. With top-rated resorts, golf courses, and wonderful restaurants to try, this is a great spot to unwind during the weekend.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: This state park is just a short drive from San Diego and filled with wonderful hiking trails and desert landscapes.
Tijuana, Mexico: Road trip across the border to Tijuana. This can be done as a day trip or weekend trip from San Diego.
11. New York City, New York
New York is one of my favorite cities in the world and I have always wanted to live and work here. Tim and I talk about spending a month or two here at some point in our lives. This is a city that is constantly changing and always offering new things to do.
Try new restaurants, go to the theater or a Yankee’s game, explore Brooklyn and the Bronx, visit the art museums, go for a run in Central Park…the list of things to do in New York City is so long that you will never run out of new things to do.
But if you do want to get away for the weekend, you can spend the weekend in the Hamptons, visit the Catskills, or go to the beaches in New Jersey.
View of Manhattan from SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
To learn more about what to see, do, eat, and stay in New York City, visit our New York Travel Guide.
12. Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is another place to consider if you want to spend your free time outside, exploring the state and national parks. From here, many outdoor adventures await. Just outside of town are two national parks (Wind Cave and Badlands) and the amazing Custer State Park. You can also visit the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Weekend Getaway Ideas from Rapid City:
Badlands National Park: This national park is located very close to Rapid City but it is best visited over several days. This gives you enough time to view the Badlands at sunrise and sunset, magical times to be in this park.
Badlands National Park
Devils Tower National Monument: Devils Tower is located in Wyoming. On a day trip from Rapid City, you can also visit Spearfish Canyon and the towns of Deadwood and Lead.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Located in North Dakota, this wonderful national park makes a great weekend getaway idea.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
For more information about Rapid City and South Dakota, check out our South Dakota Travel Guide.
13. Asheville, North Carolina
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a great place to live and work. It’s the perfect blend of city life and outdoor adventures.
In the evenings, go out for food and drinks, do a little shopping in town, and visit the art galleries or theaters. On the weekends, drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, visit the nearby state parks, and spend some time at the Biltmore Estate.
WEATHER IN ASHEVILLE: The weather is generally very nice all year. The summers don’t get too hot except on rare occasions (daytime highs are in the mid-80’s) and the winters don’t get too cold (daytime highs are about 50°F and snowfall is generally light). In October, the fall colors make Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains even more beautiful.
Biltmore Estate
Catawba Falls
Day Trip & Weekend Getaway Ideas from Asheville:
Chimney Rock State Park: This state park is named for its granite monolith and views over the surrounding mountains. Combine a visit here with Lake Lure.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: This national park is located west of Asheville. It can be visited as a day trip or a weekend getaway.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park in November
14. Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Miami is a top vacation spot in the USA. There is a lot to do here, while you aren’t working, with a long list of weekend getaway destinations in Florida.
Fort Lauderdale, which lies to the north of Miami, also makes a great place to work remotely in the USA, and prices of living here will be a little bit cheaper than Miami.
From both of these cities, you can easily go to the beach, go out to the bars and clubs in South Beach, go shopping, go to a football or baseball game, and attend the numerous food and art festivals that are held in Miami.
Weekend Getaway Destinations from Miami:
Florida Keys: Spend a long weekend road tripping along the Florida Keys to Key West.
Biscayne National Park: This park is 95% water and it is located less than an hour from Miami. Take a boat tour of the park, go snorkeling or scuba diving, and enjoy the unique views of Miami from Boca Chita Key.
Boca Chita Lighthouse in Biscayne National Park
Everglades National Park: This park is also located about an hour from Miami. It’s a great place to spot manatees, alligators, and crocodiles and go on boat tours through the wetlands.
Disney World: If you are working remotely and have kids, why not spend a weekend in Disney World?
From Miami, Sanibel Island and West Palm Beach also make great weekend getaways.
15. San Francisco, California
San Francisco was one of US News’ top picks for best places to live in 2021. This beautiful city is a joy to explore but it also has a long list of day trip and weekend getaway destinations.
The to-do list in San Francisco is long. Take a cruise to Alcatraz, go shopping at the Ferry Building Marketplace, go hiking in Muir Woods, spend the afternoon in Sausalito, and explore the neighborhoods of San Francisco.
Weekend Getaway Ideas from San Francisco:
Napa and Sonoma Valleys: Spend your weekends touring the wineries in Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley.
Yosemite National Park: Yosemite is one of the best weekend getaways from San Francisco. This park is home to some of the most iconic natural landmarks in the USA and some fantastic hiking trails.
Hiking in Yosemite National Park
Pinnacles National Park: Pinnacles National Park is located two hours away from San Francisco but is one of the least visited national parks in the USA. The monoliths and rhyolite hills are the remnants of an extinct volcano, and this is a popular spot for rock climbing.
Monterey: Spend the weekend in lovely Monterey and drive US-1 along the Pacific Coast to Big Sur.
One Year Road Trip Itinerary while Working Remotely
If you wanted to put these cities together into a one-year road trip, where you spend about a month in each place, here is a sample itinerary.
January: Austin, Texas
February: Sedona, Arizona
March: St. George, Utah
April: San Diego, California
May: San Francisco, California
June: Seattle, Washington
July: Bozeman, Montana
August: Rapid City, South Dakota
September: Boulder, Colorado
October: Asheville, North Carolina or Nashville, Tennessee
November: Savannah, Georgia
December: Miami, Florida
Another option is to spend the year in one region, staying in two to four cities.
Sedona, St. George, San Diego & San Francisco: This is a great option if you want relatively warm weather all year, some beach time, and the opportunity to visit some of the best state and national parks in the USA.
Boston & New York City: Split your time between two great cities. With your free time, explore New England and upstate New York.
If you have any questions about the best places to work remotely in the USA, or if you want to share your experience working remotely, let us know in the comment section below.
Read all of our articles about the United States in our United States Travel Guide.
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