travel magazines example

38 Inspiring Travel Magazines Worthy of a Subscription

By Jason Barnette | Travel writer and photographer with 15+ years of road tripping experience

Last Updated on October 9, 2024
Published on November 25, 2022

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Travel magazines are great resources for inspiration and information. Inciteful articles go beyond the things to do in a destination and explore why you should visit in the first place. Hotel reviews, travel gear roundups, exploration of new trends, and interviews with interesting people in the travel industry keep you entertained through dozens of glossy pages.

Some travel magazines cover the globe, offering a chance to see exotic destinations in far-off lands. Other magazines stick closer to home, covering only regions or states. And then, special interest magazines cover topics like travel gear, outdoor recreation, and unique places to visit.

But when was the last time you picked up a travel magazine?

Browse through this list of travel magazines worthy of a subscription. Read the details of the magazine’s coverage, digital vs. print editions, and their publication frequency. And keep in mind – these make excellent gifts as well.

What about city magazines?

City magazines can offer additional insight into a destination, but not always. The magazines also include local news, shopping guides for home décor, and seasonal things to do around town. I recommend checking out city magazines when you travel but don’t get a subscription unless you visit that destination several times yearly.

Condé nast traveler, food & wine, national geographic, travel + leisure, blueridge country, caribbean living, coastal living, coastal virginia, cowboys & indians, midwest living, smoky mountain living, arizona highways, louisiana life, minnesota monthly, new hampshire magazine, new jersey monthly, new mexico magazine, oklahoma today magazine, rhode island monthly, texas highways, texas parks & wildlife, vermont magazine, adventure cyclist magazine, american road, backcountry, blue ridge motorcycling, garden & gun, lighthouse digest, national parks magazine, rv magazine.

Travel Lifestyle Magazines

The premier category of travel magazines, these industry icons cover worldwide topics and destinations, keep you informed about current travel trends, and inspire you to dust off the passport.

A relative newcomer to the travel magazine market, Afar began publishing six issues each year in 2009. The magazine publishes immersive stories that go deep into the culture and history of travel destinations around the world. Each issue also features columns about travel gear, food, and profiles of interesting people in the industry.

Founded in New York City in 1909, Condé Nast is a vast media company with nearly a dozen magazine publications. Condé Nast Traveler is a luxury travel magazine published eight times yearly, featuring destination guides, hotel and resort reviews, and essays. Columns explore travel trends, the hottest new restaurants and hotels, and inside info on prices worldwide.

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First published in 1978, Food & Wine is a lifestyle magazine featuring articles about cooking and entertaining at home. But the magazine also features restaurant reviews, interviews with celebrity chefs, and new culinary trends to try worldwide. The magazine is published monthly with seasonal themes and travel inspiration in every issue.

It was a gut punch when National Geographic Traveler was shuttered in 2019. Published for twenty-five years, the travel-themed magazine was rolled into the flagship National Geographic . The broad-topic parent magazine now features one or two travel features in their monthly issues and a vast trove of information with a digital subscription.

Top Recommended

Published in New York City since 1937, Travel + Leisure is one of the top travel magazines in the world. The monthly publication features articles highlighting destinations worldwide, columns to help you save money while traveling, and reviews of hotels and restaurants. It’s one of the most inspiring magazines and the one subscription I recommend everyone order.

Wanderlust is the United Kingdom’s top travel magazine, published in London since 1993. The magazine focuses on travel destinations throughout the UK and Europe with destination guides, essays, interviews, and reviews. The bi-monthly publication features a whopping 200+ pages that will almost certainly keep you reading until the next issue arrives. A subscription also grants access to their vast digital archives.

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Regional Travel Magazines

Regional travel magazines broaden their topics beyond just travel to also include home décor and living. But these magazines are also an excellent resource for finding off-the-beaten-path destinations or learning about a new region of the country to explore.

Based in Roanoke, Virginia, BlueRidge Country is a lifestyle and travel magazine focused on the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. The monthly issues feature a section on upcoming festivals and events that are perfect for weekend getaways. You’ll also find destination articles, hotel and restaurant reviews, and exciting things to do in the great outdoors in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

National Park Week 2024

Learn about the annual celebration of the National Park System and read my travel guides to national park units across the country.

With a subscription to Caribbean Living , you’ll “travel beyond the beach” with an inside look at the culture of the Caribbean islands. Issues are only published four times each year, but the publications are packed with intriguing travel stories, unique places to visit, and tips on how to make the most of your tropical getaway.

Life was turbulent for Coastal Living after Meredith purchased Time, Inc. in 2018. After a year stuck exclusively on newsstands, the magazine was again made available for subscriptions. The four issues published annually are packed with destination guides, travel tips, and reviews to make the most of your coastal getaway.

Published six times yearly, Coastal Virginia covers the region around Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore. The publication includes lists of local events and festivals, travel guides to popular coastal destinations, and interviews with the local business owners who keep the travel industry thriving in coastal Virginia.

When Cowboys & Indians began publishing in 1992, its editors aimed to make it “the premier magazine of the West.” And with 16 issues each year, you’ll have plenty to read about the not-so-wild west. Each issue is packed with home décor, recipes for local foods, travel guides to popular destinations, and upcoming events and festivals.

Based in Des Moines, Iowa, Midwest Living has been published four times yearly since 1986. The issues explore the vast region with travel guides, interviews, and reviews of places to visit. Issues include lifestyle topics like home décor and recipes, but you’ll still find plenty of travel topics to inspire your next Midwest adventure.

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Based in Waynesville, North Carolina at the footsteps of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Smoky Mountain Living publishes stories covering the southern Appalachian Mountains. The stories include local arts and crafts, culture, music, and travel. It’s an excellent magazine for more than just the national park – it’s every small mountain town and hidden cove you never knew you wanted to visit.

The first issue of Sunset was published in 1898 – no kidding. Initially published by the Southern Pacific Railroad, today the lifestyle magazine covers the American West with topics on home life, cooking, gardening, and travel. Although it’s a broad-ranged magazine, the travel articles are inspirational.

Published since 1935, Yankee celebrates the culture of the New England states. Six issues each year feature stories about local traditions, festivals and events, lifestyle, and reviews of up-and-coming boutique hotels and restaurants.

State Travel Magazines

Narrowing the focus, state travel magazines focus on lifestyle and travel topics within their borders. If you visit a particular state every year, a subscription to one of these magazines could be invaluable for inspiring you to visit new destinations.

Published since 1935, Alaska is more than just a magazine to promote travel across the northernmost state – it’s also a journal of the Alaskan way of life. The magazine is published ten times yearly and features destination guides, seasonal activities, and outdoor adventures across the state. The magazine also featured excellent information about hunting, national parks, and how to travel across the state.

In 1921, the Arizona Department of Transportation began publishing a 10-page pamphlet to promote the highways across the state. Today, Arizona Highways is a monthly magazine published in Phoenix. Each issue includes road trip possibilities, travel guides, and stories about the state’s history and culture.

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Published six times yearly, Louisiana Life includes roundups of upcoming events and festivals, travel guides, and an inside look at the state’s culture.

The “Land of 10,000 Lakes” is brought to life with Minnesota Monthly , which is now ironically only published six times annually . The travel and lifestyle magazine features articles on destinations to visit, events you must attend, and things to do across the state and over the water.

New Hampshire Magazine publishes 10 issues each year packed with information about the state’s tourist destinations, seasonal guides to explore autumn colors and spring flowers, and reviews of local restaurants.

New Jersey Monthly publishes an issue every month of the year filled with lifestyle tips, destination guides, and things to do across the state to the Jersey Shore.

Launched in 1923, New Mexico Magazine was the first magazine to focus on travel within a single state. With 11 issues published annually by the New Mexico Tourism Department in Santa Fe, the magazine features articles on the state’s culture, history, outdoor recreation, and destinations.

Since 1956, Oklahoma Today Magazine has been the official publication of the state of Oklahoma. The issues – published 6 times yearly – feature articles on history, culture, food, and travel across the state.

Published since 1933, Our State is one of the best state travel magazines in the country. The monthly issues are filled with travel guides, upcoming events and festivals, stellar photography, and things to do in small towns and big cities across the Tarheel State.

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. And with 12 issues of Rhode Island Monthly published each year, you can learn all about it. The articles cover events and festivals, things to do, places to visit, and go in-depth with reviews and interviews.

Published since 1974 by the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Highways is a monthly magazine that features destination guides, road trip itineraries, and seasonal inspiration for travel across the state. The articles include interviews with travel industry professionals, reviews of local restaurants and resorts, and roundups of things to do, places to go, and festivals to attend.

Based in Austin, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department protects the wildlife and their habitats across the state. And since 1942, the state agency has published Texas Parks & Wildlife . 10 issues annually are filled with tips about outdoor recreation, hunting, fishing, and anything else you can do in the great outdoors in the state.

Published only 5 times each year, Vermont Magazine explores the history, culture, and travel across the state. Articles take a deep dive with interviews, reviews, and guides to help you get the most out of a visit to the state.

Special Interest Magazines

Instead of travel guides or restaurant reviews or business owner interviews, the special interest magazine focuses on specific things to do while home or traveling. You’ll find stories about outdoor recreation, exploring national park units, and how to travel in an RV in the pages of these magazines.

Adventure Cyclist Magazine has been published since 1975 by the Adventure Cycling Association . The Missoula, Montana-based association is an excellent resource for adventurous bicycle trails, gear reviews, and technical guides. Their magazine reflects this mission with 9 issues published annually packed with useful information. Membership in the association includes a subscription to the magazine and vice versa.

Published 4 times annually, American Road is the definitive magazine of the road tripper. The issues are filled with road trip travelogues, itineraries, roadside attractions, and reviews of restaurants and hotels you’ll find along the way.

Backcountry is the only magazine dedicated to outdoor recreation far from the paved highways. Published six times yearly, the magazine features gear reviews, backcountry tips, and destination guides worldwide. It’s an excellent resource for discovering backcountry adventures, how to get there, and where to stay.

Blue Ridge Motorcycling is published 4 times annually by the same folks behind Smoky Mountain Living . The magazine features scenic and thrilling motorcycle routes throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Southern Appalachians. Issues also feature motorcycle gear reviews and travel guides perfect for two-wheel adventures.

Published in Charleston, South Carolina, Garden & Gun is a regional magazine focusing on the American South. It’s not entirely a travel magazine with a wide range of topics from household décor to outdoor adventure. But the magazine regularly publishes fantastic articles about destinations you need to visit.

Lighthouse Digest is an interesting magazine subscription, especially for lovers of lighthouses. Published bi-monthly, the magazine features the history of the lighthouses, stories of previous keepers and their families, and travel guides on how to visit them. It’s a great resource for festivals and events to help you plan a weekend getaway to a lighthouse.

National Parks Magazine is the official magazine published by the National Parks Conservation Association. Published 4 times annually, the issues are filled with conservation stories and ways people can help protect the parks. But it also features excellent travel guides on things to do in the parks and sustainable ways to visit.

Published since 1977, Outside is a magazine about everything to do outside. The magazine is published bi-monthly. Each issue is stuffed with outdoor adventure gear reviews, technical articles, interviews of outdoor enthusiasts, and travel guides to amazing outdoor adventure destinations.

RoadRUNNER is a relative newcomer to the travel magazine domain, published for the first time in 2001. Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the magazine covers all topics related to motorcycle touring and traveling with one headlight. Published bi-monthly, issues feature gear reviews, travel guides, and thrilling routes to explore on two wheels.

RV Magazine is the premier magazine for recreational vehicle owners. Articles on tips, vehicle reviews, and new gear are published monthly. Print, digital, and combination subscriptions are offered to get the best of everything they offer.