Sunset magazine has announced the winners of its 2026 Travel Awards, an annual round-up that singles out the most memorable experiences across the American West. The list spans the region's full range: Pacific coastline, mountain country, and desert, all within a few hours' drive of each other in many states. For anyone planning a trip to California, the Pacific Northwest, or the Southwest, it's a useful shortcut to what locals consider the standouts right now.
The awards, published on September 9, 2026, aren't limited to one category or one type of trip. Sunset frames the West as a place where travellers can mix outdoor adventure with food, small towns, and scenery that shifts dramatically within a single state — a coastline morning, a mountain afternoon, a desert evening. That flexibility is exactly what makes the region appealing: you can build a road trip around one award-winning stop or string several together across state lines.
What does this mean practically? Award round-ups like this tend to highlight a blend of well-known icons and under-the-radar picks, so it's worth reading the full list before booking. If your trip is anchored to a big city — San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix — chances are at least one winner sits within a manageable day trip. The desert picks are best saved for the cooler months, while coastal destinations hold up nearly year-round thanks to the Pacific's mild, fog-tempered climate.
The timing matters too. September, when these winners were announced, is arguably the West's sweet spot: summer crowds thin out, mountain weather is still reliably good, and wine country and high desert start to cool down. If the awards have nudged the West onto your list, autumn travel lets you hit the highlights without peak-season prices or packed trails.
Why it matters for travellers: independent award lists are a good antidote to algorithm-driven recommendations. Sunset has covered the western US for decades, and its picks usually reflect what's genuinely worth your limited holiday days rather than what's trending. Whether you're after a coastal escape, a mountain hike, or a desert reset, the 2026 winners offer a curated starting point for building a route.
