Scavenger Hunts, Escape Games & Walking Tours in the USA

Choose a self-guided scavenger hunt, outdoor escape game or audio walking tour in 13 US cities, from Boston and Washington D.C. to New Orleans and Honolulu. About 10 stops, 2–3 hours, no guide and no fixed start time. 4.8 · 26 reviews13 cities✓ Instant access✓ Start any time✓ No guide needed

the USA. Route, every stop, local tips and prices on our local site: wct-onlineapp.com →

United States: more places with city guides

No game here yet, but our guides cover them: where locals eat, what to see, day trips and more.

Self-guided city games in 13 US cities

World City Trail runs self-guided scavenger hunts in 13 American cities, from Boston, New York and Philadelphia on the East Coast to Charleston, Savannah and New Orleans in the South, Chicago, Denver, Dallas and Austin inland, and Los Angeles and Honolulu in the West. Every city has three games: a scavenger hunt, an outdoor escape game and an audio walking tour.

Most scavenger hunts take about 3 hours; Boston and Honolulu take about 2. Actual walking time runs from 29 minutes (2.1 km) in Boston to over an hour in Chicago and Washington D.C. (5 km each). The New York game is played in Central Park, the Los Angeles game in downtown LA.

CityScavenger hunt ratingTimeWalkingStops
New York 4.8 (12)about 3 hoursabout 43 min · 3.5 km10See the games →
Washington D.C. 4.3 (3)about 3 hoursabout 71 min · 5.0 km10See the games →
Boston 5.0 (2)about 2 hoursabout 29 min · 2.1 km10See the games →
Charleston 4.5 (2)about 3 hoursabout 43 min · 3.0 km10See the games →
Philadelphia 5.0 (2)about 3 hoursabout 63 min · 4.3 km10See the games →
Austin 5.0 (1)about 3 hoursabout 37 min · 2.7 km10See the games →
Chicago 5.0 (1)about 3 hoursabout 73 min · 5.0 km10See the games →
Dallas 5.0 (1)about 3 hoursabout 54 min · 3.8 km10See the games →
Los Angeles 5.0 (1)about 3 hoursabout 53 min · 3.5 km10See the games →
Savannah 5.0 (1)about 3 hoursabout 56 min · 3.8 km10See the games →
Denver–about 3 hoursabout 69 min · 4.5 km10See the games →
Honolulu–about 2 hoursabout 37 min · 2.7 km10See the games →
New Orleans–about 3 hoursabout 55 min · 3.8 km10See the games →

The best city in the USA for a scavenger hunt, by type of trip

Best for a first trip to the USA

Washington D.C.

The route follows the National Mall from the US Capitol past the Smithsonian museums and the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial.

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Best for American Revolution history

Boston

Solve riddles at Boston Common, the Old State House, the Boston Massacre site and Faneuil Hall. It is also the shortest walk, at 2.1 km.

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Best for families with children

New York

The whole game stays inside Central Park, away from traffic: Cleopatra’s Needle, Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields and Bethesda Terrace.

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Best for music and food lovers

New Orleans

Walk from the riverfront to Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, then through the French Market to Congo Square.

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Best for a slow Southern walk

Savannah

The route links the fountain in Forsyth Park with Monterey, Chippewa and Reynolds squares, Colonial Park Cemetery and the old warehouses of River Street.

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How it works

  1. Book online Choose the game and the number of players. Your booking reference arrives by email straight away.
  2. Get the app Download the World City Trail app from the App Store or Google Play and enter your booking reference.
  3. Play when you like Start whenever you are ready, walk at your own pace and pause any time. No guide, no fixed schedule.

Why explore the USA with a self-guided city game

A self-guided scavenger hunt is an easy way to see the main sights of an American downtown in two to three hours, with no guide and no fixed start time. Each route links about 10 landmarks on foot, in cities most visitors see from a car.

Compared with a guided tour, you choose the day, the start time, the pace and the order of the stops. The riddles make you look closely at statues and façades, and the stories explain what you just found, from the Liberty Bell to ʻIolani Palace.

One app works in all 13 cities, which suits a road trip: Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. on the East Coast, or Charleston, Savannah and New Orleans in the South.

  • In summer, start early or late in the day; Texas, the South and Hawaii get very hot at midday.
  • Start the escape game in daylight, because its puzzles rely on details of buildings and monuments.
  • Every stop is seen from outside, so you need no museum tickets.
  • Planning several cities? Book them together: tickets have no time limit and wait until you arrive.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best city in the USA for a scavenger hunt?

For a first visit, Washington D.C. is a strong choice: its route runs from the Capitol along the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial. Boston and Philadelphia suit history fans, Central Park in New York suits families, and Savannah or New Orleans suit a trip through the South.

How long does a scavenger hunt in the USA take?

Most US scavenger hunts take about 3 hours, including 37 to 73 minutes of actual walking. Boston and Honolulu take about 2 hours. You can pause and continue later.

Do I need to book a time slot?

No. You book online and receive your booking reference by email straight away. Download the World City Trail app, enter the reference and start whenever you like, with no guide and no time slot.

Can I do a scavenger hunt in the USA with kids?

Yes. The riddles are solved by observation and logic, not prior knowledge, so children can play along with an adult. For young children, Central Park in New York and the short routes in Boston and Austin work well.

Which languages are the USA games in?

Every US game is in English, and all cities except Honolulu are also in German and Spanish. Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. add French, Italian and Portuguese, New York adds French, Italian and Dutch, and each city page lists its languages.

Can I play more than one city with the same app?

Yes. The World City Trail app works in every city: buy a ticket for each game, enter each booking reference and play whenever you are there. Your personal Trail Map collects every city you finish and the kilometres you walked.

Ready to explore the USA your own way?

Choose a city, book online and get your booking reference straight away. Start whenever you are there, with no guide and no time slot.

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