The Best LGBTQIA+ Friendly Travel Destinations Across The U.S.

There is only one U.S. city we need to include on the list of the most LGBTQIA+-friendly cities in America: San Francisco, California. Known as the LGBTQ capital of the world, San Francisco’s influence is vast — with trailblazers like Harvey Milk, the fight against AIDS, and the fight for marriage equality.

Today, San Francisco is home to countless queer-owned small businesses, cultural icons, festivals, and bars. There is no one “gay neighborhood” in San Francisco; it’s everywhere. This is a city where everyone is welcome, and boldness is rewarded.

My hometown, Minneapolis, Minnesota, has always felt like a safe haven to be yourself. The city prides itself on its tradition of inclusion, which goes beyond celebrating Pride; Minneapolis supports and includes people from all backgrounds and all lifestyles all year round.

This Midwestern city is home to countless LGBTQIA+-friendly spaces, from gay-owned coffee shops and breweries to the iconic nightclub, The Gay 90s, and the first sports bar in the Twin Cities that exclusively shows women’s sports on their televisions, A Bar Of Their Own. Minneapolis is also incredibly artistic, with countless theaters and art museums, including my personal favorite, Theater Latté Da.

One of the most diverse and welcoming cities in the world, there is so much to love about our nation’s capital. With a diverse LGBTQIA+ community, Washington D.C. is home to people and preferences from every color of the rainbow. I’ve lived near D.C. for the last three years and am consistently impressed by the sheer volume and diversity of historic LGBTQIA+ sites — including the Dr. Franklin E. Kameny Residence and The Furies Collective Headquarters — as well as queer-owned businesses. We have an endless list of things to see and do in Washington D.C.

Begin planning now if you want to attend WorldPride 2025 in Washington D.C. — I imagine hotels will book up quickly!

Did you know that Houston is not only home to the largest LGBTQIA+ community in the conservative state of Texas and one of the first destinations to market to gay travelers through a dedicated LGBTQIA+ visitor website? Houston’s annual pride celebration draws more than 750,000 visitors from across the globe, and the Montrose neighborhood is filled with queer bars and eateries.

A cultural melting pot and one of the most diverse cities in the country, Houston is also home to various arts institutions, terrific theaters, botanical gardens, and a diverse dining scene. Don’t forget: cowboy boots are highly encouraged.

Honolulu, Hawaii – and the entire island of Oahu – is a true melting pot; not only are the people who live here diverse, but the people who visit are as well. I lived near Honolulu for nearly half of my adult life and fell in love with the laid-back vibes of this welcoming city.

Whether you want to hang out and relax on one of what GoGayHawaii calls the best “gay beaches” in Hawaii, Queen’s Surf Beach, or enjoy a smattering of queer bars in town, there’s something for everyone in Honolulu. This island community is also one of the only places I’ve traveled where I truly feel like I can be myself wherever I go – plus, the Honolulu Pride Parade is one of my personal all-time favorites!

As the capital city of the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage, Boston, Massachusetts is both proud and accepting. With one of the largest LGBTQIA+ populations on the East Coast, Boston’s queer neighborhoods – the South End and Jamaica Plain – offer a variety of local pubs, dance bars, and lounges that draw a queer crowd. In addition to the annual Boston Pride Week held annually each June, the city also hosts an annual LGBT Film Festival every Spring.

If I were traveling to Boston, I wouldn’t pass up the one-mile LGBTQ Past Walking Tour offered by Boston By Foot. Take a step back in time, from the 1840s to the 1980s, as you discover Charlotte Cushman’s cross-dressing roles, the AIDS memorial quilt project, and so much more.

Atlanta is the national headquarters of LGBTQ South and home to an ever-growing and vibrant queer community as well as inclusive establishments, arts scene, and iconic events.

With a surprisingly robust number of LGBTQ-welcoming hotels and attractions, Atlanta is one of our favorite southern cities for a weekend getaway. In addition to its popular Pride weekend – which takes place October 12 to 13, 2024 – Atlanta also plays host to Black Pride Weekend, the largest of its kind in the United States, which takes place over Labor Day weekend every year.

Nestled in the Finger Lakes, Seneca Falls is a gorgeous small town full of charm. It is also the birthplace of the Women’s Rights movement and suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, as well as the current home of the Women’s Rights National Historical Park. This small museum shares the history of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in the town from July 19 to 20, 1848. There’s no better place to show your solidarity with the individuals and movements dedicated to equality and justice.

Outside of town, LGBTQIA+ travelers will enjoy the Equal Rights Heritage Center in nearby Auburn, plus leisure activities galore, including the Seneca and Cayug Lake Wine Trails and Ithaca, a welcoming college town on the southern tip of Cayuga Lake.

A historic gem tucked away in Northwest Illinois, Galena is one of the best LGBTQIA+-friendly getaways in Illinois. Home to a thriving LGBTQIA+ community and numerous queer-owned businesses, including some of the top-rated B&Bs in America, cultural cuisine from across the world, and welcoming establishments of all kinds, the welcoming vibe of this Midwestern town is unmatched.

One of our favorite businesses is the queer-owned Galena Bakehouse, which serves scrumptious baked goods in a historic building.

We love Maine’s charming coastal towns. In Ogunquit, you’ll discover pride flags adorning homes and queer-owned businesses, contributing to a sense of community. With a bustling downtown full of fine restaurants, art galleries, trendy beach shops, bed and breakfasts, and more, Ogunquit is a peaceful respite for anyone living in the American Northeast.

Don’t pass up seeing a show at the Ogunquit Playhouse, a charming, historic theater, and dancing at Mainestreet, Ogunquit’s premier dance club that is as diverse as it is inclusive.

Ferndale, Michigan, is known for its community spirit and “all are welcome” ethos. Our Editor Sarah McCosham lived in Ferndale during graduate school and fell in love with this wholesome little town. “I moved to Detroit by myself when I was 22. I didn’t know anyone, but was quickly adopted by my neighbors, who were all longtime residents and the kind of people who collect your mail when you’re on vacation or shovel your sidewalk after it snows (and it snows a lot in Michigan!). I also became a regular at the local food co-op and coffeeshop and loved spending Saturdays browsing the small businesses in Ferndale’s very charming and walkable downtown.”

Indeed, this town of 19,000 and its “Great American Main Street” feature public art that celebrates its community pride, while you’d be hard-pressed to find a local business in town that *doesn’t* have a rainbow flag on its storefront. In fact, “Fabulous Ferndale” is home to Affirmations, *the* hub for southeast Michigan LGBTQ+ communities and its allies for the last 30 years — and the town’s Ferndale Pride is the largest free-to-the-public LGBTQAI+ festival in Michigan.