The United States is a massive country. It’s the fourth-largest in the world by land mass and the third-largest by population. Because of this, the nation is home to some of the most exciting and diverse cities in the world. But because the U.S. has nearly 20,000 towns and cities, they can’t all be fascinating. In fact, there are probably some that you’d never want to set foot in.
Travelers on Reddit have recently been discussing their least favorite places in the Land of the Free, so we’ve gathered a list of their replies below. From small towns with nothing to do to big cities with weird vibes, according to these travelers, you can leave these locations off your bucket list.
#21
Jackson, Mississippi
Edit: I just meant it seemed run down and depressing . I didn’t mean to imply anything about crime or race . Cahokia, IL is my close second.
us1087:
I was in Jackson last year. Stayed a block from a federal courthouse. When we checked in, the staff told us not to leave the hotel and walk around. They were not lying.
benck202:
Parts of jackson have almost apocalyptically jarring poverty, but I’ve stayed in that hotel too and that neighborhood downtown is totally safe to walk around. If you didn’t, you missed some great stuff, including the Mississippi museum of art, mayflower cafe, and Hal and mal’s.
Edit: I just meant it seemed run down and depressing . I didn’t mean to imply anything about crime or race . Cahokia, IL is my close second.
us1087:
I was in Jackson last year. Stayed a block from a federal courthouse. When we checked in, the staff told us not to leave the hotel and walk around. They were not lying.
benck202:
Parts of jackson have almost apocalyptically jarring poverty, but I’ve stayed in that hotel too and that neighborhood downtown is totally safe to walk around. If you didn’t, you missed some great stuff, including the Mississippi museum of art, mayflower cafe, and Hal and mal’s.
11points
#22
Landed in Pittsburgh and had to drive 90 minutes to Morgantown. Never thought I’d get culture shock driving through my own country. You ever seen trailer homes stacked on top of each other? A whole neighborhood of trailer homes piled up? Trash everywhere, malnourished adults and children loitering with hardly any clothes on. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Edit: yes I mean literally stacked on top of each other with ladders going up to the second trailer home and support beams between them. A whole neighborhood of them like this! This was specifically in 2010.
angryWinds:
I used to drive through that area on a semi-regular basis. But I was always on the interstate, so it wasn't particularly remarkable.
Except for one time, I thought "Gah, I've driven along this stretch of I-79 so many times that I'm bored with it. I got a full tank of gas. Adventure time," and drove along some side streets that were roughly parallel to the interstate.
Man, I saw some things on that drive that I won't ever forget.
Edit: yes I mean literally stacked on top of each other with ladders going up to the second trailer home and support beams between them. A whole neighborhood of them like this! This was specifically in 2010.
angryWinds:
I used to drive through that area on a semi-regular basis. But I was always on the interstate, so it wasn't particularly remarkable.
Except for one time, I thought "Gah, I've driven along this stretch of I-79 so many times that I'm bored with it. I got a full tank of gas. Adventure time," and drove along some side streets that were roughly parallel to the interstate.
Man, I saw some things on that drive that I won't ever forget.
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11points
#23
Blythe. Right on the CA/AZ border. Whole town smelled like a used litter box.
No_Theory_4213:
My band got a motel there on tour between Tempe and LA. Our singer took first shower in the morning and said “I think that water made me smell worse.” Nobody else showered.
No_Theory_4213:
My band got a motel there on tour between Tempe and LA. Our singer took first shower in the morning and said “I think that water made me smell worse.” Nobody else showered.
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11points
#24
I was driving from Seattle to the Washington coast in a rental and couldn’t stop marveling at the forests and landscapes. It’s calming and gorgeous, a part of the world that connects you to your spirituality. As I approached the birthplace of Kurt Cobain I began to wonder why he hated this place so much. It actually made me angry thinking about what a brat he must’ve been to hold such disdain for his home town but then I arrived to Aberdeen. It is bereft of joy and beauty. I get it now.
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11points
#25
Shreveport, Louisiana is a city that needs a restart quickly.
shaun3000:
I spent a ton of time in Shreveport. Would I move there? Hell no. But there are way worse places than Shreveport. I never felt unsafe there. Check out the Blind Tiger next to the Texas Street bridge. Make sure you get some meat pies and fried corn.
Mr__Prat:
I stayed in Shreveport for just over a day on my way to moving/driving my daughter to TX for college. I stayed at Ballys casino and while it seemed a little sketchy around town it wasn't the worst city I've been to. I did have an awesome meal (shrimp and oyster Po Boy) at a hole in the wall restaurant that was crazy good. Herby K's was the name of it Highly recommend.
shaun3000:
I spent a ton of time in Shreveport. Would I move there? Hell no. But there are way worse places than Shreveport. I never felt unsafe there. Check out the Blind Tiger next to the Texas Street bridge. Make sure you get some meat pies and fried corn.
Mr__Prat:
I stayed in Shreveport for just over a day on my way to moving/driving my daughter to TX for college. I stayed at Ballys casino and while it seemed a little sketchy around town it wasn't the worst city I've been to. I did have an awesome meal (shrimp and oyster Po Boy) at a hole in the wall restaurant that was crazy good. Herby K's was the name of it Highly recommend.
10points
#26
I've only been to like 5 places in America, but I'll say like 5 blocks off of the Las Vegas strip was pretty jarring. All the flash and crazy Ness to rundown houses abandoned looking gas stations. Even Freemont street where the old Vegas strip was is very different. And some people don't even know because they only stay on the strip the whole time.
10points
#27
Midland Texas.
leightv:
after living in midland for 6 years and all through the pandemic i can unequivocally say that most midlanders represent the worst of humanity.
i’m not talking about the transient workers or those that move there for work related reasons — no. it’s the home grown, born and raised individuals that are truly horrendous human beings.
leightv:
after living in midland for 6 years and all through the pandemic i can unequivocally say that most midlanders represent the worst of humanity.
i’m not talking about the transient workers or those that move there for work related reasons — no. it’s the home grown, born and raised individuals that are truly horrendous human beings.
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10points
#28
Southern Arkansas where my mom lives. An insane level of poverty, racism and ignorance.
Bright-Form730:
I’m less than an hour from Arkansas on the east Oklahoma border. So many people here too that seem to have just given up. Yards full of junk, house falling apart, etc. Fairly nice people, just don’t discuss politics or religion with them.
DJmagikMIKE:
I’ve always thought Arkansas was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, a vast majority of its inhabitants are absolute garbage.
Bright-Form730:
I’m less than an hour from Arkansas on the east Oklahoma border. So many people here too that seem to have just given up. Yards full of junk, house falling apart, etc. Fairly nice people, just don’t discuss politics or religion with them.
DJmagikMIKE:
I’ve always thought Arkansas was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, a vast majority of its inhabitants are absolute garbage.
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10points
#29
West Virginia. Corrugated metal roofs everywhere and the prettiest woman I saw looked like CeeLo Green.
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10points
#30
Any part of east Texas. Weird, rude, and violent people. And some of the towns would make a 3rd world slum look clean.
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10points
#31
People have mentioned many towns in Texas but no one has mentioned Killeen yet. For some reason that place has a menacing edge over similar sized cities in the state. We went there to pick up a tv that was on super sale at Best Buy years ago. Everyone who wasn't clearly from the nearby base (which included a lot of younger folks seemingly stuck working at the stores we visited) looked like off-putting extras from a KOTH episode.
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10points
#32
Away from the State Park at the falls… Niagara Falls NY.
phlostonsparadise123:
Niagara Falls native, here.
The city has admittedly made some strides in the downtown/Third Street tourist area, which is right near the Canadian border and Seneca Niagara casino. However, outside of that, everything else about the city is still as shitty as it was when I moved to Buffalo in 2012.
Pine Avenue seems to be boarded up mostly, Ferry/Walnut is still bad, as are the streets between 8th and 30th. Except for the police station and Rapids Theatre (are they still open?), Main Street remains a mostly abandoned war zone.
Things get slightly better when you get to the Military Road/Niagara Falls Blvd areas, but that's because it shifts to total suburban strip-mall sprawl.
I only bother coming to the city to visit my dad and my childhood friends who still live there; they're teachers, firefighters and officers. Otherwise, I generally bypass the falls altogether and visit Lewiston, which is phenomenally better, despite that village's rampant NIMBYism.
The greatest bait and switch ever is when you're traveling toward Niagara Falls and cross the Grand Island Bridge from Erie County. As you do so, you'll see this gorgeous skyline with several skyscrapers. You think you're looking at the Niagara Falls, NY skyline when in reality, you're looking at the Niagara Falls, Ontario skyline.
VoxDolorum:
I’m from the area and I warn anyone who says they want to visit the falls someday not to wander. It’s worse there than the East side of Buffalo, in my opinion, and that’s saying something. Great Italian food though if you want to brave getting potentially sh*t at. Just go during the day and don’t get lost lol.
phlostonsparadise123:
Niagara Falls native, here.
The city has admittedly made some strides in the downtown/Third Street tourist area, which is right near the Canadian border and Seneca Niagara casino. However, outside of that, everything else about the city is still as shitty as it was when I moved to Buffalo in 2012.
Pine Avenue seems to be boarded up mostly, Ferry/Walnut is still bad, as are the streets between 8th and 30th. Except for the police station and Rapids Theatre (are they still open?), Main Street remains a mostly abandoned war zone.
Things get slightly better when you get to the Military Road/Niagara Falls Blvd areas, but that's because it shifts to total suburban strip-mall sprawl.
I only bother coming to the city to visit my dad and my childhood friends who still live there; they're teachers, firefighters and officers. Otherwise, I generally bypass the falls altogether and visit Lewiston, which is phenomenally better, despite that village's rampant NIMBYism.
The greatest bait and switch ever is when you're traveling toward Niagara Falls and cross the Grand Island Bridge from Erie County. As you do so, you'll see this gorgeous skyline with several skyscrapers. You think you're looking at the Niagara Falls, NY skyline when in reality, you're looking at the Niagara Falls, Ontario skyline.
VoxDolorum:
I’m from the area and I warn anyone who says they want to visit the falls someday not to wander. It’s worse there than the East side of Buffalo, in my opinion, and that’s saying something. Great Italian food though if you want to brave getting potentially sh*t at. Just go during the day and don’t get lost lol.
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9points
#33
Just going through these comments.
I lived in Memphis, TN for four years. I grew up going to my grandparents in Jackson, MS and lived there for five years. I currently have a house ~20 minutes from Gary, IN.
I've seen some s**t.
OkAnnual6084:
Memphis might be dangerous but its an alive city
I lived in Memphis, TN for four years. I grew up going to my grandparents in Jackson, MS and lived there for five years. I currently have a house ~20 minutes from Gary, IN.
I've seen some s**t.
OkAnnual6084:
Memphis might be dangerous but its an alive city
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9points
#34
I travel for a living. Catastrophe insurance for property.
Jackson Mississippi.. hands down... the worst....
Jackson Mississippi.. hands down... the worst....
9points
#35
Clearlake, CA. The lake is polluted and surrounded by m**h heads.
tinker_the_bell:
Kept a sailboat there for a time. Used to love going up there on the weekends. The water was clear and warm. Great spots to drop anchor, listen to the frogs, and watch various birds fishing. The towns were quaint and friendly.
Years later I was driving up the coast and stopped by for nostalgia's sake. Woah, what a surprise. The lake had a foot of green algae floating on top of the water and smelled horrendous. There was an infestation of bugs in the millions. Everything was run down and people visibly on drugs where stumbling around.
Apparently the algae was caused by fertilizer run off from the farms. It killed the tourism and put the area into a d**th spiral.
tinker_the_bell:
Kept a sailboat there for a time. Used to love going up there on the weekends. The water was clear and warm. Great spots to drop anchor, listen to the frogs, and watch various birds fishing. The towns were quaint and friendly.
Years later I was driving up the coast and stopped by for nostalgia's sake. Woah, what a surprise. The lake had a foot of green algae floating on top of the water and smelled horrendous. There was an infestation of bugs in the millions. Everything was run down and people visibly on drugs where stumbling around.
Apparently the algae was caused by fertilizer run off from the farms. It killed the tourism and put the area into a d**th spiral.
9points
#36
As a swede who only been to florida and mainly florida keyes, there is no worse place. Well maybe when we took a wrong turn outside Miami and got to a place called Homestead and the area took a turn for the worse. Mom said "lock the doors".
However i loved every visit there and its been many times since my first time in 1988. Last time was 2016, and i want to go back. The general american person is a lovley person and americas politics are far away from the pleasant people that are the americans.
However i loved every visit there and its been many times since my first time in 1988. Last time was 2016, and i want to go back. The general american person is a lovley person and americas politics are far away from the pleasant people that are the americans.
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9points
#37
I’m gonna go with a different kind of worse.
Frisco, TX
The “downtown” area with all the new build skyscrapers is at the intersection of two massive toll roads and is basically cut into quarters. All the skyscrapers are basically identical and soulless, and separated by overly robust parking garages with F250 sized parking spaces that make everything just a little too far away to walk. Outside of that, you have corporate campuses with gargantuan sprawling lawns that will never be of use to anyone but are meticulously maintained by landscaping crews and watered and fertilized regularly. Outside of that you have chain restaurants and subdivisions full of identical houses with perfect lawns which are ruled with an iron fist by HOA Karens.
Frisco, TX
The “downtown” area with all the new build skyscrapers is at the intersection of two massive toll roads and is basically cut into quarters. All the skyscrapers are basically identical and soulless, and separated by overly robust parking garages with F250 sized parking spaces that make everything just a little too far away to walk. Outside of that, you have corporate campuses with gargantuan sprawling lawns that will never be of use to anyone but are meticulously maintained by landscaping crews and watered and fertilized regularly. Outside of that you have chain restaurants and subdivisions full of identical houses with perfect lawns which are ruled with an iron fist by HOA Karens.
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9points
#38
I had to take a detour through Gary, Indiana while driving to Chicago. Holy s**t it felt like I was in a warzone.
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9points
#39
My local dmv
BiBoFieTo:
As a Canadian, going to a DMV is a wild ride.
There was a security guard at an entrance booth with a gun looking like he was itching to use it. Inside it was like a filming of Jerry Springer. There was a lady with six-inch nails wandering around taking sh*t about people's hair, and a couple dudes that almost threw punches and had to be broken up. The guy near me either sh*t his pants, or hadn't showered in ten years.
BiBoFieTo:
As a Canadian, going to a DMV is a wild ride.
There was a security guard at an entrance booth with a gun looking like he was itching to use it. Inside it was like a filming of Jerry Springer. There was a lady with six-inch nails wandering around taking sh*t about people's hair, and a couple dudes that almost threw punches and had to be broken up. The guy near me either sh*t his pants, or hadn't showered in ten years.
8points
#40
Used to work as a long haul trucker and for me it’s:
Atlanta, Ga
Baton Rouge, LA
The entirety of I-70 through Indiana.
Atlanta, Ga
Baton Rouge, LA
The entirety of I-70 through Indiana.
8points
