Solo travel for women is not just a trend anymore—it’s a full-blown, life-altering vibe. Like, imagine sipping wine solo in the Tuscan countryside or hiking a volcano in Guatemala without waiting on anyone’s schedule. I’ve done over 65 countries solo, and lemme tell you: the world is WAY more open and kind than you think. Here are the best places to travel solo female, all safe, soul-refreshing, and sprinkled with a little chaos and charm. These are the best solo travel destinations, loaded with female travel stories, hacks, and “oops” moments. Grab your backpack, sis.
1. Maui, Hawai’i
Best places in USA for solo female travelers? Yep, Maui made me believe in surfboards, ukuleles, and healing ocean breezes. I booked on impulse and ended up doing a surf class with all women. We laughed so hard every time we wiped out, it became a kind of floating therapy session.
Also, Road to Hana? 100% solo-dreamy, as long as you don’t mind cliffside hairpin turns (I screamed, laughed, and cried in 2 hours flat). Locals are warm, the sunsets are spiritual, and you can stay in a women-only hostel near Paia. It’s perfect for solo trips for women who want island time with a twist.
Also Read: Most Expensive City in Latin America – And Why It’ll Still Seduce Your Wallet Anyway
2. San Francisco, California
Is it foggy? Is it still one of the best solo travel destinations ever? YES. Solo female travel destinations are all about vibe-checks, and SF passes with flying (rainbow) colors.
BART makes it super easy to get around, and between the Mission District burritos and the painted ladies of Alamo Square, you’ll never feel bored or alone. I once ended up salsa dancing with a 75-year-old lady in the Castro. Honestly, top ten night of my life.
Try a Pride weekend or just chill in Dolores Park with strangers-turned-friends. Trust the magic.
3. Moab, Utah
If Mars had hiking trails and starlit silence, it’d be Moab. This place is for the badass, dirt-under-your-nails kind of solo travel for women. I camped out alone under the stars, screamed into canyons, and cried looking at Delicate Arch. Real talk.
It’s surrounded by Arches, Canyonlands, and wild spots like Dead Horse Point. I met other solo women who were full-on vanlife legends, swapping stories around campfires. If you’re into rugged beauty, peace, and the occasional desert fox, go now.
4. Seattle, Washington
For when you want rainy vibes, coffee culture, and solo jazz nights—Seattle is your mood. Perfect for female travel with both quiet time and funky chaos. I stayed in Capitol Hill, made friends in a queer bookshop, and got invited to an underground speakeasy (password required!).
Public transit is solid, neighborhoods are diverse and walkable, and Pike Place Market? Just grab a pastry and watch the chaos. You can hit the Fremont Troll and feel like you’re in a real-life fairytale.
5. Big Sur, California
OMG, Big Sur. The cliffs, the ocean, the fog, the whales! I drove the Pacific Coast solo and screamed out Taylor Swift lyrics with my windows down. Solo trips for women in US don’t get more cinematic than this.
McWay Falls legit looks like a postcard. You can camp, glamp, or stay in cozy cabins. Don’t expect great Wi-Fi, but that’s kinda the point. Go for a detox, bring a journal, and let the waves fix your spirit.
6. Page, Arizona
Horseshoe Bend made me gasp out loud. Like, I’d seen it a thousand times online, but NOTHING beats standing on the edge in person. Best solo female travel destinations include random desert towns, trust me.
I crashed in a $40/night bunkhouse, made a friend at the community kitchen, and we ended up doing a photo shoot in Antelope Canyon. This place attracts adventurers and dreamers—you’ll fit right in.
7. Portland, Oregon
Portland is that cool girl with green hair who also bakes you vegan brownies. For cheap places to travel solo female, this one’s a quirky goldmine. I joined a zine-making workshop in someone’s living room (yes, really), then biked to a forest hike.
It’s walkable, weird, and wildly welcoming. Visit Powell’s Books, hit up a poetry slam, or just vibe with the mural-covered alleys. Also: their public transit is actually good.
8. Lake Tahoe
Tahoe is my chill-out zone. I stayed in a lakeside hostel, snowshoed by day, and drank cocoa under the stars by night. Solo trips for women here mean getting your nature fix AND feeling safe the whole time.
Local tip: skip the fancy ski towns and stay near Emerald Bay. Sunrise there? Game-changing. Also, if it’s winter, sled like you’re ten again.
9. Sun Valley, Idaho
Idaho in winter is peak cozy. Snow, hot springs, and tiny cabins = literal heaven. I was nervous going solo in such a small town, but ended up swapping travel stories with a retired couple at a brewery.
You can snowmobile, ski, or just soak in the natural springs like a goddess. Plus, everyone says hi to you. Seriously. Like, every single person.
10. Las Vegas, Nevada
You wouldn’t think Las Vegas would make the “best places to travel solo female” list… but here we are.
I went for one night, stayed for five. I made random friends at the pool, ended up in a karaoke bar with Elvis impersonators, and didn’t feel unsafe once. Plus, you can take solo day trips to the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam. Vegas is chaotic good.
11. Reno, Nevada
Reno is weird, artsy, and full of soul. It’s my current home and honestly? A low-key gem for solo female travel. The art scene here exploded after Burning Man, and now every alley has a story.
You can ski in the morning, thrift all afternoon, then grab craft tacos in Midtown. People talk to you here. They’re curious, not creepy. I always feel like myself in Reno.
12. Alabama Hills, California
BLM land, desert arches, zero light pollution—the Alabama Hills are raw, vast, and full of silence. I did a solo trip here and barely saw another soul.
Movie Road looks straight-up cinematic, and sunset at Mobius Arch? Forget about it. It’s perfect for women who just need space. Bring extra water and don’t rely on cell signal. It’s peace, desert-style.
13. Mendocino, California
Foggy cliffs, cozy inns, crashing waves… Mendocino is giving main character energy. I stayed at Sacred Rock Inn and basically wrote half my book draft from their balcony.
Glass Beach in Fort Bragg is full of rainbow sea glass, and you’ll feel like you’re walking through a dream. It’s quiet, artsy, and full of whale-watching spots.
14 Key Largo, Florida
I did a solo trip to Florida and Key Largo surprised me! Chill beach towns, clear water, and great diving. Beaches in Key Largo are perfect for lazy lounging or joining a local snorkel group.
It’s not a party town, which is ideal if you want a more peaceful female solo travel experience. Plus, conch fritters?? Life-changing.
15 Aruba
If you’re craving warm sand and margaritas minus creepy dudes, Aruba is the answer. I stayed at a resort called Manchebo and felt like royalty.
Best all inclusive resort Aruba solo female? Yeah, that one. Spa mornings, beach afternoons, and rum punch by sunset.
Island life is good life.
Final Thoughts
There you go. That’s the chaos, the calm, and the real-life list of the best travel destinations for single women. Whether you’re into camping in deserts or sipping sangria by the sea, great places for single women to travel exist everywhere.
These are the best places for solo female travel because they don’t just show you the world—they show you yourself. You grow. You LIVE.
Tag me when you go. I’ll probably be out there too.
