Public Gardens Worth Traveling to in the United States

Whether you’re going for inspiration, education, or simply to have fun with family and friends, public gardens are must-see destinations for plant-loving tourists and locals alike.

These plant palaces range greatly in size and style, often while representing the unique culture, geographical features, and flora of their area. In this way, public gardens are like living museums where all the items on display grow, transform, and sway in the breeze. If you’re visiting somewhere new, this is a great way to learn more about the state and region.

However, you don’t need to be somewhere unfamiliar to learn something from a public garden visit. These gardens hire and work with local gardening experts and are filled with plants that thrive in that region. If you need ideas for better displays or are looking for more plants to add to your wish list, visiting a garden in your area is a great way to get inspiration and make your home garden even better.

There are far too many fabulous public gardens in the United States to name them all, but we do have several contributors and regional reporters who have written about public gardens, whether they work there or simply went for a visit. Some detailed their experiences at large, well-renowned institutions, while others gave attention to smaller, hidden gems. Learn more about these gardens and why they’re worth visiting in the articles below. And if you’ve visited a public garden recently, we’d love to hear about your experience. Send photos and information to [email protected].

Some notable public gardens not mentioned below

• Biltmore, Asheville, NC
• Blithewold Mansion, Gardens, & Arboretum, Bristol, RI
• The Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, WA
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, NY
• Callaway Resort & Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA
• Chanticleer Garden, Wayne, PA
• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, ME
• Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Dallas, TX
• Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, FL
• Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Columbus, OH
• Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, VA
• Limahuli Garden and Preserve, Kauai, HI
• Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
• Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO
• New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY
• Portland Japanese Garden, Portland, OR
• San Francisco Botanical Garden, San Francisco, CA
• Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, MA
• United States Botanic Garden, Washington, DC

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  Mid-Atlantic Regional Reports

  Mid-Atlantic Natives on Trial at the Mt. Cuba Center

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  Midwest Regional Reports

  Takeaways From the Newfields Horticultural Symposium in Indianapolis

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  Design

  Chicago Botanic Garden Trial Gardens

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  Mountain West Regional Reports

  A Visit to Betty Ford’s Alpine Gardens

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  Pacific Northwest Regional Reports

  A Visit to the Ruth Bancroft Gardens and Nursery

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  Midwest Regional Reports

  McCrory Gardens: A Hidden Gem in the Northern Plains

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  Southeast Regional Reports

  Gateways to Gardening Through the University of Tennessee

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  Southeast Regional Reports

  Finding Inspiration at Public Gardens

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  Southeast Regional Reports

  Field Trip to the JC Raulston Arboretum

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  Southeast Regional Reports

  Field Trip to the North Carolina Arboretum

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  Southwest Regional Reports

  An Edible Garden With a Twist

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  Southwest Regional Reports

  Lessons from Festival Beach Food Forest in Austin, Texas

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  Southwest Regional Reports

  Inspiration from Desert Botanical Garden