New Year's Eve Trip Ideas: 6 US Cities for a Big Countdown

New Year's Eve is eight weeks away, and that is the sweet spot for planning a trip around it. Hotels in the big countdown cities fill early, flights home on January 1 are some of the busiest of the season, and the best dinner reservations go fast. Here are six US cities that do midnight well, what each one is really like on the night, and a simple plan for booking it while you still have choices.

How to pick your New Year's Eve city

Before you look at a single hotel, decide what kind of night you want. Most groups fall into one of three camps.

• The bucket list countdown. You want to say you were there. Crowds, cold and long waits are part of the deal.
• The great night out. You want music, a good dinner and fireworks, but you also want a bathroom and a warm place to sit.
• The warm weather escape. You want to ring in the year somewhere you can wear a light jacket.

Then think about who is coming. A couple can improvise. A group of eight needs a plan, a shared budget and a clear meeting spot for when phones stop working at midnight, which happens in packed crowds more often than you would expect.

1. New York City: the classic Times Square ball drop

Nothing beats the ball drop for bragging rights. It is also the hardest version of New Year's Eve to do comfortably. People claim spots in Times Square in the afternoon, viewing areas are fenced into pens, and once you are inside, leaving usually means losing your place. There are no public restrooms, and you cannot bring large bags.

If you want the energy without the twelve hour stand, try one of these instead.

• Watch the countdown from a restaurant or bar with a view, booked well in advance.
• Head to Brooklyn, where Prospect Park has a long tradition of midnight fireworks near Grand Army Plaza.
• Spend the evening at a show and walk out into the celebration afterward.

Give yourself a few days to enjoy the city around it. Our 3 day New York City itinerary works well for December 30 through January 1, with the holiday windows and skating rinks still up.

2. New Orleans: fireworks over the Mississippi

New Orleans may be the best all around New Year's Eve city in the country. The French Quarter fills with brass bands and street parties, and at midnight fireworks go off over the Mississippi River. The riverfront near Jackson Square is the classic place to watch.

The weather is usually mild compared with the Northeast, and the food alone justifies the trip. The Sugar Bowl is often played in New Orleans around the holiday, so check the schedule before you book; a game year means more fans and fuller hotels. Our New Orleans 3 day itinerary covers where to stay and what to eat the morning after.

3. Nashville: live music until midnight

Nashville turns New Year's Eve into one long concert. In recent years the city has held a big free outdoor show and countdown downtown, and the honky tonks on Lower Broadway have live bands playing all night. If your group is more about music than fireworks, this is the pick.

Downtown hotels near Broadway go first, so if you miss them, look at neighborhoods a short ride away and plan your rides home ahead of time. The Nashville weekend itinerary has a good plan for New Year's Day, when you will want brunch and a slow walk more than another bar.

4. Chicago: a lakefront midnight

Chicago is cold on New Year's Eve, there is no getting around that. But Navy Pier has a long tradition of midnight fireworks over Lake Michigan, and the city's restaurant scene makes for a memorable dinner before the countdown. Book a hotel within walking distance of where you plan to watch so you are not standing in the wind waiting for a ride.

Chicago also suits travelers who would rather celebrate indoors. Jazz clubs, comedy shows and hotel bars with skyline views all make a good midnight without the frostbite.

5. Miami: warm weather and fireworks over the bay

If your idea of a perfect New Year's Eve involves no coat at all, Miami is the answer. Bayfront Park downtown has hosted fireworks over Biscayne Bay at midnight for years, and South Beach turns into one long street party.

Miami is also great for a longer stay. Spend New Year's Eve downtown, then take a few slow beach days to start the year. The Orange Bowl is played in the area around the holiday, which can add to the crowds, so check dates before you lock in.

6. Las Vegas: the Strip as one big party

Las Vegas treats New Year's Eve like its biggest night of the year. The Strip typically closes to cars in the evening so people can walk it, and fireworks launch from casino rooftops at midnight. Shows, big dinners and nightclubs all run late.

It is a desert, so the night gets chilly. Pack a real jacket. Hotels on the Strip fill early, and rates on the holiday are much higher than on a normal weekend, so this is one city where booking early truly pays off.

When to book everything

For any of these cities, the order matters more than the exact date.

1. Book your hotel first. Look for a free cancellation rate so you can lock a room now and change plans later.
2. Book flights next. Flying in on December 30 and out on January 2 avoids the worst of the travel crush on the 31st and the 1st.
3. Reserve dinner. Popular restaurants open New Year's Eve bookings weeks ahead, and many offer a set menu that night.
4. Plan the walk home. Rides cost more and take longer after midnight. Staying within walking distance of the celebration is worth a smaller room.

Tips for a group New Year's Eve trip

Group trips go sideways on New Year's Eve because everyone assumes someone else made the plan. A few habits help.

• Agree on a budget range before anyone books a hotel.
• Pick a physical meeting spot for midnight and for after, in case phones die or cell service jams.
• Put one person in charge of each reservation so nothing gets double booked.
• Keep New Year's Day light. Brunch, a long walk and an early night is the right plan for almost everyone.

If you are coordinating a bigger crew, our guide to planning a group trip walks through how to get everyone on the same page.

Planning your New Year's Eve trip in Wander Off

Start an adventure in Wander Off and add your group so everyone sees the same plan. In the Plan tab, put your New Year's Eve dinner, the countdown spot and the New Year's Day brunch on the right days, and let everyone vote on the places they like best. Book your flights and hotel in the Tickets tab, or ask the AI Travel Concierge to find options for your dates. On the night, your photos and videos land on the right day and place automatically, so you will have the whole countdown saved. Afterward, make the adventure public so friends can copy your trip for next year.