The 10 Best Travel Photography Books in 2024

A Post By: Jeremy Flint

Best books for travel photographers

Are you looking to improve your travel photography skills from the comfort of your own home? Fortunately, there is an array of excellent books – written by top travel shooters and photography professionals – that can help you level up your images. Some cover technical elements such as light and composition, while others offer breathtaking photos that will give you plenty of travel photo ideas .

In this article, I share 10 of the best travel photography books available, including a mix of instructional and inspirational options. So whether you’re a travel photography beginner looking for basic advice, a casual travel shooter in need of inspiration, or an advanced snapper looking to take your images to the next level, you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s dive right in, starting with my first pick: 

1. Travel Photography – Steve Davey

Best travel photography books

One of the absolute best books for beginners is Steve Davey’s Travel Photography . It’s highly comprehensive and includes tips on all the essentials; not only does it cover both the technical and creative aspects of travel photography, but it also serves as a comprehensive manual on creating – and selling – travel photos.

Travel Photography explores all aspects of the genre, from preparation and gear selection to camera settings and lighting. Davey has long been a leading photographer in the field, and he offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. The book even includes a section on image correction to help you improve your workflow and edit your travel images like a pro .

2. The Travel Photographer’s Way – Nori Jemil

Best travel photography books

Need a great book to take with you on the road? Then consider The Travel Photographer’s Way: Practical Steps to Taking Unforgettable Travel Photos , by Nori Jemil, which you can carry around in your bag and read as you go.

The book is suitable for enthusiasts and intermediate photographers as well as casual readers interested in the creative craft of travel photography. Jemil explores a bevy of travel subgenres, including people photography, architectural photography, and landscape photography, but rather than take a conventional teaching approach, she offers a mix of stories, technical advice, creative and ethical questions, and interviews.

More than just a technical book, The Travel Photographer’s Way focuses on how, when, and why we take photographs, and it even offers travel photo quotes from many other photographers on the art and practice of shooting. If you’re interested in an inspiring and educational book that blends technique, practical elements, and insight into the rationale for taking photos, then the Travel Photographer’s Way is for you.

3. Composition – Michael Freeman

Best travel photography books

Michael Freeman is one of the best photography educators in the world, and Composition: The Ultimate Photography Masterclass does more than live up to his reputation. For travel photographers – as well as pretty much any other shooter – composition is an essential tool, and in this book, Freeman discusses its ins and outs. Yet he doesn’t get bogged down in theory; instead, he offers practical advice that applies to highly realistic scenarios.

While the book isn’t specific to travel snappers, many of the examples do feature travel images – plus, Freeman’s compositional advice is pretty universal! Understanding the art of image arrangement is fundamental to capturing travel subjects, from architecture and cityscapes to wildlife and portraits, and this book will help you become a compositional master.

4. The Perfect Shot – Lonely Planet

Best travel photography books

The Perfect Shot isn’t designed as a travel photography manual. Instead, it’s an inspirational coffee-table book that will leave you wanting to book a ticket and jump on a plane. It’s the perfect title for serious travel shooters in need of inspiration, though beginners will undoubtedly appreciate the gorgeous photos, too.

Lonely Planet’s book showcases 200+ top-notch travel shots, so it’ll certainly last you a good long while. And for those of you who enjoy gaining behind-the-scenes insights, you’ll appreciate the accompanying text, which details the efforts that went into capturing each and every image. The Perfect Shot is on the pricier side, but given the array of truly breathtaking photos, it’s worth every penny.

5. Light and Shadow – Michael Freeman

Best travel photography books

Light and Shadow: The Ultimate Photography Masterclass is another book in Michael Freeman’s new series, and it’s one that I highly recommend. Freeman is a masterful photographer, and in this book, he explains the principles of light and shadow in terms that anyone can understand.

Of course, travel shooting is about more than just lighting , but once you’ve read this book, you’ll know how to work with light and shadow to craft breathtaking travel shots – no matter your subject of choice. Freeman shares everything you’ve ever wanted to know about this core component of photography, yet the discussion remains impressively practical and never strays into heavily theoretical territory. If you’re a travel shooter and you want to take your knowledge of lighting to the next level, Light and Shadow is a must-have.

6. A Life in Pictures – Steve McCurry

Best travel photography books

Steve McCurry, best known for his “Afghan Girl” image, is one of the best travel photographers of our time – and if you’ve ever wanted a window into the mind of a master, then A Life in Pictures is essential reading.

This book is a comprehensive visual biography of McCurry’s incredible career and takes travel enthusiasts through his entire oeuvre, including his early work in the US, his photos of Afghanistan, and his images of Southeast Asia. But A Life in Pictures is, surprisingly, more than just pictures. McCurry’s sister, Bonnie, provides insightful commentary on the images, and the reader is also given access to notes and telegrams from McCurry’s travels. The book is truly inspiring, and it’s the perfect purchase (or gift) for the budding travel shooter.

7. Understanding Exposure – Bryan Peterson

Best travel photography books

Understanding Exposure is a photography classic written by internationally acclaimed and best-selling author Bryan Peterson – and while it may not appeal to advanced shooters, for beginners and intermediate travel photographers, it’s an excellent buy.

The book is an effective guide to capturing breathtaking photos, whether you use a smartphone, a DSLR, or a mirrorless camera; to that end, Peterson discusses lighting, shutter speed , ISO , aperture , and so much more. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll be ready to handle your camera settings in nearly every travel scenario you can imagine, and never again will you need to worry about losing a shot to over- or underexposure. Plus, thanks to an array of stunning examples, you may even be feeling inspired to head out and capture some images of your own!

8. The Travel Book – Lonely Planet

Best travel photography books

In need of some inspiration? The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World is now in its fourth edition, and it comes with hundreds of breathtaking travel photos covering – as the title promises! – every country in the world.

The book is both an interesting read and a fascinating visual spectacle thanks to a mix of photos and informational text. You can learn about the world’s incredible diversity, and you can also start planning some trips of your own – because in addition to its amazing images, A Journey Through Every Country in the World includes travel advice! As you journey through the alphabet of nations, you’ll think about the places you’d like to photograph, and you’ll be able to explore and enjoy the world from the comfort of your armchair.

9. Bryan Peterson Photography School – Bryan Peterson

Best travel photography books

Yet another excellent title from Bryan Peterson, Bryan Peterson Photography School: A Master Class in Creating Outstanding Images is a perfect book for the beginner travel shooter. It offers readers the unique opportunity to gain knowledge that Peterson previously only taught in his workshops, including the kinds of insights that come from decades of photographic experience.

The book offers all sorts of instructional materials, including exercises for fine-tuning your camera skills, as well as tips and tricks for mastering camera settings , filters, post-processing, composition, and lots more. As you read, you’ll learn to hone your skills with the help of before-and-after images, and while the book isn’t travel-specific, each and every lesson is invaluable for the travel shooter.

10. Epic Journeys – National Geographic

Best travel photography books

Sometimes, you’re just looking to lay eyes on amazing images – and if that’s the case, then National Geographic’s coffee-table book, Epic Journeys: 225 Life-Changing Adventures , is an amazing companion.

It’s the perfect book to inspire your next adventure thanks to its set of awesome photos and its adventure itineraries. You’ll get to experience 200+ amazing locations for travel shooting, including destinations for wildlife photography, portraiture, adventure photography, and so much more. The book also includes tips for making the most of your travels; for instance, it explains the best time of year to visit each location, as well as key activities and sights to see. By the time you’ve finished browsing through Epic Journeys , you’ll have added dozens of locations to your bucket list of travel destinations, and you’re practically guaranteed to feel inspired!

The best travel photography books: final words

Hopefully, you’ve now identified some travel photography books to purchase (or check out at your local library). Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned travel photographer, you’re bound to enjoy some of these titles; they offer technical tips, travel advice, and a wealth of inspiration.

If you’re in need of a comprehensive book on the subject, I recommend Steve Davey’s Travel Photography or Nori Jemil’s The Travel Photographer’s Way . However, Michael Freeman’s Composition and Bryan Peterson’s Bryan Peterson Photography School are great as more specific instructional books.

Finally, for the ultimate travel photography inspiration, don’t hesitate to buy The Travel Book by Lonely Planet or National Geographic’s Epic Journeys: 225 Life-Changing Adventures .

Now over to you:

Which of these travel photography books do you plan to buy? Do you have any additional recommendations that we missed? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The 10 Best Travel Photography Books in 2024

Read more from our Cameras & Equipment category

Jeremy Flint

Jeremy Flint is an award-winning photographer and writer, specialising in travel, landscape and location photography and is known for documenting images of beautiful destinations, cultures and communities from around the world. Jeremy has won awards including the National Geographic Traveller Grand Prize and the Association of Photographers Discovery Award, besides being commended in Outdoor Photographer of the Year. He has also been a finalist in the Travel Photographer of the year and British Photography Awards several times. He has been commissioned by commercial and editorial clients worldwide including National Geographic Traveller, Country Life, Discover Britain, USA National Parks and Visit Britain and has travelled extensively to over 65 countries.

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Adventure Dragon

30 Coffee Table Travel Books with the Best Travel Photography

Jillian Michelle

These are the best coffee table travel books in existence today–30 large-size, beautiful travel photography books in hardcover that look amazing in any living room. Whether you’re looking for bucket list travel places, romantic travel destinations, road trips of a lifetime, the world’s most amazing castles, stunning beaches, space travel books, or simply just a single book that contains amazing photographs from every single country in the world, then we’ve got you covered.

Note: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase one of the products listed below, I may earn a small commission for qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

best coffee table travel books

Best Bucket List Travel Coffee Table Books

1. destinations of a lifetime: 225 of the world’s most amazing places by national geographic.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: National Geographic books always contain superior travel photography from world-class photographers, and the photos in this coffee table book certainly impress. With 250 total breathtaking photos packed into 320 pages, you can be sure that the vibrant images in this book are the dominant focus above all else. There’s 225 total of the world’s most amazing places, including everything from ancient monoliths to electric cityscapes and scenic islands to ancient cobbled streets. There’s both architectural wonders and natural wonders, iconic destinations and hidden gems. A profile included with each entry also details cultural and historical facts as well as when to go and how to make the best out of your travel experience.

2. The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This book is organized by latitude and longitude–starting with the Northern Hemisphere and gradually working its way down to the Southern Hemisphere–and catalogues 1000 total bucket list travel things to do around the world. There’s more text than photos, so if what you’re looking for is a pure photography-dominant coffee table book, then there are definitely far better travel photography books out there that we’d recommend before this one. However, if what you’re in search of is inspiration on specific journeys, destinations, or lifetime experiences to add to your travel bucket list, then this book just might be what you need to spark some adventure ideas. It’s a little smaller than most of the other entries on this list, but we still think it would look great sitting on your coffee table! It’s definitely one of the best bucket list travel books that we’ve ever found.

Every Country in the World Coffee Table Travel Books

1. the travel book: a journey through every country in the world by lonely planet.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This coffee table book contains a full 2-page spread for every single country in the world. There are 416 pages total, complete with 680 beautiful travel photography images and written profiles on 200 countries, ordered alphabetically from A to Z. You’ll find information on each country’s culture as well as places to visit, things to do, what to eat, and other unique facts about each destination. It’s a large and heavy photo book that will look absolutely perfect sitting on your coffee table. It’s difficult to find coffee table travel books that have every single country in the world represented inside, so this one stands out from all the others for this primary reason, making it one of our absolute favorites!

Best Romantic Travel Books for Coffee Table

1. the world’s most romantic destinations: 50 dreamy getaways, private retreats, and enchanting places to celebrate love by national geographic.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This coffee table travel photography book is especially perfect for couples. It contains 50 romantic travel destinations that are beloved spots for weddings, honeymoons, Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, engagement trips, or any other romantic getaway you can imagine. The book is organized by season–spring, summer, fall, and winter–so that you’ll know the best places to visit depending on your month of travel. Each romantic travel book entry contains suggestions on where to stay, what to eat, and romantic things to do while in that location. There’s 256 total pages, and the photography in this travel book is so pretty. It’s both practical and aesthetic, making it our top pic for coffee table travel books for couples.

Read Next: The Best Travel-Themed Coloring Books for Women with Wanderlust

Coffee Table Travel Books about the Ocean and Beaches

1. the life and love of the sea.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This coffee table travel book is a visual tour of the ocean as seen through the lenses of the world’s leading marine and underwater photographers. The 216 pages include a collection of wave photographs, dramatic coastlines, island chains, barrier reefs, and even sea life such as whales, fish, manta rays, seals, and the deepest ocean creatures. This travel book also contains accompanying informational and inspiring excerpts, poetry, and quotes about the ocean.

2. Bliss: Beaches

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: Through stunning travel photography and 160 pages total, this book celebrates some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Its pages are large in size–measuring 11.1 by 13.55 inches–making it a perfect coffee table book for any beach lover!

Road Trip Travel Books for your Coffee Table

1. drives of a lifetime 2nd edition: 500 of the world’s greatest road trips.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: We absolutely love National Geographic books, and this is another one of our favorites. It contains 500 total road trip ideas, from world-famous road trips to lesser-known hidden gems all around the globe. Some of these are short-distance day trips, and some are longer, cross-country road trips, so whether you want to take a lengthy vacation or just a short local drive on a day off from work, this book has got you covered. Full-color maps, planning tips, and detailed descriptions (including distance and driving time) accompany every road trip suggestion, as well as the type of breathtaking travel photos that everyone’s come to love from National Geographic, of course.

Best Travel Photography Books

1. national geographic visual atlas of the world.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This National Geographic travel photography book contains 350 photographs and over 200 maps as well as satellite imagery on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the depths of our oceans, and even what lies beyond our Earth: Space! With 416 pages total and measuring over 17 inches by 12 inches, this is a hefty book. It’s one of the pricier entries on this list, but it’s also one of the absolute best travel photography books that exist on the market. If you’re looking for a coffee table travel book, and you’ve got the money to splurge, this one can’t be beat! This book is GIANT!

2. Visions of Earth: National Geographic Photographs of Beauty, Majesty, and Wonder

travel photography books usa

Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This book is smaller than what is typical or usually preferred for a coffee table book, but the travel photography contained within it is so beautiful that we still had to include it. Visions of Earth contains some of the best National Geographic photos in existence. The featured images have been carefully selected from the most popular, top-voted, and #1 rated photos from the magazine’s “Visions of Earth” feature as well as from never-before-published images from renowned photographers throughout the world. The book measures just 6.4 x 8.35 inches, but it contains a glorious 512 pages that will surely make you not regret including this little gem on your coffee table amongst all your other travel books.

Coffee Table Travel Castle Books

1. the world’s most amazing castles: timeless treasures around the globe.

travel photography books usa

Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: We LOVE castles. We seriously just can’t get enough of them. And this book is filled with them. There’s 100 castles total–absolutely stunning photographs of 100 of the world’s most amazing castles. There’s also detailed information and travel tips listed for every entry. You’ll find castle hotels, famous castles featured in Hollywood films, colorful castles, castles important throughout history, and other iconic castles (like Dracula’s castle). If you are a castle lover, then we highly recommend this travel book as top pick for your coffee table!

Women of the World Cultural Travel Books for the Coffee Table

1. the atlas of beauty: women of the world in 500 portraits.

travel photography books usa

Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This stunning photography project features the portraits and personal stories of 500 everyday women from over 50 different countries around the world. During her own personal travels, photographer Mihaela Noroc set out to capture the beauty of the world as seen through us–humanity. The resulting travel book is a celebration of culture and diversity–a photographic collection of what transcends borders, unites us, and makes us unique albeit not so different afterall.

Coffee Table Travel Books about Hiking

1. 100 hikes of a lifetime: the world’s ultimate scenic trails.

travel photography books usa

Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This travel photography book contains breathtaking images from 100 of the world’s most amazing hikes. The experiences range from short day-hikes to multiday excursions and contain travel tips, important information, and wisdom from expert hikers. Every single continent and climate is covered in this book (yes, there’s even a hike for Antarctica). The photos are absolutely stunning (as National Geographic photos always are), so even if you’re not a hiker, you can still enjoy this book just for the pictures. The book measures 8.75 by 8.75 inches, so it’s not one of the largest coffee table travel books on this list, but it’s still big enough to look great in your living room! (And it’s nice and thick–one of the fattest books on this list with a whopping total 400 pages!)

Read Next: 10+ Books About Yellowstone to Pack for Your Trip

Space Travel Coffee Table Books

1. the hubble cosmos: 25 years of new vistas in space.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This travel coffee table book contains over 150 photos from 25 years of Hubble history. Some of the best photos NASA has ever taken of the universe can be found in this book. With 224 pages total and measuring 9.55 by 11.15 inches, this National Geographic book will look amazing on your coffee table!

Pets and Travel Coffee Table Books

1. our wild tails: the adventures of henry and baloo.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This adorable travel book chronicles the outdoor adventures of furry friends Henry and Baloo as they trek across eleven US states with their photographer “mom” Cynthia Bennett. The book also contains their personal story–an unconventional but inspiring story of cat and dog friendship–that is sure to warm even the coldest hearts. Note: this book is a little bit smaller than most of the other coffee table travel books on this list, but if you’re specifically looking for a book about travel with pets, this is one of the largest (and most stunning) books that you can find!

2. Dogs on the Beach

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This unique travel book is perfect for any dog lover who loves the beach! Photographer Lara Jo Regan spent three years traveling to beaches throughout America to capture the joy of dogs who love the water, sand, wind, and waves. At just 9 by 7 inches, this book is a bit smaller than what we normally recommend for coffee table books, but it’s difficult to find travel books focusing specifically on pets in a larger scale than this, so we’ve chosen to still include this book on this list. The photography is absolutely stunning and intimate, so we truly think that dog lovers won’t want to pass this one up!

3. Travels of Suki the Adventure Cat

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: Suki is a gorgeous Bengal cat who has spent years traveling all over the world. This book contains beautiful photography showcasing her adventures at 152 different breathtaking locations and mingles them with pages of inspiring quotes. Like the other 2 pet-themed travel books featured in this article above, this book is smaller than we normally recommend for coffee table books, but the photos are so stunning that we think any cat lover will want it displayed in their living room anyway.

Landscape Photography Coffee Table Travel Books

1. let’s get lost: the world’s most stunning remote locations.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: Through 240 pages and over 200 photos, this landscape photography book features the most breathtaking, off-grid, hidden, and remote places around the world. Curated by award-winning travel photographer Finn Beales, it includes the works and personal stories of over 20 different landscape photographers. From hard-to-reach shorelines and rugged mountains to dark forests and untouched wilderness, this coffee table travel book is perfect for every armchair adventurer who’d like to experience the world from the comfort of their own living room.

2. National Geographic Greatest Landscapes: Stunning Photographs That Inspire and Astonish

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This stunning 400 page landscape photography book is organized by season–spring, summer, autumn, and winter–and captures vibrant, rare photography from some of the most amazing places in the world. These are some of the most beautiful photographs that National Geographic has to offer, so if you are a fan of their travel books, you’ll also want to add this one to your collection. The book is thick, the pages are large, and the photos are full of bright colors.

Colorful Travel Books for the Coffee Table

1. the rainbow atlas: a guide to the world’s 500 most colorful places.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This book speaks for itself. If you’re a fan of colorful travel, then this travel photography book is for you. Inside you’ll find a rainbow of vibrant photos–500 total places that comprise some of the most colorful places in the world. Each entry includes travel facts and tips for visiting the destination. The book measures just 7 by 9.35 inches, making it one of the smaller coffee table books included on this list, but it reigns supreme in showcasing color, so we think it still deserves a spot in every travel lover’s living room.

Read Next: The Best Travel-Themed Adult Coloring Books for Women with Wanderlust

Food Lovers Travel Coffee Table Books

1. food journeys of a lifetime: 500 extraordinary places to eat around the globe.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This book contains a whopping 500 foods, markets, and restaurants from the world’s greatest culinary destinations. The cultural importance of every featured food is highlighted, and there’s even recipes for if you want to bring some of these cuisines into your own kitchen. If you’re a foodie traveler, this is one coffee table travel book you won’t want to miss!

Country-Specific Travel Coffee Table Books

1. our hearts are in france.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: Advertised as equal parts travel guide, design compendium, and cookbook, this book contains 232 pages of enchanting villages, centuries-old chateaux, romantic gardens, architectural wonders, iconic interiors, and even French cuisine recipes so that you can feel like you’ve been transported to France from the comfort of your own living room. This book is large in size–measuring 11.75 by 10 inches–so it will make a perfect coffee table book for anyone whose heart is in France.

2. Our Hearts Are in England

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This book is perfect for any England travel lover. From the editors of Victoria magazine, it contains 232 pages of charming villages, rugged coastlines, breathtaking castles, iconic cities, rolling countrysides, cozy cottages, and cultural traditions such as afternoon tea. It measures 12.25 by 10.25 inches, so it’s the perfect size to be used as a coffee table book!

3. America the Beautiful: A Story in Photographs

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: The travel photography featured in this book spans more than 130 years, combining modern and historical imagery across 400 total pages to showcase everything that makes the United States of America beautiful. Inspiring photos of cities, countrysides, national parks, people, iconic structures, and moments are interspersed with quotes from historians, activists, celebrities, conservationists, and politicians. The book measures 10.25 by 10.25 inches, making it a perfect selection for a coffee table travel book.

4. Gray Malin: Italy

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: In this travel photography book, photographer Gray Malin celebrates the most famous beaches and coastlines in Italy. Dramatic coastal cliffs, charming hillside villages, luxury motorboats, retro beach umbrellas, and sparkling blue waters are the highlights of this collection. (Note: there are a lot of colorful umbrellas.) This book measures 10.25 by 13.35 inches, making it a nice large size that will look excellent on your coffee table.

5. Québec: A Photographic Road Trip Through Canada’s Beautiful Province

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This book is perfect for anyone who loves Canada and, in particular, the province of Québec. There’s 272 total pages filled with beautiful, breathtaking photography from award-winning photographer Mathieu Dupuisas as well as insider travel tips, historical notes, cultural facts, geographical data, and sample itineraries. From picturesque countrysides and vibrant cities to island life and a 17th century fortress, this coffee table travel book has it all.

Coffee Table Travel Books About Paris

1. paris in color.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: Photographer Nichole Robertson presents Paris in a way that few have ever seen it–organized by color. Through photographing everyday sights in the city–cafe chairs, bicycles, weathered shop doors, architectural designs–she celebrates the hidden details at the heart of the city. This unique travel coffee table book is one that every Paris fan is sure to fall in love with.

2. Paris in Bloom

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: Photographer Georgianna Lane takes readers on a floral tour of the city in this love confession to Paris. Flower markets, boutiques, public gardens, and blooming trees are the heart of this travel book and the focus of the entire collection. If you live for flowers and prefer to see photographs of beautiful bouquets instead of bustling city streets and iconic landmarks, then this is the coffee table travel book for you.

Coffee Table Travel Books About London

1. pretty little london: a seasonal guide to the city’s most instagrammable places.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: This book has been curated from the popular Instagram account @prettylittlelondon, so you can trust that authors Sara Santini and Andrea Di Filippo know their stuff when it comes to chronicling the most Instagrammable places in London. This 208 page tour of the city is organized by season and features beautifully illustrated maps in addition to soft, dreamy photography and tips on how to achieve the same shots.

2. London in Bloom

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: Parks, gardens, floral boutiques, and flower markets are the heart of this 160 page travel book as photographer Georgianna Lane takes readers on a floral tour of the city in this dreamy love confession to London. If you live for flowers and prefer to see photographs of beautiful blooms rather than bustling city streets, then this is the coffee table travel book for you.

Coffee Table Travel Books About New York

1. walk with me: new york.

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Why We Love this Coffee Table Travel Book: Greenwich Village based New York photographer Susan Kaufman captures the beauty of her city through daily walks down cobblestones streets lined with flowers, past charming carriage houses covered in vines, and alongside tree-lined paths that slowly change with the seasons. She captures intimate neighborhoods as only someone who truly knows the heart of the city can do, and the pages filling this travel book contain some of the most breathtaking photographs of New York that you can see.

Best Coffee Table Travel Books FAQ

I just want a really big travel coffee table book. which book is the biggest.

If you want an extra large coffee table travel book, then National Geographic’s Visual Atlas of the World is by far the biggest. This book is GIANT. It measures 12 x 1.65 x 17.25 inches and contains 416 total pages.

For a very large-sized coffee table travel book that is a little better for tighter budgets, The Travel Book ( 10.75 x 1.25 x 13.88 inches), Bliss: Beaches ( 11.1 x 0.9 x 13.55 inches), Gray Malin: Italy (10.25 x 1 x 13.35 inches), and Destinations of a Lifetime ( 9.5 x 1 x 12.25 inches) are the next best picks! They are the next biggest-in-size travel books that you can find, but they are a little more affordable than our #1 top choice.

Which book do we think is the best travel coffee table book?

My overall top favorite travel coffee table book is probably The Travel Book because it’s a journey through every country in the world, and it’s rare to find a travel book that includes every single one!

The World’s Most Amazing Castles is a close runner-up for me though because I’m obsessed with castles, and the photography in this book is so beautiful.

If you have the money to spend, Visual Atlas of the World is also one of my absolute top favorites because it is so HUGE that it makes all the photos really pop. It just really can’t be beat as the all-around best travel photography book on the market today. It’s a gorgeous, giant, absolute mammoth of a book.

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  • Books Travel

10 Books Every Travel Photographer Should Read

  • Catherine Gaither

Last updated:

  • July 24, 2022
  • See comments

Travel photography books, such as Photography Demystified by David McKay, give you advice on what to bring and how to transport it safely.

Travel photography is an exciting field, but requires a greater degree of preparation than other niches. It also necessitates a good understanding of technical details that will help you get great photographs in any setting. So, where do you get that information?

These 10 travel photography books are must reads for every travel photographer, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro:

Understanding Exposure by bryan peterson

#1. Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera by Bryan Peterson

This is not just a travel photography book, it’s a great book for any photographer. Bryan Peterson is a professional photographer and internationally known instructor. He has written several photography books in his signature relaxed, informative writing style. This book demystifies complex concepts related to exposure, and it has been updated to include current technologies.

It includes an easy-to-understand explanation of the relationship between aperture and shutter speed and how to deal with difficult shooting situations, something often encountered with travel photography .

Travel Photography Book by scott kelby

#2. The Digital Photography Book: Part 1 (2nd Edition) by Scott Kelby

Scott Kelby is a professional photographer, the editor of Photoshop User magazine, and the President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. What’s great about his books is that they are written in a brilliant style.

He writes as if a friend had asked him a question on how to do something and he is answering it. He doesn’t give lectures about aperture, exposure or other technical aspects of photography , he just tells you what to do to get a particular shot.

With this travel photography book in particular, each page covers a different concept—a different pro setting, a different pro tool, another pro trick—to make your photography better.

the art of photography book 2nd edition

#3. The Art of Photography: A Personal Approach to Artistic Expression by Bruce Barnbaum

If you have to choose only one travel photography textbook, this is it. This book can be read by beginners, intermediate, and professional photographers, and they will all learn something new. Bruce Barnbaum is a photographer and teacher, and in this book, his passion for teaching is evident.

He presents techniques for both traditional and digital photography , and he discusses the concept of “art versus technique”. Barnbaum discusses the technical details of photography , but he also delves deeply into the philosophical and creative aspects as well, something many other books avoid.

Travel and street photography book by john batdorff

#4. Travel and Street Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots by John Batdorff

John Batdorff is an award-winning travel photographer. With this book, he takes you through the basics of composition and exposure as well as how to plan and pack the right equipment you’ll need for different types of conditions.

He then discusses the key camera features that affect your images, and finally, once you have the images, he takes you through the post production steps in Lightroom to process your images in your own style.

Photography Demystified by david McKay

#5. Photography Demystified: Your Guide to the World of Travel Photography by David McKay

David McKay is a professional photographer and instructor. McKay and his wife have led photographic tours around the world helping photography enthusiasts learn how to get the images that will tell inspiring stories.

This book gives you practical advice about what gear to take with you and how to pack it.

Additionally, it gives you insights into creating stunning, captivating photographs as you travel. The book also offers advice on how to get your equipment on the plane and through security in foreign countries. Mckay gives great practical advice for how to transport your gear safely as you travel.

hot shoe diaries book by joe mcnally

#6. The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes 1st Edition by Joe McNally

Joe McNally has worked as a professional photographer for more than thirty years with National Geographic, Time, Life , and Sports Illustrated. In this book, he shares his secrets about how to create, shape, control, and direct light using hot shoe flashes.

He candidly shares his lighting solutions to create incredible images. Aside from his practical tips, you’ll be entertained by his captivating stories from around the world.

film photography handbook

#7. The Film Photography Handbook by Chris Marquardt and Monika Andrae

Chris Marquardt is the host of Tips from the Top Floor, which is the world’s longest running photography show. Monika Andrae has been a professional photographer since the early 90s. She believes that technical photography can and should be creative, and that is part of her mission. In 2010, she feel back in love with film photography , and she’s not the only one. Film photography has witnessed a significant renaissance, particularly for younger generations.

These two authors created this book as a fairly complete resource for shooting film. It is written in an easy-to-understand style and includes timely topics such as hybrid film/digital workflow, digitization of negatives, and working with smartphones both in assisting in the film process and for light metering. It also gives you practical advice on how to acquire a second-hand film camera, film formats, and film developing.

The traveling photographer book by sandra petrowitz

#8. The Traveling Photographer: A Guide to Great Travel Photography 1st Edition by Sandra Petrowitz

Sandra Petrowitz has worked as a newspaper and magazine journalist and editor for more than 15 years. She has organized photography tours to places as diverse as Jordan and Antarctica. In this book, she shares theoretical information as well as practical advice for taking better pictures.

The tips include how to carefully compose pictures, avoid common mistakes, and create a unique perspective of places that have been photographed many times in the past. Her goal with this book is to help you find your own personal point of view as a photographer.

travel photography book follow me to

#9. Follow Me To by Nataly Zakharova and Murad Osmann

Murad Osmann is a professional photographer who runs a production company producing music videos and commercials. Nataly Sakharova produces her own video projects about traveling. Together, they created this book filled with images from Moscow, Madrid, Ibiza, and beyond. The book is designed to remind travel photographers that experimentation and creativity are key to success.

It is an extension of the Follow Me project created in 2012 to show the beauty and uniqueness of different locations around the world. The project quickly became a worldwide internet sensation as millions watched the pair travel the world portraying local lifestyles and narratives through photography . The books instructs photographers on making the ordinary seem beautiful through the innovative use of the camera’s lens.

stunning digital photography book by tony northrup

#10. How to Create Stunning Digital Photography by Tony Northrup and Chelsea Northrup

Tony and Chelsea Northrup are authors and professional photographers who have published more than 30 how-to books and YouTube videos. This book is Amazon’s #1 rated and best-selling digital photography book. It includes links to over 14 hours of videos, access to a private Stunning Digital Photography Readers group on Facebook where you can ask questions and get feedback from Tony and Chelsea on photographs you post, lifetime updates, hands-on practices at the end of every chapter, and over 500 original pictures.

It covers diverse topics such as composition and exposure as well as pet photography , landscapes, and night photography . And, it includes secrets for the pros. It is an indispensable resource and a must-have for professionals.

Whether you’re a professional photographer looking for tips on travel photography or a beginner looking for more detailed information, these 10 travel photography books will give you insights into the technical aspects of photography in variable conditions, the practical side of transporting your gear, and the creative inspiration you need to capture stunning images.

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Book Scrolling

Best Book Lists, Award Aggregation, & Book Data

The Best Travel Photography Books Of All-Time

The Best Travel Photography Books

“What are the best books Travel Photography?” We looked at 226 of the top books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top travel photography books, both how-to’s and books comprised of travel photography, are ranked below by how many times they appeared on other top “Travel Photography” lists. The top 21 books, all appearing on 2 or more lists, are ranked below, with the remaining 200+ books, and the lists we used in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

Top 21 Travel Photography Books

21 .) 36 hours 125 weekends in europe by barbara ireland.

travel photography books usa

Lists It Appears On:

  • World Of Wonderlust
“From Paris to Perm and beyond: Dream weekends with practical itineraries in all corners of Europe Culture, history, natural beauty, fine cuisine, artistic masterpieces, cutting-edge architecture and style—Europe overflows with so many riches that a lifetime seems too short to appreciate them. But with the right guidance, you can go far in a single weekend. Stylishly written and carefully researched, this updated and expanded collection of the popular New York Times 36 Hours feature offers you 125 well-crafted itineraries for quick but memorable European trips, accompanied by hundreds of color photographs to fire your imagination. Explore the expected: the Renaissance in Florence, surfing in Biarritz, flamenco in Seville. And discover the unexpected: Sicilian mummies dressed in their Sunday best, a dry-land toboggan ride on Madeira, a hotel in Tallinn with a KGB spies’ nest on the penthouse floor. World capitals, ancient nations that once ruled wide domains, tiny countries with big personalities—it’s all Europe, and all fun to read about (whether you actually go or not) in this handsomely designed and illustrated book.”

Purchase / Learn More

20 .) Extraordinary Everyday Photography: Awaken Your Vision to Create Stunning Images Wherever You Are by Brenda Tharp

travel photography books usa

  • BeArt Presets
“Photographers are born travelers. They’ll go any distance to capture the right light, beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and people. But exotic locales aren’t necessary for interesting photographs. Wonderful images are hiding almost everywhere; you just need to know how to find them. Extraordinary Everyday Photography will help you search beyond the surface to find the unexpected wherever you are, be it a downtown street, a local park, or your own front lawn. Authors Brenda Tharp and Jed Manwaring encourage amateur photographers to slow down, open their eyes, and respond to what they see to create compelling images that aren’t overworked. Inspiring photo examples from the authors, taken with DSLRs, compact digital cameras, and even iPhones, show that it is the photographer’s eye and creative vision–not the gear–that make a great image.”

19 .) Food Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe by National Geographic Society

travel photography books usa

  • Window Seat
“For pure pleasure, few experiences are as satisfying as a chance to explore the world’s great culinary traditions and landmarks—and here, in the latest title of our popular series of illustrated travel gift books, you’ll find a fabulous itinerary of foods, dishes, markets, and restaurants worth traveling far and wide to savor. On the menu is the best of the best from all over the globe: Tokyo’s freshest sushi; the spiciest Creole favorites in New Orleans; the finest vintages of the great French wineries; the juiciest cuts of beef in Argentina; and much, much more. You’ll sample the sophisticated dishes of fabled chefs and five-star restaurants, of course, but you’ll also discover the simpler pleasures of the side-street cafés that cater to local people and the classic specialties that give each region a distinctive flavor. Every cuisine tells a unique story about its countryside, climate, and culture, and in these pages you’ll meet the men and women who transform nature’s bounty into a thousand gustatory delights. Hundreds of appetizing full-color illustrations evoke an extraordinary range of tastes and cooking techniques; a wide selection of recipes invites you to create as well as consume; sidebars give a wealth of entertaining information about additional sites to visit as well as the cultural importance of the featured food; while lively top ten lists cover topics from chocolate factories to champagne bars, from historic food markets to wedding feasts, harvest celebrations, and festive occasions of every kind. In addition, detailed practical travel information provides all the ingredients you’ll need to cook up a truly delicious experience for even the most demanding of traveling gourmets.”

18 .) Fruits by Shoichi Aoki

travel photography books usa

This is a collection of 45 Tokyo street fashion portraits from Japan’s premier fanzine. Fruits was established in 1994, by photographer Shoich Aoki, initially as a project to document the growing explosion in street fashion within the suburbs of Tokyo. The magazine has since grown to cult status and is now avidly followed by thousands of Japanese teenagers who also use the magazine as an opportunity to check out the latest styles and trends. The average age of the kids featured in the magazine is between 12 and 18 years and the clothes they wear are a mixture of high fashion – Vivienne Westwood is a keen favourite – and home-made ensembles which, when combined, create a novel, if not hysterical, effect.

17 .) Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa by Hans Walter Silvester

travel photography books usa

“The scene of tribal conflicts and guerrilla incursions, Ethiopia’s Omo Valley is also home to fascinating rites and traditions that have survived for thousands of years. The nomadic people who inhabit the valley share a gift for body painting and elaborate adornments borrowed from nature, and Hans Silvester has captured the results in a series of photographs made over the course of numerous trips.”

16 .) Places to Go, People to See by Kate Spade

travel photography books usa

kate spade new york: places to go, people to see focuses on the how, where and why of travel through the lens of the always-inspired kate spade new york girl. this new volume features vibrant photography, old-world glamour, a dash of charm and inspirational quotes, tips and words of wisdom that every kate spade new york girl should know. kate spade new york: places to go, people to seeshowcases chic destinations such as paris, new york city, the amalfi coast, marrakech, tokyo, and st moritz, along with ways to incorporate those things seen, heard and experienced into life back home. kate spade new york: places to go, people to see will have you booking a plane ticket the moment you finish turning the pages!

15 .) Revelations: Latin American Wisdom for Every Day by Danielle Föllmi

travel photography books usa

A cradle of Nobel Prize winners and a font of ancient wisdom, Latin America provides a wealth of sublime source material for the husband-and-wife creative team of Danielle and Olivier Föllmi. In the latest installment in their Offerings for Humanity series, the authors draw nuggets of written wisdom from the Andean plains to the Mexican desert. Set against the stunning visual backdrop of 365 photographs, taken all across the continent by Olivier, these quotations come from both world-renowned Latin American writers (including Pablo Neruda, Octavio Paz, and Carlos Fuentes) and traditional Indian spiritual teachings, demonstrating the subtle interweaving of ancestral belief and contemporary thought in one of the world’s most intellectually fertile regions.

14 .) The Travel Book by Celeste Brash

travel photography books usa

  • American Express Essentials
“With details of every United Nations-approved country in the world, and a few more principalities and dependencies besides, Lonely Planet’s Travel Book is the ultimate introduction to a world of travel and the essential travel reference book for every household! Each country is profiled by Lonely Planet’s expert authors and features details of when to visit, what to see and do, and how to learn more about the country’s culture from its film, music, food and drink. Every entry has a map and statistics about the country. All brand new, incredible photography illustrates each country, depicting what life is like in each nation from photographic portraits of people, beautiful landscape photographs and vibrant street photography.”

13 .) Travel Photography: A Guide to Taking Better Pictures by Richard I’Anson

travel photography books usa

  • Best Photography Books
  • ePhoto Zine
“• Great for beginners and a handy reference for more experienced photographers • Technical know-how in succinct, easy to understand text • Packed with tips and invaluable suggestions from a professional travel photographer • Amply illustrated with examples of what to do and how to do it, and how to rectify photographic disasters • Sized to fit neatly into all photo bags”

12 .) Travel Photography: Documenting the World’s People & Places by Bob Krist

travel photography books usa

  • Dan Bailey Photo Blog
“As we travel to new places, digital camera in hand, we all feel the desire to capture them forever in images: the scenic vistas, the unique architecture, the people who inhabit that landscape. With this magnificent new study, award-winning National Geographic photographer Bob Krist can help us achieve our goal. It’s distinguished from other digital how-tos by its comprehensive scope, easy-to-grasp explanations, inspirational attitude, and upscale aesthetics. Krist examines the technological aspects of shooting digitally on location, and explains how to select the right equipment, from cameras and lenses to flashes and tripods. He offers tips for saving, backing up, and sending images on the road, and gets to the heart of what it takes to portray the true spirit of your subject. He poses such questions as: What makes a truly great photograph? How can you create a well-rounded portrait of a place through its geography, people, and culture? The answers are all illustrated with the author’s collection of stunning travel photography to inspire us along the way.”

11 .) Travel: A Century In Photographs: 1900-2000 by Mark Griffiths

travel photography books usa

  • Tripbase Blog
The 20th century saw more changes than any other period in history, and not least in the areas of transportation and travel. “Travel: A Century in Photographs” records the advances – both technological and social – that occurred during the last 100 years. Each year of the century is represented in a single indelible image, chosen for the story it tells. Compiled from the archives of “The Times” and the Hulton Getty Picture Library, each picture has an explanatory caption that highlights its relevance to the time. The book shows how momentous events, such as two world wars, affected travelers and the transportation industry; it also shows how private transportation and foreign travel, once a privilege of the upper classes, became a pleasure to be enioyed by all. An outstanding collection of photos that reveals both the humor and the tragedies of our 20th-century passion for travel.

10 .) Work: The World in Photographs by Ferdinand Protzman

travel photography books usa

National Geographic is pleased to present our new Collectors Series. Each volume is a fresh presentation of one of our world-famous photography books. Our first volume, Work, showcases this most universal human pastime through images culled from National Geographic’s vast photographic archive as well as other important collections. This fascinating, wide-ranging volume presents a wonderfully varied group portrait of people at work—in great cities and tiny villages; in 19th-century China and 21st-century New York; in fields, factories, food carts, four-star restaurants, and just about everywhere else we earn our keep. Here are cowboys and clowns, shepherds and shopkeepers, street musicians and artists’ models all plying their assorted trades; on one page a professional quarterback fires off a pass as the crowd cheers him on, on the next a lone fisherman casts his net in the silent solitude of a Pacific lagoon, and on the next a nomadic tribesman erects a yurt on the Mongolian plain.

9 .) Genesis by Sebastiao Salgado

travel photography books usa

  • Shutter Stock
“On a very fortuitous day in 1970, 26-year-old Sebastião Salgado held a camera for the first time. When he looked through the viewfinder, he experienced a revelation: suddenly life made sense. From that day onward—though it took years of hard work before he had the experience to earn his living as a photographer—the camera became his tool for interacting with the world. Salgado, who “always preferred the chiaroscuro palette of black-and-white images,” shot very little color in his early career before giving it up completely. Raised on a farm in Brazil, Salgado possessed a deep love and respect for nature; he was also particularly sensitive to the ways in which human beings are affected by their often devastating socio-economic conditions. Of the myriad works Salgado has produced in his acclaimed career, three long-term projects stand out: Workers (1993), documenting the vanishing way of life of manual laborers across the world, Migrations (2000), a tribute to mass migration driven by hunger, natural disasters, environmental degradation and demographic pressure, and this new opus, GENESIS, the result of an epic eight-year expedition to rediscover the mountains, deserts and oceans, the animals and peoples that have so far escaped the imprint of modern society—the land and life of a still-pristine planet. “Some 46% of the planet is still as it was in the time of genesis,” Salgado reminds us. “We must preserve what exists.” The GENESIS project, along with the Salgados’ Instituto Terra, are dedicated to showing the beauty of our planet, reversing the damage done to it, and preserving it for the future.”

8 .) Humans of New York Stories by Brandon Stanton

travel photography books usa

In the summer of 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton began an ambitious project -to single-handedly create a photographic census of New York City. The photos he took and the accompanying interviews became the blog Humans of New York. His audience steadily grew from a few hundred followers to, at present count, over eighteen million. In 2013, his book Humans of New York, based on that blog, was published and immediately catapulted to the top of the NY Times Bestseller List where it has appeared for over forty-five weeks. Now, Brandon is back with the Humans of New York book that his loyal followers have been waiting for: Humans of New York: Stories. Ever since Brandon began interviewing people on the streets of New York, the dialogue he’s had with them has increasingly become as in-depth, intriguing and moving as the photos themselves. Humans of New York: Stories presents a whole new group of people in stunning photographs, with a rich design and, most importantly, longer stories that delve deeper and surprise with greater candor. Let Brandon Stanton and the Humans of New York he’s photographed astonish you all over again.

7 .) Paris in Color by Nichole Robertson

travel photography books usa

Take a journey through the world’s most romantic city, traveling from color to magnificent color with this beguiling book. An orange café chair, bright blue bicycles against a fence, a weathered white door—Nichole Robertson’s sumptuous photographs of the distinctive details of Paris, all arranged by color, evoke a sense of serendipitous discovery and celebrate the city as never before. At once a work of art and a window into the heart of the city, Paris in Color will surprise and delight those who love art, design, color, and, of course, Paris!

6 .) Portraits by Steve McCurry

travel photography books usa

Steve McCurry never set out to take portraits. In 1985, he photographed an Afghan girl for the National Geographic. The intensity of the subject’s eyes and her compelling gaze made this one of the most widely and consistently celebrated portraits in the history of contemporary photography. This accompanies the other remarkable faces he has encountered whilst travelling throughout the world, collected together in an engaging and strangely moving series of unique street portraits: unposed, unstylized images of people that reveal the true universality of the depths of human emotion.Critically acclaimed and recognized internationally for his classic reportage, over the last twenty years he has worked on numerous assignments, travelling extensively throughout the Middle and Far East. McCurry has won first prize in the World Press Awards, and was named Magazine Photographer of the Year in 1984. He is most famous for his evocative color photography, which has captured stories of human experience that, in the finest documentary tradition, transcend boundaries of language and culture.

5 .) Ruin: Photographs of a Vanishing America by Brian Vanden Brink

travel photography books usa

Brian Vanden Brink is one of America’s most sought-after architectural photographers. He is also drawn to the mystery and unexpected beauty found in abandoned architecture. Here Vanden Brink captures and illuminates in stunning black and white images abandoned structures such as mills, bridges, grain elevators, churches, and storefronts-structures that once were important and useful. With text by historic preservation expert Howard Mansfield, this collection of photos grants permanence to places that may soon vanish forever.

4 .) Yosemite by Ansel Adams

travel photography books usa

This beautifully printed paperback original collects Ansel Adams’ finest images of the place closest to his heart, Yosemite National Park. “I knew my destiny when I first experienced Yosemite”, wrote Adams, who first visited the park at the age of fourteen and returned every year of his life thereafter. This new book presents the essence of Adams’ long association with Yosemite: sixty-six memorable photographs of glacial lakes and craggy peaks, cascading waterfalls and granite monoliths, lone trees and sylvan streams. Here are Moon and Half Dome, Clearing Winter Storm, and El Capitan, Winter, Sunrise – images that have become veritable icons of the American wilderness. Selections from Adams’ writings about the park and its environment, and an introductory essay that reveals the prescience of Adams’ views on park management issues, enhance this majestic photographic portrait of Yosemite National Park by America’s foremost landscape photographer.

3 .) China: Portrait of a People by Tom Carter

travel photography books usa

From the subtropical jungles of Yunnan to the frozen wastes of Heilongjiang; across the scalding deserts of Xinjiang and beneath Hong Kong’s neon blur. Tramping through China by train, bus, boat, motorcycle, mule or hitching on the back of anything that moved. On a budget so scant that he drew sympathetic stares from peasants. Backpacking photographer Tom Carter somehow succeeded in circumnavigating over 35,000 miles (56,000 kilometers) across all 33 provinces in China during a 2-year period, the first foreigner on record ever to do so.

2 .) Through the Lens: National Geographic Greatest Photographs by National Geographic Society

travel photography books usa

“For more than 100 years, National Geographic has set the standard for nature, culture, and wildlife photography. In Through the Lens, 250 spectacular images—some famous, others rarely seen—are gathered in one lavish, newly formatted volume. Through the Lens is divided into geographical regions with a special section devoted to space exploration. Each geographical section features an outstanding array of photographs that exemplifies the area’s unique people, wildlife, archaeology, culture, architecture, and environment, accompanied by brief but informative captions. From Barry Bishop’s heroic Mount Everest climb in the 1950s to the glorious wildlife of Asia and Africa, from ancient Maya culture to the Afghan woman found 17 years after her piercing green eyes captivated the world, these are some of the finest and most important photographs ever taken.”

1 .) One Planet: Inspirational Travel Photography from Around the World by Lonely Planet

travel photography books usa

“One Planet is a celebration of great travel photography, and of the diversity and similarities within our world. Paired images encourage the appreciation of connections between people and places continents apart. Images each capture a moment in time – a moment that can be shared, or at least understood, around the globe. Authors: Written and researched by Lonely Planet, Roz Hopkins, Tony Wheeler About Lonely Planet: Started in 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world’s leading travel guide publisher with guidebooks to every destination on the planet, as well as an award-winning website, a suite of mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet’s mission is to enable curious travellers to experience the world and to truly get to the heart of the places where they travel.”

The 200+ Additional Books Of Travel Pgotography

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The 12 Best Travel Photo Book Makers of 2024

Create a forever keepsake and preserve your precious vacation memories with a photo book.

travel photography books usa

In This Article

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  • Our top picks
  • Tips for Choosing
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Travel + Leisure / Alli Waataja

The old cliché dictates that a picture is worth a thousand words, and certainly photos are one of the best souvenirs you can bring home when you travel. But, let’s be honest: how often do you really scroll back through your phone reel or revisit those online albums? A photo book is a much more tangible, attractive way to keep those memories safe and accessible forever. 

There are many photo book makers out there, all with slightly different offerings. Some specialize in simple, budget-friendly books that you can make for every trip while others excel at luxurious coffee table art books meant to commemorate once-in-a-lifetime adventures. We’ve researched the best options to help you choose the right photo book maker for your next vacation — and beyond.

Best Overall

Artifact Uprising

The gorgeous, high-quality products come in a range of styles and materials to suit all tastes and budgets. 

You won’t find themed layouts or same-day production here. 

Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly softcover photo book to add to your travel collection or a premium layflat coffee table book to commemorate your destination wedding, Artifact Uprising has you covered. The company offers a full range of photo book sizes, shapes, and layouts including some more unusual options (board books for babies, for example, or Insta-friendly books designed especially for square images). Each book promises exceptional print quality and durable construction. 

You can customize every aspect of your photo book, although options vary depending on the product you choose. Examples include cover color and material (with possibilities including softcover, hardcover, linen, and leather), foil stamping, paper finish, the layout of your photos and text, and the page count. Most templates include 20 pages with an additional fee for each page thereafter. You won’t find colorful themes here; all products print on white paper for a clean, uncluttered look that puts your images front and center. 

For the most professional result possible, consider paying extra to collaborate with one of the company’s in-house design specialists. Production times vary from three to eight days depending on the complexity of your project. There are also four shipping options that range from standard to rush.

Best Budget

Their full range of customizable templates and colored backgrounds makes it easy to get the look you want. 

Expect additional fees for any project over 20 pages, upgraded paper, and finish choices. 

Although Snapfish also offers costlier products, their classic photo books are some of the most affordable out there. If you opt for a 7x5 or 6x8 softcover or hardcover book and stick to the included 20-page limit, you can easily spend under $20. Affordable upgrades include premium gloss pages and/or a matte cover; but bear in mind that extra pages can quickly add up. Making your photo book is simple. Choose the size and orientation, then design your own from scratch or use one of many premade templates.

Travel-themed templates include roadtrip, destination stamps, and tropical beach escape. After personalizing them with your photos and text. you can change the background color and add embellishments to each page. Optional layflat binding is worth the extra cost for seamless double-page spreads. If you find yourself with extra room in the budget, you can upgrade to a linen or leather cover. Production times vary, with the quickest delivery taking around three days with rushed shipping, but there are four total shipping options to cater to every budget.

Easiest to Use

Shutterfly’s in-house designers can create a photo book for you in 24 hours; all you have to do is provide your images. 

If you’re in a hurry, bear in mind that rush production and delivery is only available for certain products.

Most photo book makers require you to upload your images and then manually build each page or use an auto-uploader to add the pictures to a premade template. The first option is time consuming and the second often results in images being cropped or grouped in strange ways. Shutterfly offers a third option: upload your photos, then let an in-house designer create your book for you in 24 hours. Upon reviewing their design, you can order as-is or tweak it to suit your specifications. 

Best of all? This design service is offered free of charge. You can even use the Shutterfly app to upload photos directly from your phone. If you don’t want to use this service, no problem. You can still create photo books manually or use the faster autofill option. There are plenty of templates to choose from, with six square and rectangular size options and four cover types (softcover, matte or glossy hardcover, or premium leather). Production and delivery can take between one and 10 business days depending on the product and shipping option selected.

Best Themed Templates

Mixbook photo book.

With more than 700 themed templates to choose from, there’s an option for every kind of vacation. 

Not all templates offer the same number of free pages, so be sure to check before deciding. 

Mixbook photo books are divided into three main types: hardcover, softcover, and layflat for those seamless double-page spreads. Whichever you go for, there are more than 700 templates to choose from. These can be browsed by category with categories like year in review, seasonal, and, of course, templates for every major life event from weddings to baby’s first year. Travel-specific templates include options for photos only, or photos and text in a dizzying array of different layouts. 

Some are customizable to any trip while others are specific to certain adventures with themed graphics, text, and embellishments. There’s one for Disney trips, another for Royal Caribbean cruises, and another for national park adventures. You can also start with a completely blank canvas. Books can be landscape, portrait, or square and there are different paper and cover finishes to choose from. Production typically takes one to two business days with four shipping options available.

Best for Complex Designs

Canva photo books.

More than just a photo book maker, Canva lets you edit your photos and share your design with a team of collaborators. 

Some templates and features are only available with a paid Canva Pro account. 

For full creative freedom, choose Canva. Decide on a landscape or square book, then choose a hard or softcover. Next, browse thousands of templates (including a category dedicated to travel) and upload images from your phone, tablet, or desktop. All templates are fully customizable, which means you can change the font, the colors, and add icons and graphics. You can also edit your photos as you go with options to crop and rotate, adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation, and enhance with different filters and frames. 

All layouts can be adjusted to suit the number of photos you want on each page. If you upgrade to Canva Pro, you can remove backgrounds with a single click (kind of like cutting and pasting elements of real photos for a traditional scrapbook.) Canva autosaves as you go and creates an editing link that you can share to ask for input from friends and family. Recycled packaging and free standard shipping round out this company’s benefits.

Best for Simple Designs

Chatbooks is affordable and easy to use with the option to subscribe for repeat orders. 

Customization options are limited.  

If your photo book goals are a little less ambitious, opt for stackable, collectible designs from Chatbooks. The company’s classic photo books offer high quality printing at a price tag that’s reasonable enough to justify regular creations (if you like, you can even sign up for a monthly subscription.) How do they do this? By keeping things simple. You won’t find fancy templates or colored backgrounds, or an endless array of customizable graphics and fonts.

Instead, upload photos from your desktop or phone. Then, decide how many you want to appear on each page. If the answer is just one, choose whether you want it to cover the full page or have a white border around it. You can leave the layout text-free or add a simple location tag and/or caption. Other design choices include the book’s size, whether it has a hard or softcover, the color of the spine, and the cover. Books are made in the U.S. and include a generous 30 pages, with the option to buy more up to a total of 366. Standard shipping is free.

Best for Fast Printing

Walmart photo.

Walmart lets you design, order, and collect your photo book in-store, all on the same day. 

Most photo books must be no more than 40 pages to be eligible for same-day pickup. 

Walmart offers a solution for anyone who’s designing a photo book on a deadline, with more than 80 layouts that can be created online and then picked up in-store on the same day. You can choose from a variety of square and rectangular sizes in several different styles including softcover, matte and glossy hardcover; layflat; and premium layflat (with extra thick pages and a matte finish). Alternatively, upgrade to a linen or leather cover, or opt for a die-cut style that showcases your favorite image through a window. 

There are many themed templates to choose from, though most of them are fairly basic (don’t expect Canva-level creative flair.) Most templates include 20 pages with the option to buy more, but be aware that there’s usually a 40-page limit if you want to pick your book up the same day. If you have a little more time to work with and want extra pages, you can also opt for home delivery with free shipping on orders over $35.

Best Coffee Table Books

Once upon photo books.

Once Upon focuses on simple layouts that can be shared with and edited by multiple people. 

Designs may be a little too basic for fans of complex templates and embellishments. 

Once Upon offers three options for simple yet visually striking coffee table books. These include large and medium hardcover photo books with a sturdy build and a title of your choice printed on the spine, and medium softcover books for a flexible, lightweight feel that’s reminiscent of a luxury magazine. Choose whether you want silk matte or glossy pages, then create your book by uploading pictures directly from your phone, tablet, or desktop. 

Layouts are simple, with no themed templates, background colors, or fancy fonts. Instead, choose the number of photos you want featured on each page and let Once Upon create a collage automatically on the white background. You can edit the order in which they appear and add simple captions or separate text pages. Want to collaborate with your co-travelers? Share the editing link or QR code to get their input. The first 20 pages are included with a maximum of 200 available. Expect delivery in six to 12 business days.

Best Board Books

Pinhole Press

From their wipeable pages to their easy-turn binding, board books from Pinhole Press are designed especially with little kids in mind. 

The number of included pages varies from one template to the next, and not all templates allow you to add more. 

If you love the idea of making a photo book for the baby or toddler in your life but want it to last more than a few hours, check out Pinhole Press. Their board books are made especially for little people with rigid, high-gloss pages that can be wiped clean of errant crumbs or juice drops. A spiral binding makes for seamless page turning, while the 5.25 x 5.25 inch size is ideal for tiny hands. We love the clear, bright photos and just-right text size. 

There are lots of different templates to choose from, including a story board book that’s perfect for commemorating baby’s first vacation. The company also offers educational templates (think ABCs, colors, emotions, count with me, and my first cookbook options). Some have space for a fixed number of pages and photos while others let you pay to add more. For slightly older kids, consider Pinhole’s Itty Bitty books (miniature sized for long journeys) or their All About books with space for 10 photos alongside fill-in prompts your child can write on.

Best Mini Books

Nations photo lab albums.

Nations Photo Lab

Buzz Books are cost-effective and require minimal storage space, making them the perfect collector’s item.

Beyond choosing which photo appears on each page, customization options are very limited. 

Nations Photo Lab offers a full range of photo book products including templates for everything from travel to weddings and boudoir photography. Depending which one you choose, you can customize the binding, cover material, page thickness, and more. We particularly like their Buzz Books for those in search of something simple. At 6 x 6 inches, they’re both small enough and affordable enough to justify purchasing one for every trip. 

There are more than 120 pre-designed, soft-touch covers to choose from (you can also create your own) but the inside of each Buzz Book is the same: 40 pages, with one photo per page. The photos are printed on professional-quality Mohawk Matte paper against a white background for full visual effect. There are multiple shipping options available, including USPS First Class which delivers in two to six business days.

Best Sustainable

Paper Culture

Paper Culture photo books are made with recycled paper and every order placed equals a tree planted.  

Shipping rates are relatively expensive. 

Paper Culture is a certified Green Business that offsets its carbon footprint and has been recognized by the EPA as a Top 10 climate leader. All photo books use 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper and with a tree planted for every order, you can feel good about your purchase on multiple levels. Books are 8 x 8 or 8 x 10 inches and you can choose a hardcover, a layflat hardcover, or a layflat with a foil-embossed Kraft cover and personalized dust jacket. 

There are multiple templates divided into categories such as travel, holiday, or wedding. Whichever you go for, you’ll be able to create an end result that’s entirely unique since all elements are customizable. Choose the layout and order of your photos, add text in different fonts and colors, and change the background color of each page. Templates include 20 pages with the possibility of purchasing more. Shipping options range from standard to next-day express.

Best Video Books

Heirloom lets you add up to one hour of video to a physical book that plays original audio with crystal clear quality. 

Video books can show vertical or horizontal footage, but not both. 

For a slightly different approach to preserving your travel memories, consider Heirloom which adds your videos to a physical book so that they can be looked at and enjoyed over and over again. Each book includes a five-inch HD screen. You can choose for yours to be oriented horizontally or vertically (more appropriate for those that typically shoot footage on their phone.) There are three options: up to 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or one hour. 

Here’s how it works: purchase your video book online, then receive an email with instructions on how to add video using the online builder. Your book will then be created and mailed to you. You don’t have to limit yourself to video. The books can also display photos as a slideshow and even mix photos and videos together. Add a personal message. Then, choose from 16 premade covers or pay extra for a custom cover printed with your own design. All video books include a charger and expedited delivery is a possibility.

Tips for Choosing a Photo Book Website

Be turnaround time.

If you need your photo book in a hurry, make sure to take production and delivery times into consideration when choosing which company to use. A handful — usually more budget-friendly ones — offer same-day production and the option to collect in-store, which is ideal for last-minute gifts. Others take several days to produce your book, but then offer expedited or rushed shipping to cut delivery time down to a minimum. Others can take two or more weeks to deliver. Check product descriptions carefully, since turnaround times can differ within the same company depending on the size and complexity of the photo book you choose. 

Look closely at the templates offered

Think about your desired photo book aesthetic and then look for a company with templates to match. These can vary from the simplistic (your photos and perhaps some text on a plain white background) to the complex (different background colors and designs, optional filters and frames, the ability to create collages and add text bubbles or other graphics.) Some companies offer templates that have been pre-designed to suit a specific theme, whether that’s travel in general or a Disney trip, tropical cruise, or camping adventure. 

Prioritize ease of use

If you have a background in design or count scrapbooking among your hobbies, you may relish in the challenge of building a photo book from scratch. But if you’re pressed for time or simply don’t want to spend hours choosing which photos go where and how to make them look their best, look for a photo book maker that does the hard work for you. This can either be through an autofill service that arranges your photos on the page (usually, you can tweak this afterwards) or through a collaboration over email or live chat with one of the company’s in-house designers. The latter service often costs extra but sometimes, as with Shutterfly, is offered free of charge. 

Image quality is key

The most important thing when making a photo book is ensuring that the photos look as good as possible. This means choosing a professional, well-reviewed company that uses quality paper and printing methods. It also means submitting photos that are good quality. Most photo book companies will have guidelines for optimum image size and resolution, and others will come up with a warning message if the image you’ve selected is not of a sufficiently high quality. You can usually choose to use it anyway, but be prepared for it to look a little grainy or pixelated. Top tip: use your lowest resolution photos for the smallest spaces on collage pages. 

Yes, most photo book makers can be used on your tablet or smartphone, either via a mobile-friendly website or with a special app. Just bear in mind that complicated layouts or photo books with lots of collage pages are often much easier to view and organize on a larger screen. 

The cost of a photo book varies hugely from under $20 to over $200. The price depends on which company you use but also on the size of the photo book, how many pages you want, and the materials you choose. Most templates include some pages in their starting price (20-25 on average), with a per-page fee for longer books. Softcover books are typically the cheapest, followed by hardcover and then linen and leather options. Traditional binding is cheaper than layflat, but layflat looks much better if you’re planning on having photos extend across a double page spread. Other factors that could increase cost include custom covers, premium paper finishes, design assistance, and expedited shipping. 

You want to find a company that prints photos that look as close as possible to the original, whether it was taken on a professional DSLR camera or downloaded from Facebook or Instagram. Images shouldn’t look grainy, blurry, or over- or undersaturated. Choose a photo book maker that uses professional printers and high-quality paper, and be sure to check customer reviews for the best insight into the kind of results you can expect. Don’t forget, though, pictures can only ever look as good as they were to begin with. So choose the crispest, best resolution images you have and use a light hand when editing them for a natural look. 

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Jessica Macdonald is a published photographer with a passion for finding new ways to preserve and display her travel photos. For this article, she drew on her own experience with photo book makers and also spent several hours researching the best options online. She compared services, prices, and reviews before choosing her category winners.

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15 Best Travel Books for the USA | Top Picks for 2023

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Looking for the best travel books for exploring the USA ? Here are my top picks for 2023 printed travel guides…

Traveling in the USA is a dream for many people because the country offers a diverse array of landscapes, cultures, and experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or you’re embarking on your first adventure, having the right travel guide can make all the difference in ensuring that you make the most of your trip.

A travel guidebook not only offers suggestions for places to see, eat, and stay but also provides travel tips to help you navigate the vast, and sometimes overwhelming, options in the USA. From learning about national parks and regional highlights to understanding the local customs and dining scenes, a good travel guide can be an invaluable companion on your journey.

When choosing a travel guide , it’s essential to consider your specific interests, travel style, and the kind of information you need. Some guides focus on budget travel , while others cater to luxury experiences or adventure seekers. Additionally, the format — print or digital — plays a crucial role in determining how accessible and up-to-date the information is.

After extensive research and testing, I’ve compiled a list of the best travel guides for the USA that cater to various needs, making your trip planning smooth and enjoyable. So, let’s dive in and find the perfect guide for your adventure.

Tablet computer woman hiking in Grand Canyon using travel app or map during her hike. Multiethnic hiker girl relaxing on South Kaibab Trail, south rim of Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA.

Best Travel Books for USA Road Trips

I have gathered a list of the best travel guides for exploring the magnificent USA. These handy books will help make your journey smooth and unforgettable.

Fodor’s Best Road Trips in the USA

Fodor's Best Road Trips in the USA

Fodor’s “Best Road Trips in the USA” is a must-have guide for anyone planning epic road trips across the United States.

  • Comprehensive coverage of all 50 states
  • Full-color, visually appealing guide
  • Well-organized, easy-to-follow format
  • Some trips may lack details about nearby attractions
  • Book size and text size may be small for some readers
  • Not spiral-bound, which some users might prefer

I recently used Fodor’s “Best Road Trips in the USA” to plan a memorable journey across the country. This guide did not disappoint because it provided an extensive list of epic trips across all 50 states. The full-color photography and design made it a visually engaging companion throughout my travels.

The organization and format of the book made it easy to explore different routes and plan my stops accordingly. Each trip featured in the guide was well thought out, and I discovered amazing gems that I might have otherwise missed.

However, I did find that some trips in the book could have provided more detailed information on the attractions and landmarks nearby, including national parks . This would have been helpful in making the most of my time on the road.

Moon USA State by State: The Best Things to Do in Every State for Your Travel Bucket List

Moon USA State by State

I highly recommend this travel guide for uncovering the hidden gems of the USA and planning the ultimate bucket list trip.

  • Comprehensive and well-organized
  • Includes unique and offbeat attractions
  • Suitable for travelers with varying interests
  • Lacks information on small towns
  • Could use more details about accommodations and dining
  • Content may not suffice for those seeking exhaustive information about each state

“Moon USA State by State: The Best Things to Do in Every State for Your Travel Bucket List” is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to explore each state in America. I found the guide to be an excellent tool for planning my travels and discovering lesser-known attractions that I wouldn’t have found on my own. It offers a diverse range of suggestions, catering to various interests suitable for all types of travelers.

The guide is well-organized with each state receiving its dedicated section. I found this quite helpful when mapping out my journey and making a list of must-see spots. Additionally, the focus on unique and offbeat attractions really made my exploration feel more personalized and exciting.

However, the book doesn’t delve deeply into smaller towns and may not cater to those looking for comprehensive information about lodging and dining options. While it doesn’t hinder the main goal of offering interesting and lesser-known sites to visit, it could be an area of improvement for future editions.

Lonely Planet Southwest USA’s Best Trips 4 (Road Trips Guide)

Lonely Planet Southwest USA's Best Trips Guide

I highly recommend this travel guide for an unforgettable road trip experience in the Southwest USA.

  • Comprehensive coverage of must-visit attractions
  • User-friendly layout and organization
  • Engaging writing style
  • Maps could be improved
  • Limited off-the-beaten-path suggestions
  • Slightly heavy for on-the-go carrying

As a seasoned traveler, I find Lonely Planet’s “Southwest USA’s Best Trips” to be an excellent resource for planning the perfect road trip across the scenic landscapes of Southwest USA. The guide offers a wide range of richly detailed itineraries that cater to various interests, ensuring a memorable travel experience that’s tailored to your preferences.

I appreciate the book’s user-friendly organization, with well-labeled sections and logical groupings of attractions. It makes it easy to find the information I need quickly, allowing for smooth navigation and efficient trip planning. The engaging writing style used throughout the book paints a vivid picture of the places to visit, making the whole planning process an enjoyable experience.

However, I found that some of the maps included in the guide could have offered more detail and accuracy. Additionally, if you are someone who enjoys exploring lesser-known places, you may find that the guide’s focus on popular attractions leaves you craving more off-the-beaten-path recommendations.

Despite being packed with valuable information, the guide is slightly on the heavier side, which can be a minor inconvenience when carrying it with you throughout your trip. Nevertheless, I believe Lonely Planet’s “Southwest USA’s Best Trips” is a must-have for anyone planning to embark on an unforgettable journey through the beautiful Southwest USA.

Fodor’s Best Weekend Road Trips (Full-Color Travel Guide)

Fodor's Best Weekend Road Trips

I recommend Fodor’s “Best Weekend Road Trips” for those looking to explore the USA with concise yet inspiring itineraries.

  • Great trip ideas
  • Highly readable
  • Beautiful full-color presentation
  • Lack of detailed information
  • Limited local destinations
  • Trips may require additional travel days

I found this book to be a fantastic source of inspiration for my USA road trips. The assortment of weekend getaways ranges from scenic drives to city escapes, with each suggestion sparking my wanderlust. Additionally, the full-color images and easy-to-read format make planning these trips a visually appealing experience.

When delving into specific itineraries, I realized that Fodor’s provides a good starting point, but lacks a certain level of detail I’d need for an extensive trip. Some travelers may find this to be a limiting factor while planning their getaways, especially if they want comprehensive information about local destinations.

Additionally, keep in mind that some trips may require you to reach a certain area first, meaning extra travel days might be necessary depending on your starting point. As a well-traveled person, I found that many local areas featured were already familiar to me, but the book was still useful in helping me discover new destinations.

The Rough Guide to the 100 Best Places in the USA

The Rough Guide to the 100 Best Places in the USA

An essential and inspiring guide for travelers exploring the United States, featuring a diverse range of must-see destinations.

  • In-depth information regarding diverse locations
  • Beautiful and top-quality photographs
  • Easy-to-navigate and well-organized layout
  • Hardcover and slightly heavy
  • Geared toward more popular destinations
  • Limited information on local suggestions

Upon receiving “The Rough Guide to the 100 Best Places in the USA,” I was immediately captivated by the stunning images and the vast variety of information covered in this guide. Not only did it have details on the iconic tourist spots, but it also opened my eyes to a plethora of lesser-known gems in the country.

The organization of the book made it quite simple for me to plan my trips as the information was broken down into regions. Each destination had a dedicated section, making it easy to flip through and digest the content quickly. Moreover, the pictures alone were enough to spark my wanderlust, making it exciting for me to plan my upcoming visits.

However, I noticed that the book is a bit on the heavier side, which could be cumbersome to carry around during trips. As much as I loved the comprehensive information on popular tourist attractions, there were instances where I wished it had more recommendations on local insights, like hidden restaurants or lesser-known trails.

The Open Road: 50 Best Road Trips in the USA (Travel Guide)

The Open Road

I believe that traveling enthusiasts should definitely consider purchasing this guidebook as it’s filled with great tips for unforgettable USA road trip adventures.

  • Comprehensive coverage of diverse trips
  • Provides “best of” lists for various categories
  • Easy geographic organization for trip planning
  • Small font size might be challenging for some readers
  • Some sections may be too brief for in-depth information
  • Focus on restaurants and wineries might be unnecessary for some

After exploring this travel guide , I found its comprehensive listing of 50 road trips to be quite inspiring. It covers various destinations, landscapes, and travel times, catering to different preferences and personalities. I truly enjoyed the “best of” lists for categories like scenic routes, quirky attractions, and budget-friendly trips.

The geographic organization of road trips is convenient, especially for those planning journeys around specific regions. While I appreciated the attempt to include a variety of helpful information, the print size was a bit too small for my liking, which made reading less enjoyable.

Interestingly, this travel guide also includes restaurant and winery recommendations. Though it may be helpful for some readers, others might find this information unnecessary for their road trip needs. Personally, I prefer focusing on attractions and natural sites.

Fodor’s Bucket List USA: From the Epic to the Eccentric, 500+ Ultimate Experiences

Fodor's Bucket List USA

This travel guide is perfect for those who want a comprehensive and inspiring guide to lesser-known experiences in the USA.

  • Wide array of destinations and experiences
  • Clear and concise descriptions
  • Full-color, visually appealing layout
  • Some faulty pages reported regarding print quality
  • Smaller format than expected
  • May not cover all popular tourist spots

This travel guide has piqued my curiosity and introduced me to an array of places across the country — from epic landscapes to eccentric attractions. The book is organized by region, making it easy to plan my trips and find new destinations I hadn’t considered before.

One of the things I appreciate the most is that this travel guide doesn’t only provide information about famous attractions. It also focuses on lesser-known gems that contribute to a well-rounded and diverse experience. The entries are detailed, and the high-quality images set my expectations before visiting, making them even more exciting when finally at the destination.

However, I must mention that some might find the smaller format somewhat limiting. People with visual challenges or those who prefer larger prints may struggle a bit with this. Additionally, a few fellow reviewers reported issues with the print quality, but my copy was in perfect condition. If you’re looking for a guide with a more extensive list of popular tourist spots, this may not be your top choice.

Lonely Planet USA’s Best Trips

Lonely Planet USA's Best Trips 4

This guide is a must-have for anyone planning a USA road trip, with comprehensive trip ideas and useful information.

  • Packed with diverse road trip options
  • Covers various regions across the USA
  • Includes useful information on places to visit
  • Limited details on accommodation and dining options
  • Some readers may find the historical perspective unbalanced
  • May require additional research or resources for complete planning

I just started using Lonely Planet’s “USA’s Best Trips,” and I’m already in love with the diverse road trip routes it offers. The guide breaks down trips by region, so I can easily find options for the areas I’m most interested in exploring. It’s been an invaluable resource for me to start planning my next adventure.

The information about places to visit along each route is helpful, providing a sense of what each destination has to offer. However, I noticed that the guide is a bit lacking in terms of dining and lodging options. I have to turn to other resources to find places to stay and eat during my journey, which can be a bit inconvenient.

Aside from that, some readers may take issue with the treatment of historical context within the guide. While I appreciate the inclusion of history and cultural information, it’s essential to approach these topics objectively and consider the complexities of the past.

National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways, 5th Edition

National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways

This guide is a fantastic companion for anyone looking to explore the scenic routes of the United States.

  • Comprehensive coverage of 300 scenic drives
  • Detailed and easy-to-follow directions
  • Durable and high-quality printing
  • Smaller size than expected
  • Some popular routes may be crowded
  • GPS coordinates not included

The National Geographic “Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways, 5th Edition” provides numerous picturesque routes to follow and allows you to discover hidden gems and spectacular places along the way, such as old Route 66. The guide’s durability will easily withstand constant use even if your kids are fighting over who gets to look at it next.

I appreciated the guide’s easy-to-read format and informative descriptions. However, after receiving the book, I noticed its size was significantly smaller than expected. Despite the small size, the high-quality print and beautiful images did not disappoint.

On the other hand, one helpful addition would have been GPS coordinates for the starting and ending points of the scenic routes. And, some of the more popular routes will likely be quite busy with other tourists, which can be both a pro and a con depending on personal preference. If you prefer less crowded routes, check out alternative scenic drives.

Best Travel Guides for Visiting US National Parks

If you’re looking to explore US national parks, these travel guides will help you plan a more in-depth trip and expose you to options you might miss in some of the less detailed travel books.

Moon Best of Yellowstone & Grand Teton: Make the Most of One to Three Days in the Parks

Moon Best of Yellowstone & Grand Teton

Another winner from Moon Publishing, this is a must-have guide for an unforgettable experience in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks.

  • Comprehensive and practical information
  • Customized plans for various time frames
  • Excellent advice on hikes and wildlife viewing
  • Can be overwhelming with too many options
  • Not enough visuals and maps
  • May need supplement material for in-depth research

I particularly appreciated the variety of suggested itineraries presented in Moon’s “Best of Yellowstone & Grand Teton: Make the Most of One to Three Days in the Parks,” catering to different durations and interests.

Whether you have half a day or several days to spend in each park, the guide provides useful recommendations on what to see, when to visit, and which trails to hike. The author’s favorite hikes were spot on as they offered stunning views and memorable experiences.

Despite its many advantages, I did notice a few areas where the guide could improve. While the content was abundant and well-written, the lack of visuals and maps occasionally made it challenging to navigate and locate specific points of interest. In this regard, you might want to consult additional resources for more detailed geographical information.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that the guide is so packed with options that it can be overwhelming. You might find yourself struggling to prioritize which activities to pursue. Nevertheless, this is arguably a small issue compared to the overall value the book provides.

Fodor’s The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West

Fodor's The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West

This travel guide is an essential companion for exploring the National Parks of the West thoroughly yet concisely.

  • Comprehensive coverage of 38 western national parks
  • Includes helpful itinerary suggestions
  • Useful information on nearby towns for amenities and lodging
  • Alphabetical organization instead of regional
  • Lacks in-depth details for some parks

This book serves as a reliable source of information because it covers a whopping 38 parks, providing insightful suggestions on what to see and do within each one. It not only comes with recommendations for main attractions but also includes guidance for accommodations, dining, and supplies in nearby towns.

What I found less helpful, however, was the way the book was organized. The parks were listed alphabetically rather than regionally, making it slightly inconvenient to plan an efficient road trip. Additionally, I found that information on some of the parks was relatively basic and lacking in comprehensive details.

Best USA Destination Travel Guide Books

Sometimes, you’re not looking to explore the entire US but just a specific destination. These are a few of my favorite USA destination-specific travel guidebooks, all of which are available to purchase on Amazon.

Fodor’s California: With the Best Road Trips (Full-Color Travel Guide)

Fodor's California Travel Guide

Fodor’s “California” is a comprehensive and colorful guide that’s perfect for those planning a road trip across the Golden State.

  • Great variety of destinations and road trips
  • Useful tips on dining and accommodation options
  • Well-organized and user-friendly layout
  • Lacks images of some attractions
  • Missing information on some iconic places
  • Physical book could be difficult to navigate

I found Fodor’s “California” to be a valuable resource for exploring different regions and planning memorable road trips. It features a wide range of attractions, accommodations, and dining options, allowing me to discover hidden gems and make the most of my trip.

However, I noticed that the guide lacks images of some attractions, which would have been helpful for visualizing destinations before visiting. In addition, the book omits information on some notable locations, such as the Reagan Library, Nixon Library, and La Brea Tar Pits, making it slightly incomplete for those interested in these specific landmarks.

While planning a future adventure, I appreciated the well-organized layout and user-friendly format. The inclusion of interesting facts and local insights added a personal touch to the experience, making me feel like I was part of the Californian culture.

On the downside, the physical book can be a bit challenging to navigate, especially because of its small print and inability to lay flat. An e-book option or a larger print edition would be welcome for travelers who may have difficulty reading small text.

Fodor’s Boston 25 Best (Full-Color Travel Guide)

Fodor's Boston 25 Best

This travel guide is a must-have for anyone planning to explore Boston for the first time or anyone who is rediscovering the city’s hidden gems.

  • Comprehensive and well-written
  • Compact and lightweight
  • 128 pages of valuable information
  • Limited to 25 best places
  • Lacks detailed information about lesser-known spots
  • May not cover recent changes in the city

Fodor’s “25 Best Boston” focuses on the 25 best places to visit in the city, making it a great resource for first-time visitors. The descriptions of each location are comprehensive and well-written, providing engaging insights into the history, significance, and atmosphere of each attraction.

The compact size and lightweight design of the guide made it easy to carry around as I traversed Boston’s historic streets. The 128 pages of valuable information ensured that I maximized my limited time in the city, visiting the top attractions and having unforgettable experiences.

However, I must admit that the guide has a few limitations. Since it is primarily centered around the 25 best places in Boston, it lacks detailed information on lesser-known spots that might be of interest to seasoned travelers or those interested in niche attractions.

Additionally, given that the book’s publication date is back in 2018, there might be updates or changes in the city that the guide doesn’t cover.

Fodor’s Pacific Northwest

Fodor's Pacific Northwest

Fodor’s “Pacific Northwest” is a comprehensive guide for travelers looking to explore the beautiful landscapes and cities of the Pacific Northwest.

  • Up-to-date information and reviews
  • Covers major attractions in the region
  • Full-color, high-quality photos
  • Poor bookbinding and print quality
  • Lacks coverage of some key destinations
  • Maps could use more detail

As I recently planned a trip to the Pacific Northwest, I found Fodor’s “Pacific Northwest” guide to be a helpful companion. From exploring Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver to discovering the charm of small towns and the beauty of Oregon and Washington, this well-rounded guide came in handy.

The book is filled with up-to-date information and insightful reviews of attractions, accommodations, and dining options throughout the region. The full-color and high-quality photos were visually appealing, providing a glimpse into what to expect in each destination. I genuinely appreciated the coverage of major attractions, such as Crater Lake National Park and Pike Place Market.

However, as much as I enjoyed using the guide, I was disappointed by its binding and print quality. It was difficult to read content near the bind, and the photos weren’t as sharp as the older Fodor’s guides that I’ve used in the past.

Plus, I felt that the guide could have covered a few more key destinations in the region, making it more comprehensive. Lastly, while the maps were helpful, they lacked the detail I needed to navigate some areas precisely.

Fodor’s Essential Southwest

Fodor's Essential Southwest

This is a comprehensive guide for exploring the best of the Southwest in the US, but keep in mind its older publication date requires double-checking all the details before making plans.

  • Extensive coverage of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah
  • Full-color illustrations and maps
  • Thorough descriptions of natural sites and scenic drives
  • Publication date means it may not have up-to-date details
  • Some users reported missing pages in their copies
  • Paper quality may not be as high as in previous Fodor’s guides

After recently using Fodor’s “Essential Southwest” for my journey through the American Southwest, I found it to be quite informative and valuable. The guide covers a vast region, including Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah, which allowed me to plan my trip efficiently.

I particularly enjoyed the full-color illustrations and maps included in the guide. They not only provided an excellent visual aid but also helped me get a better sense of the areas I was visiting. Additionally, the book offers thorough descriptions of natural sites, scenic drives, and various activities, which helped me maximize my time at each destination.

One downside, however, is that the 2021 publication date means that certain information may not accurately reflect the current state of things, such as open restaurants and hotels. I would recommend double-checking all details before making plans to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Another issue some users encountered was missing pages in their copies. Though I did not personally experience this, it is something to be aware of when purchasing. Lastly, the paper quality seems to be lower compared to previous editions of Fodor’s guides. While this did not impact my overall experience, it might be a point of consideration for some travelers.

Best Travel Books Buying Guide

Remember that investing time in researching and comparing different travel guides will pay off in making your USA journey a memorable one. When I’m choosing the best travel guidebook for the USA, there are several features I look for to ensure that I’m getting the most accurate and helpful information.

1. Updated Information

Since landscapes, businesses, and attractions can change over time, I make sure the guide is updated regularly. This helps me avoid outdated information that might lead to schedule disruptions or disappointments. Always look for the most recent edition available.

2. Comprehensive Coverage

The USA is a vast country with diverse attractions. Hence, the travel guide should cover all aspects of tourism — various destinations, accommodation options, transportation, experiences, and local culture. It should have ample information to cater to different budgets and preferences too.

3. User Friendliness

A well-organized travel guide makes my planning process much smoother. Guides with clear headings, indexes, maps, and concise information are my preference. Moreover, the inclusion of an eBook version or a mobile app can help me carry the information on the go.

4. Travel Tips & Advice

A good travel guide offers practical tips and advice that’ll reward me with a better travel experience. This may include packing suggestions, local customs and etiquette, safety precautions, and essential phrases or words to know.

5. Reviews & Recommendations

Ultimately, a helpful travel guide will have reviews and recommendations from other travelers. Their insights can shed light on the pros and cons of specific attractions or accommodations. Consider guides that list reader feedback alongside expert opinions.

FAQs About the Best Travel Books for the USA

What are some famous travel guidebooks for the usa.

I always recommend a few well-known US travel book publishers. Some of my personal favorites are Lonely Planet, Fodor’s, Rick Steves, and Frommer’s. Each of these publishers covers a wide range of destinations, itineraries, and tips for every type of traveler looking to explore the US.

Which US travel guides are best for first-time visitors?

If you’re a first-time visitor to the US, I suggest starting with Lonely Planet or Fodor’s travel guides. Both of these are very comprehensive and beginner-friendly, offering clear and concise information on planning your trip, popular attractions, and local customs.

For a budget-conscious traveler, Rick Steves tends to focus on affordable options, while Frommer’s is great for people interested in a luxurious experience.

Are there any free travel guide resources for the US?

Absolutely! There are many free resources for you to explore before your trip to the US. Websites like RootedWanderings.com can provide helpful information about different destinations, attractions, and itineraries.

Additionally, many US states and cities have tourism websites that offer free guides and maps. VisitMaine.net is the unofficial visitor’s guide to Maine, and AwesomeMitten.com helps travelers plan their adventures in Michigan. Other examples include RootedinOhio.com and WanderingSmokyMountains.com .

To find these, simply search for the city name along with “visitor’s guide” or “tourism office” for access to those resources. Happy travels!

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Ashley Pichea is the Content Manager for RootedWanderings.com and curates in-depth travel guides and deep-dives on hidden gem destinations across the US for sites like AwesomeMitten.com , VisitMaine.net , and more. When she's not geeking out over SEO, you'll find her exploring the Midwest with her husband and five kids.

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Was Trump supporter Katie Britt caught in whopping lie about graphic sex trafficking story?

  • Updated: Mar. 09, 2024, 9:00 a.m. |
  • Published: Mar. 09, 2024, 8:44 a.m.

.

Sen Katie Britt gives the GOP response to Biden's State of the Union address from her home. Screengrab

  • Kevin Manahan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

During her widely panned Republican response to the State of the Union Address on Thursday night, Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama told a graphic sex-trafficking story about a woman who was sexually abused “over and over” by members of Mexican drug cartels on the United States side of the Rio Grande.

Britt implied also that the woman had confided the story to her and that the events had occurred during President Biden’s administration.

But reporter Jonathan Katz, in a lengthy video posted to social media , connects the dots on the story, and it appears Britt lied: The woman has told her story many times publicly, including to Congress ; the events didn’t occur in the United States; and they happened during George W. Bush’s presidency.

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“When I first took office, I did something different,” Britt said. “I traveled to the Del Rio sector of Texas, where I spoke to a woman who shared her story with me.

“She had been sex trafficked by the cartels starting at age 12. She told me not just that she was raped every day, but how many times a day she was raped.”

Well it looks like Jonathan M. Katz has caught @SenKatieBritt in a pretty significant lie. pic.twitter.com/rbRa17dL2L — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) March 9, 2024

She added: “The cartels put her on a mattress in a shoebox of a room, and they sent men through that door, over and over again, for hours and hours on-end.”

Britt implies the rapes took place in the U.S. — under Biden’s watch.

“We wouldn’t be OK with this happening in a third-world country,” she said. “This is the United States of America, and it’s past time we start acting like it. President Biden’s border crisis is a disgrace. It’s despicable. And it’s almost entirely preventable.”

Katz, however, says he has proof that the events didn’t occur in the U.S., and that — according to the victim — they happened between 2004 and 2008, when George W. Bush was president.

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Privately owned vehicle (POV) mileage reimbursement rates

GSA has adjusted all POV mileage reimbursement rates effective January 1, 2024.

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Permanent daylight saving time? Politicians keep trying to make it a reality.

Americans are yet again preparing for the twice-yearly ritual of adjusting the clocks by an hour, and a group of politicians are sick of it.

Florida Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have used the upcoming time change to remind Americans about the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act the U.S. Senate unanimously passed in 2022 to make daylight saving time permanent. The bill was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023. Scott said in Friday a release the bill is supported by both lawmakers and Americans.

"It’s time for Congress to act and I’m proud to be leading the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act with Senator Rubio to get this done," Scott said.

Most Americans - 62% - are in favor of ending the time change, according to an Economist/YouGov poll from last year .

To Change or Not to Change: Do Americans like daylight saving time? 6 in 10 want to stop changing their clocks. Do you?

Only Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation), Hawaii and the U.S. territories follow standard time yearound. In the rest of the country, standard time runs from the first Sunday of November until the second Sunday of March. But clocks spring forward an hour from March to November to allow for more daylight during summer evenings.

Federal law prevents states from following daylight saving time permanently.

Rubio's bill failed to make it to President Joe Biden's desk in 2022. Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan, R- Brandon, introduced the act in the House last March for the current congressional session.

"We’re ‘springing forward’ but should have never ‘fallen back.’ My Sunshine Protection Act would end this stupid practice of changing our clocks back and forth," Rubio said in a Tuesday release .

Time change bills across America

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures , 28 bills have been introduced this year regarding daylight saving time and 36 carried over from the previous legislative session.

About two dozen states are considering enacting permanent daylight saving time if Congress allowed such a change. Twenty other states have legislation under consideration to have permanent standard time.

Several states, NCSL said, have legislation dependent on their neighbors following the same time change.

We've tried this before, and it didn't go well

Daylight saving time was made official in 1918 when the Standard Time Act became law, but it was quickly reversed at the national level after World War I ended, only coming up again when World War II began. Since then, Americans have tried eliminating the biannual time change, but it didn't last long .

From February 1942 until September 1945, the U.S. took on what became known as " War Time ," when Congress voted to make daylight saving time year-round during the war in an effort to conserve fuel. When it ended, states were able to establish their own standard time until 1966 when Congress finally passed the Uniform Time Act, standardizing national time and establishing current-day daylight saving time.

Most recently, amid an energy crisis in 1973, former President Richard Nixon signed a bill putting the U.S. on daylight saving time starting in January 1974. While the American public at first liked the idea, soon "the experiment ... ran afoul of public opinion," The New York Times reported in October 1974 . Sunrises that could be as late as 9:30 a.m. some places in parts of winter became increasingly unpopular. It didn't take long for Congress to reverse course in October 1974.

Today, the public seems ready for another change, fed up with disruptions to sleep and routines, which research has suggested can contribute to health issues and even safety problems. For now, prepare to reset your clocks, and your sleep schedules, once again this Sunday.

Contributing: Celina Tebor, Emily DeLetter USA TODAY; USA TODAY Network-Florida

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    Books on travel photography are either coffee table books for viewing or instructional books for training; unfortunately for the latter, both types are generally written by National Geographic-level photographers who have spent years in the most exotic of locations, using the highest end gear, and dedicating themselves to waking at 3:00am to capture the most pristine moments.

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    The Digital Photography Book. #3. The Art of Photography: A Personal Approach to Artistic Expression by Bruce Barnbaum. If you have to choose only one travel photography textbook, this is it. This book can be read by beginners, intermediate, and professional photographers, and they will all learn something new.

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    1 .) One Planet: Inspirational Travel Photography from Around the World by Lonely Planet. "One Planet is a celebration of great travel photography, and of the diversity and similarities within our world. Paired images encourage the appreciation of connections between people and places continents apart.

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    Scott Kelby, award-winning travel photographer and author of the best-selling digital photography book in history, shares all his secrets and time-tested techniques as he discusses everything from his go-to essential travel gear, to camera settings, to how to research before your trip, to the travel photography techniques that will help you ...

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    Fodor's Boston 25 Best (Full-Color Travel Guide) This travel guide is a must-have for anyone planning to explore Boston for the first time or anyone who is rediscovering the city's hidden gems. Pros. Comprehensive and well-written. Compact and lightweight.

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  22. Was Trump supporter Katie Britt caught in whopping lie about graphic

    During her widely panned Republican response to the State of the Union Address on Thursday night, Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama told a graphic sex-trafficking story about a woman who was sexually ...

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  26. Permanent daylight saving time? Sunshine Protection Act ...

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