In December, the U.S. is wrapped in winter lights from the West Coast to the East Coast.
But locals who really know where to go never stick to the big malls or the officially recommended spots.
They go to the places that are โfree, dazzling, put on by the neighborhood, never a letdown, and better the later it gets.โ
This article lays out the 20 best Christmas light displays in the U.S.,
covering California, New York, Chicago and Seattle four major areas + a must-see list for the rest of the country.
Follow this list and you won't need to do any research in December.
๐ PART 1 | California: West Coast lights that get livelier as the night goes on
1. ๐ด LA | Beverly Hills โ Rodeo Drive Holiday Lights
One of the most luxurious streets in the U.S., turning three blocks into a golden boulevard every year.
โ What stands out: Chanel, LV and Prada storefronts compete to see who shines brightest.
โ Highlights: the most glamorous streetscape, free, easy parking (photos are better later at night).
2. ๐ฌ LA | The Grove Christmas Tree & Market Lights
The mall in Los Angeles that โdecorates best.โ
โ โSnowfallโ every night (artificial snow, very pretty)
โ Free + great for photos
3. ๐ก LA | Altadena Christmas Tree Lane (a tunnel of Christmas lights)
One of the oldest Christmas light streets in the U.S., where a kilometer of giant trees is fully lit up.
โ Put on by the neighborhood, not commercial
โ Just roll down your windows and drive through
4. ๐ OC | Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade (Newport Beach's festival of lights on the water)
Yachts, sailboats and waterfront homes all light up the coastline together.
โ Highly recommended: walk around Balboa Island to see the lights reflected in the water
โ Free and off-the-charts romantic
5. ๐ฐ SF | Union Square Holiday Lights (San Francisco's classic light display)
Downtown lights up like a movie set.
โ A giant Christmas tree and an ice rink
โ Add a cable car to the shot and it's postcard-worthy
6. ๐ SF | Ghirardelli Square + Pier 39 Winter Lights
The best combination of harbor + lights.
โ Pier 39's sea lions as a backdrop + the lights โ a tourist favorite
๐ PART 2 | New York: the biggest Christmas destination in the U.S.
7. ๐ง NYC | Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Need we say more? The most famous Christmas tree in the world.
โ Free to see
โ Crowded, but the most classic atmosphere
โ Anyone going to see Christmas lights won't skip this one
8. โญ NYC | Dyker Heights Christmas Lights (the most over-the-top neighborhood lights in the U.S.)
A neighborhood where New Yorkers decorate like their lives depend on it.
โ Every house looks like it's in a competition
โ Brightest from December 1โ30
โ Anyone who really knows Christmas in New York comes here
9. ๐ NYC | Bryant Park Winter Village
Less a light display than a European Christmas market.
โ Free entry
โ Market stalls, an ice rink and a very festive glow
10. ๐ก NYC | Hudson Yards โ The Shine Bright Lights
The best indoor lights.
โ The whole mall looks wrapped in golden light
โ Snow + reflected lights = your camera roll will be full
๐ PART 3 | Chicago: the Windy City's ultimate winter scenery
11. ๐ Chicago | Millennium Park Holiday Lights
Chicago's most classic winter symbol.
โ The Bean + reflected lights โ spectacular
โ Free + photogenic
12. ๐ง Chicago | ZooLights (Lincoln Park) โ free days only
The Christmas light festival at the Chicago zoo, completely free on some dates.
โ A must for family trips
โ Lots of interactive lights and plenty of space
13. ๐ Chicago | Michigan Avenue โ Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
The whole avenue turns into a winter corridor of light.
โ Free, prettier the later it gets, with a strong community feel
๐ PART 4 | Seattle: winter magic even in the Rain City
14. ๐ Seattle | Bellevue Downtown โ Snowflake Lane
A โsnowflake showโ that starts at 7 p.m. sharp every night.
โ It actually snows on site (artificial)
โ Free + a really cozy atmosphere
15. โจ Seattle | Woodland Park Zoo โ WildLights (free on certain days)
Forest-themed lights, completely different from the city displays.
โ Warm tones and wide paths
โ A family favorite
16. ๐ Seattle | Kerry Park Winter View
Not a light display, but locals see it as a โmust-visit Christmas night view.โ
โ You can see the whole downtown winter skyline at night
โ Costs nothing but is stunning
๐ PART 5 | Must-see lights in other U.S. cities (more beautiful than you'd expect)
17. ๐ก Las Vegas | The LINQ + Strip Winter Lights
Vegas actually gets brighter in winter; the whole Strip goes into holiday mode.
โ A must for an evening walk
โ Top 5 in the U.S. for brightness
18. ๐ Texas Austin | Trail of Lights (free days + huge scale)
One of the largest outdoor light displays in the U.S.
โ More than 2 million lights
โ Great atmosphere on free days
19. ๐ Philadelphia | City Hall Christmas Village
An underrated East Coast light display.
โ Wooden huts, strings of lights and a carousel
โ Feels a lot like a European market
20. ๐ Washington D.C. | National Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree next to the White House = a landmark sight.
โ Free + as iconic of America as it gets
โ Best time for photos in December: 4:30pmโ6pm, the blue hour
๐ Bonus: how to pick a Christmas light display that's โnever a letdownโ in 10 seconds
โ Decorated by the neighborhood itself (more heart than a mall)
โ City views + lights in the same frame (great value)
โ Easy to get to (no lines at night)
โ Free + open space (good for photos)
โ The lights are brightest from Friday to Sunday
After reading this, you basically have the ultimate map of the best Christmas lights in the U.S. for December!