Is United States Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

The United States generally offers a safe environment for solo female travelers. Smaller towns and rural areas are typically safe and you'll often find people help you if you're in trouble. Major cities are also generally safe, but just like in any large cities around the world, you should take usual precautions and avoid less crowded areas late at night. Public transportation and taxi systems are overall reliable and safe.

Safety index

3.2 /5

Based on 1 experience

3.5 /5

Based on research and crime data

Safety overview

Safety at night:Moderate

The safety of walking alone at night in the United States largely depends on the location. Urban, well-lit areas, and places with high foot traffic are generally safer than isolated or poorly lit areas. However, even in relatively safe cities, the level of safety can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. It's also important to be aware of your surroundings, avoid distractions such as your mobile phone, and note the locations of nearby businesses or authorities should you need them. A considerable number of cities have designated safe areas for women and emergency call boxes. Nonetheless, use measures of caution when walking alone at night.

Public transportation: Safe

Public transportation in the United States is generally safe, with systems like buses, subways, and trams well-maintained and monitored for security. However, like anywhere, safety can vary depending on the location and time of day. It's always wise to stay aware of your surroundings, especially during off-peak times. In major cities, public transport is frequently used by a broad cross-section of residents, which also tends to improve safety.

Street harassment: Moderate

Street harassment in the United States can vary greatly depending on the city or region you're in. In larger cities or more populated areas, harassment may occur more frequently. It can range from verbal comments to more aggressive behavior. However, it's important to note that there are also many areas where instances of street harassment are rare and authorities are often quick to respond to such matters. Awareness and education about street harassment and women's safety are rising, contributing to a decrease in occurrences.

Petty crimes:Moderate

While safety varies greatly across different regions and cities in the United States, the overall risk of petty crime, including pickpocketing and theft, is moderate. Popular tourist destinations may see higher rates of these crimes, particularly in crowded areas or at major events. Always be aware of your surroundings, avoid flashing valuable items, and secure your belongings to minimize the risk.

Tap water:Very safe

The tap water in the United States is highly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is typically safe to drink. Some taste variances may occur due to regional differences in water sources, but overall it is widely regarded as being of high quality and safe for consumption. Always follow local advice if there are public alerts regarding water quality.

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Travel experiences

Overall rating

3.2 /5

based on 1 experience

Rating summary

Things to do

3.2/5

Safety

3.2/5

Food

3.2/5

Budget-friendly

1.4/5

Group travel experience

Over the course of 25 days, we traveled through 4 states – California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. We visited 8 national parks. I must admit that the United States was never very high on my travel list, but it turned out that it completely captivated me. The nature, the people, the vibe, the food – everything was amazing. Route: Los Angeles – Big Sur – San Francisco – Yosemite National Park – Sequoia National Park – Death Valley – Las Vegas – Valley of Fire – Zion National Park – Bryce Canyon National Park – Canyonlands National Park – Arches National Park – Monument Valley – Horseshoe Bend – Grand Canyon National Park – Route 66 – Los Angeles. In total, we covered about 6000 km. We slept at campgrounds, which, in my opinion, is the coolest way to travel in this part of the States. Camping is very popular and affordable here. To enter the national parks, an entrance ticket is required. The most cost-effective option is definitely purchasing the Annual Pass. It's a card that allows entry to all national parks in the USA for one year. We mostly cooked our own breakfasts and dinners. We ate out a few times. The portions were huge and every dish was delicious.

Posted: September 25, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Meet locals in United States

Chris

Chris

Speaking

About Me

Chris here. Looking forward to meeting, hosting, and staying with some cool people ✨️

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇮 Gibraltar, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico, 🇲🇫 Saint Martin, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇸🇽 Sint Maarten, 🇸🇮 Slovenia, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇻🇦 Vatican City, 🇦🇱 Albania, 🇲🇪 Montenegro

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Claire

Claire

Speaking

About Me

I'm a linguist, avid reader, and lover of words and puzzles. I love a good stimulating conversation or activity; board games and escape rooms top the list. I look forward to talking with intelligent and interesting people, and ultimately would like to do in-person activities with someone who is also vaccinated!

Countries I’ve Visited

🇩🇪 Germany, 🇸🇳 Senegal, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇫🇷 France, 🇨🇦 Canada

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Abigail

Abigail

Speaking

About Me

Hello, I love traveling, but I'm definitely nervous to start solo traveling. I recently moved to Utah (from Texas), and I have the most adorable dog. I have a travel blog:AbiVentures.info

Countries I’ve Visited

🇨🇦 Canada, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇫🇷 France, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

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Stay with locals in United States

Chris

Chris

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

About me

Chris here. Looking forward to meeting, hosting, and staying with some cool people ✨️

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇮 Gibraltar, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico, 🇲🇫 Saint Martin, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇸🇽 Sint Maarten, 🇸🇮 Slovenia, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇻🇦 Vatican City, 🇦🇱 Albania, 🇲🇪 Montenegro

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Bree

Bree

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

About me

Hi my name is Bree! I work in educational travel and have the pleasure of visiting Mexico 🇲🇽 Poland 🇵🇱 Peru 🇵🇪 Haiti 🇭🇹 Costa Rica 🇨🇷 South Korea 🇰🇷 Thailand 🇹🇭 Ghana 🇬🇭 Switzerland 🇨🇭 Kenya 🇰🇪 I speak English - Native Spanish - Basic conversation Korean - Beginner 1 year Thai - Some words and phrases

Countries I’ve Visited

🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇬🇭 Ghana, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇭🇹 Haiti, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇺🇸 United States

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Alexandra

Alexandra

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

About me

Hello! My name is Alex and I'm a 25 year old solo traveler from Texas. I recently left my 9-5 office job and I'm now on a worldwide search for new perspectives, good food, and scenic views.

Countries I’ve Visited

🇫🇷 France, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States

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Upcoming visitors to United States

Danelsy

Danelsy

Speaking

About Me

Hi, My name is Danelsy and I'm interested in animals, camping, culture, cycling, hiking, games, languages, nature, live music, photography, shopping, solo travel, van life, swimming, trekking, sightseeing, diving, dancing, events & social, food & cuisine, health and running

Countries I’ve Visited

🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇺🇸 United States

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Local discussions

Solo travelI’m planning to do my first-ever solo trip to New York for 5/6 days towards.

I’m planning to do my first-ever solo trip to New York for 5/6 days towards. I’ve been to New York once years ago and loved it! I was wondering if anyone could share their experience about solo traveling and what it was like. Some people have told me to go for it and others have said that NYC is not the place to go solo. I plan to do a lot of traditional tourist things, possibly do a day trip t...

Posted: June 26, 2023
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Solo travelJust booked a trip to the USA for 6 weeks (Jan - mid Feb).

Just booked a trip to the USA for 6 weeks (Jan - mid Feb). This is my first solo trip and I'm feeling really nervous. Would love recommendations for best places to stay in NYC/Chicago/Boston/San Fran for a solo female traveller on a budget. Appreciate any other recommendations you have for cities/places/restaurants to visit - have about 3 weeks I've got nothing planned for so open to anywhere/a...

Posted: November 26, 2022
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Solo travelWhat tips and recommendations can you give for a solo female traveler in Naples, Sorrento, and Positano?

I'm going to Naples solo but I've seen a lot of different opinions about how safe it is to go as a woman, so I want to know tips and recommendations of what places to avoid or where to stay! Also the best way to go to Sorrento and Positano for a day trip

Posted: November 22, 2022
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TravelWhat activities should I do in New Orleans for "just enough" days?

Looking for recommendations for things to do and see in New Orleans - Jazz, French Quarters, etc. I like to do active things but also want to catch some good music and food!And how many days is "just enough"?

Posted: November 7, 2022
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TravelWhat advice/tips and recommendations do you have for sightseeing/activities & food places in NYC?

Hey gals, I’ll be going to NYC for the first time in December for a week and looking for any advice/tips and also recommendations for sightseeing/activities & food places! Thank you

Posted: October 5, 2022
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Safety in United States