It’s a beautiful year to explore some amazing new locations, travelers. And when it comes to spots for your next travel nursing assignment, the cool thing is that every traveler is looking for something different—so, that means great-fitting jobs for everybody! When it comes to cities for travel nursing, there tend to be locations so popular that they’re nearly universal and always sought after, those simply in high current demand, and then those hidden gem locations that only the savviest travelers will discover.
For your consideration, here are our top 15 best places to travel nurse for 2024!
1. Anchorage, AK
Travel nursing assignments in Anchorage offer great adventure, with Alaska’s unique location, culture, and otherworldly natural beauty. As the state’s largest city, Anchorage offers the perfect blend of both wild and urban places to experience. Here you can explore trails; peep wildlife like moose, bears, and whales; see (and hear!) glaciers; and tons more in the wild. On the urban tip, explore indigenous culture at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, or shop for Native crafts and art, fresh seafood, or other wares. Bonus: Shopping in Anchorage is tax-free! And yes, it gets cold here. But bundle up and you just might see the northern lights or midnight sun, go dogsledding, take a day cruise, kayak with expansive views of unspoiled nature, and so much more. It’s a really fun place to spend 13 weeks while building your career in care! Barrow, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Soldotna are a few other cool cities for Alaska assignments.
2. Phoenix, Arizona
The larger Phoenix area is a conglomeration of suburbs and cities, so this entry comes with all kinds of bonus location options and tons to do and see. Phoenix travel nursing jobs are a great choice this year for travelers who want to escape colder weather, explore the Southwestern U.S., enjoy golfing, hiking, and other interests such as nature and art. Nearby Chandler is also a popular spot for an Arizona travel healthcare assignment. Not in the mood for a major metro area but still feeling a location in the Southwest? Check out Show Low, Arizona.
3. Redding, California
It’s no surprise that California is one of the best places for travel nursing, and nature lovers will absolutely adore Redding, Northern California’s largest city north of Sacramento with a population of 91,000+. Redding sits at the Sacramento Valley’s north end; just an hour south of Mount Shasta. The natural beauty is stunning and plentiful when you take a Redding travel nursing assignment, and the cost of living is low! In fact, Redding is known for the hundreds of miles of state and national parks and forests located within just a 30-mile radius of town. Must-sees include Sundial Bridge, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lake Shasta, and many more attractions. Redding is nicknamed the “Gem of the U.S. Trails System” and the “Trails Capital of California.” We weren’t kidding when we said this place was a gem!
4. Aurora, Colorado
If you love the mountains and city life, a travel nursing assignment in Aurora is a great fit for you. Located in one of the best states for travel nursing, Aurora is Colorado’s third largest city and it’s only about a half-hour drive from downtown Denver, so you’ll have access to all the world-class dining, art, sports, shopping, culture, events, and attractions that the larger Aurora/Denver metro area has to offer. The great thing about this location is that even though you’re surrounded by all the benefits of urban living, you’re never too far away from a serene mountain getaway here! So, you can add hiking, skiing, rafting, kayaking, paddleboarding, golfing, fishing, and so much more to your to-do list when you work a travel job in Aurora. This is one of the most fantastic travel nurse locations—the mountain air and majestic views of colorful Colorado will do wonders for your mental and physical health!
5. Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia should definitely be on your mind when it comes to your travel nurse career. With its consistently available jobs and Southern charm, most travelers find Atlanta travel nurse assignments to be just as sweet as a peach! This capital city has many exciting features like pro sports teams, amazing dining, shopping, history, and so much more to explore on your days off, making it a top-tier travel nurse location. Check out the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park, the Fox Theatre, Stone Mountain, World of Coca-Cola, and Piedmont Park to start.
6. Honolulu, Hawaii
A travel nursing assignment in the Aloha State is a dream for many travelers for obvious reasons. Make your own dreams come true with a travel nurse job in Honolulu! There’s probably no need for us to explain in depth why Hawaii is on this list of popular cities for travel nurses to explore in 2024. This city and its surrounding area are known for surfing, beaches, lovely tropical climate, Pearl Harbor, lush flora, volcanoes, rich Polynesian culture, nightlife, and tons more. It’s basically paradise, OK? Hilo, Waimea, and Kealakekua are a few other great cities for Hawaii travel nurse jobs.
7. Terre Haute, Indiana
Located in west-central Indiana, just 5 miles east of the Illinois border, one of the best cities for travel nursing sits along the Wabash River and is known as “The Queen City of the Wabash.” Terre Haute is family friendly and known as an educational hub. Culture, art, architecture, football, dining, outdoor activities and more beckon when you take a travel nurse assignment in Terre Haute. Plus, the cost of living here is well below average, allowing travelers to really make their compensation stretch. Terre Haute is also just about an hour’s drive each to Bloomington and Indianapolis, and about a 3-hour trip to Chicago. So, it’s a great home base for regional trips!
8. Augusta, Maine
This quaint New England town of about 20,000 sits right on the Kennebec River. Augusta is the Maine state capital, located just an hour from Portland. This adorable town is known for its historic downtown (it’s a nationally designated Main Street community!) and streets lined with Victorian architecture. Speaking of history, Augusta’s Old Fort Western is the nation’s oldest surviving wood fort, built all the way back in 1754. Not far from the fort you’ll find Waterfront Park and the Augusta Greenway Trail, which is part of the larger, 6.5-mile Kennebec River Rail Trail, and is a great spot for strolling and biking. Travelers also love the 224-acre Viles Arboretum, with its six miles of trails. Now just imagine hiking, biking, and strolling all of that with the iconic New England fall colors all around you. Sounds like heaven! Nearby Lewiston, Bangor, and Portland are also great cities for travel nursing jobs in Maine—or fun spots for day trips from your Augusta travel nursing job!
9. Boston, Massachusetts
Everything is better in Boston—hence why the capital of Massachusetts is one of the best places to work as a nurse! From the breathtaking views atop the historic Bunker Hill Monument to the lively atmosphere around Fenway Park, Boston offers a diverse range of experiences. Indulge your taste buds at Quincy Market or savor seafood delights in the North End’s charming Italian eateries. The city’s dynamic arts scene, world-class museums, and diverse neighborhoods ensure there’s something for everyone! Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a sports fan, or a lover of culinary adventures, when you take a travel nursing job in Boston you’ll experience an unforgettable journey through time and culture.
10. Kansas City, Missouri
If you like BBQ, jazz, shopping, pro sports, and fine arts, then consider KC one of the best places to work as a travel nurse. This urban Midwest mecca sees all four seasons and has much to explore year-round. Here you can root for the Royals and cheer on the Chiefs, stroll Nelson-Atkins Art Museum and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, sample world-class BBQ and James Beard-nominated fine dining, explore the American Jazz Museum and tap your toes at local jazz clubs, have a blast at Worlds of Fun and make a splash at Oceans of Fun — and tons more. Explore KC travel nursing jobs to find your perfect fit. Prefer to head a bit further south in The Show-Me state? Osage Beach is another great location that allows you to explore the Lake of the Ozarks!
11. Omaha, Nebraska
Take a travel nursing job in Omaha and you’ll see why more folks should stop and stay awhile in “flyover country.” This mid-sized city sits on the eastern edge of Nebraska with a population around 475,000 and metro area population nearing one million. The state’s most populous city, Omaha’s full of friendly faces, sees all four seasons, and has plenty to do on your days off. The historic Old Market, Dundee, Blackstone, and Benson are hip neighborhoods to explore for a night out and some foodie fun. The famous Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a must-see. Sports fans can take in a Creighton Bluejays basketball game or make the 45-minute drive to Lincoln during football season to join the famous Nebraska Cornhuskers “sea of red.” Plant one foot in Nebraska and one in Iowa on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. Admire art deco architecture at Joslyn Art Museum and Durham Museum. Hike Fontenelle Forest and Lauritzen Park. Omaha’s big enough to have great dining, shopping, art, music, museums, and theater, but also petite enough to have a slower pace than major cities, making it a must-add to your bucket list of travel nurse jobs.
12. White Plains, New York
White Plains is just northeast of New York City near the New York-Connecticut border. This outer suburb of The Big Apple is known for top-notch shopping and dining, and also for great schools, culture, and healthcare facilities. Sounds like the perfect spot for a traveler who may want to explore NYC but doesn’t care to live in the city that never sleeps. When you take a travel nursing job in White Plains you can access all of New York City’s culture, dining, theater, sightseeing, and more after just a quick half-hour train ride down. Also, White Plains has some pretty great stuff to explore itself, like the White Plains Performing Arts Center, Saxon Woods Park, Battle of White Plains Park, Percy Grainger Home, Westchester Mall, White Plains Farmers Market, and more. Daring travelers may also enjoy a helicopter tour of the NYC metro area!
13. San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio may be known for The Alamo, but that’s not all you’ll remember from your time in one of the most popular cities for travel nurses! In addition to warmer temps, travel nursing jobs in San Antonio come with lots of opportunity for historic sightseeing, shopping, dining, golfing, caving, day trips, and more. The must-dos are many here, but for sure you’ll want to see the Alamo, famous San Antonio River Walk, Missions National Historical Park, the Pearl District, and Market Square and El Mercado. You can also take culinary classes at the Culinary Institute of America, and, day trippers will love jaunts to New Braunfels (a charming small town with a country music legacy) and Bandera (Cowboy Capital of the World). Everything is bigger in Texas and the opportunities in San Antonio are one of them!
14. Falls Church, Virginia
This charming town of approximately 15,000 in Virginia offers a little bit of everything when it comes to great travel nurse locations. It may be small but it’s just a 25-minute drive to everything Washington, D.C. has to explore — including some of the nation’s top tourist sites, museums, and more. However, this quaint, historic town has plenty to explore all on its own too, like classic Victorian architecture, arts and entertainment, great dining and shopping, parks and hiking, Great Falls and the Potomac River, and so much more. Enjoy access to the big city but only when you want to venture in and spend the rest of your assignment in this adorable enclave! Explore Falls Church travel nurse jobs and see if this is the Goldilocks spot for you.
15. Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a cool little city (population just over 30,000) in north-central West Virginia, not far from the Pennsylvania and Ohio borders. The city sits along the Monongahela River and is known for its arts culture, mountaineer history, great people, and a strong food and drink scene. It’s a college town—the Art Museum of WVU, Mountaineer Field, and WVU Core Arboretum are each big draws for those who take travel nurse jobs in Morgantown. And also, a nature town—explore Cheat Lake, Coopers Rock State Forest, WV Botanic Garden. About 150 miles east is Martinsburg, another popular travel nurse location to consider in West Virginia.
Hopefully our list of top 15 travel nurse destinations for 2024 gave you some inspiration and got you dreaming of where care will take you in the new year and beyond! Even if none of these hotspots feel right for you right now, you can keep them in mind for later down the road. Curious where travel nurses are needed right now? Take a look through our current available jobs—you can search for your perfect fit by title, specialty, and/or location.
Worried about finding housing before your assignment? Don’t be! Our expert housing team is here to serve all your needs—from doing the heavy lifting and finding your home away from home to answering all questions about our housing stipend.
Original post created by Sarah Wengert Feb 28, 2022.
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