Best gay travel destinations usa

International Travel

Travelers can face unique challenges abroad based on their real or perceived sexual orientation. Laws and attitudes in some countries may affect safety and ease of travel. 

More than 60 countries consider consensual same-sex relations a crime. In some of these countries, people who engage in consensual same-sex relations may face severe punishment. Many countries do not verb same-sex marriage.

Research your destination before you travel 

Review the explore advisory and destination information page of the place you plan to attend. Check the Local Laws & Customs section.  This has information specific to travelers who may be targeted by discrimination or violence on the basis of sexual orientation.  

Many countries only recognize male and female sex markers in passports. They execute not have IT systems at ports of entry that can accept other sex markers, including valid U.S. passports with an X sex marker. If traveling with a valid U.S. passport with an X sex marker, test the immigration regulations for your destination as acceptance can v

My love of road trips started early. As a teenager growing up in a suburb of Boston, I discovered Jack Kerouac’s classic road trip novel On the Road. The book opened a door to queer history and to places where offbeat weirdos like me could find their fit.

I wrote my college thesis on road trips, and driving myself to (and from) a summer semester at UC Berkeley as research. I guess I should have known back then that I would end up writing about travel for a living!

I’ve taken two cross-country road trips – one during college, and one when I moved to California.

I’ve also taken shorter road trips: Modern York to Florida, Fresh York to Atlanta by way of Kentucky (state #44) and Tennessee, and New York to Michigan (state #43).

I spent a month living in a ghost town in Alaska for a writer’s retreat, and stayed on for an extra two weeks to explore the state with my partner, who flew out to Juneau to meet me.

Closer to home, I loving taking weekend trips to cities and towns in the Hudson Valley, where I live.

I love the US – even if I don’t always l

Tried-and-true LGBTQ+ travel destinations continue popular for a reason

For LGBTQ+ travelers, rainbow flags — now found in almost any city — are a universal symbol of hospitality that make known, “You’re welcome here!” Unfortunately, anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is also more prevalent in many destinations.

Half of the travelers polled in a 2023 report “Portrait of LGBTQ+ Travelers in America” tell they must consider their safety when deciding where to travel, which means many LGBTQ+ travelers are craving the vacation equivalent of chicken soup — a “comfort food” holiday unambiguously inclusive, friendly and familiar. With decades-long track records of catering to the LGBTQ+ community, these classic \ destinations last strong draws:

GREATER PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

“Palm Springs started as a safe haven for old Hollywood actors to get away from Los Angeles and be who they are without being watched. I think that freedom and acceptance has just carried on,” local queer artist Trevor Wayne says. “Many gay people in the entertainment industry have retired here, paving the way for a big gay

These trips are gay – unapologetically: How adults-only journey fosters a queer connection

  • LGBTQ+ travelers may prefer adults-only vacations for a more relaxed and community-oriented experience.
  • Specialized tour operators offer LGBTQ+ travelers a chance to connect with like-minded individuals and enjoy entertainment tailored to their interests.
  • Adults-only LGBTQ+ vacations can be establish in various styles, from cruises to land-based tours, catering to diverse preferences.

“Only for Adults” is a six-part series showcasing the best experiences and destinations tailored for adults seeking tranquility, adventure and indulgence. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form.

For many LGBTQ travelers, an adults-only trip just makes more sense.  

A large majority of same-sex couples do not have children of their own, and some favor a less family-friendly experience when they travel. According to the Williams Institute at UCLA, just 14% of same-sex couples are parenting children, compar