Home > Love Where You Live > The 8 Best States on Instagram

The 8 Best States on Instagram

Swing on by these Instagram accounts next time you're surfing the Internet for some of the best views America has to offer.

By Marc Acton on April 6, 2016

Utah|pure_mich.png|visit_nc.png|visit_ut.png|visit_co_0.png|visit_flo.png|visit_me.png|visit_mass.png|visit_va.png

The world has gone social, and corporate America has not been far behind. It’s not just businesses either—increasingly, government agencies see social outlets like Twitter and Facebook as great outreach opportunities. As they build audiences, they’re growing the reach of free advertising that has the potential to reach millions with the right message.


These 6 City Instagram Accounts Will Make You Want to Move


Instagram, with its focus on imagery, is a perfect outlet for communities to sell themselves as destinations to millions of potential future residents, businesses, convention buyers, tourists, and visitors. Here are a few states that haven’t just embraced the medium—they’ve mastered it.

1. Michigan

Courtesy of Pure Michigan

Account: @PureMichigan
Followers: 340K

Judging by Michigan’s official Instagram account, it might just be the most beautiful state in the Union. The account’s curators have an eye for beautiful imagery, with some of the most extraordinary landscapes you’ll find on the Internet. They’re also great at utilizing their reach, asking their followers to tag photos with the hashtag #PureMichigan, and then “regramming” (another name for reposting on Instagram) their followers’ pictures.

2. North Carolina

Courtesy of Visit North Carolina

Account: @VisitNC
Followers: 36K

Any brand that wants to be successful on social media has to sell an image—or, basically, develop a cohesive brand through pictures. North Carolina’s Instagram feed reflects the state perfectly. With an emphasis on the outdoors, it features the huge variety of landscapes—from coastal, to inland prairie, to glorious mountains. There’s also the occasional, gratuitously beautiful picture of the Biltmore (which has its own account worth checking out, @biltmoreestate).

3. Utah

Courtesy of Visit Utah

Account: @VisitUtah
Followers: 23.4K

Utah’s account is all about the great outdoors. Scroll through their ‘Grams and you’ll find mountains, national park scenes, and all the outdoor activities you could ever ask for. You’ll also see plenty of Salt Lake City, one of Livability’s Top 100 Places to Live in the U.S.

4. Colorado

Account: @VisitColorado
Followers: 89.1K

Colorado takes the vista-centric approach that other state Instagram accounts rely on—then add a human factor. In almost every picture you’ll find Coloradans enjoying their state to the fullest, from winter mountain sports to locals living the mountain lifestyle. And if that’s not enough to convince you to follow them, you’ll also find some of the cutest pets around.

5. Florida

Courtesy of Visit Florida

The Sunshine State’s beach-quotient doesn’t disappoint. You won’t have to scroll long before finding picturesque beaches and endless sun. But you’ll also find surprisingly rich images of historical locations like St. Augustine and one of its highlights, Castillo de San Marcos—the oldest masonry fort in the United States.


Save & Relax: The 6 Most Affordable Cities in Florida


6. Maine

Account: @VisitMaine
Followers: 6,211

Maine might not have the most followers, but it treats that faithful bunch to photographic treats highlighting what the wide range of seasons offers the New England state’s residents. In between ocean views and harbor vistas, they sprinkle visions of culinary delight, like their famous lobsters.

7. Massachussetts

Account: @VisitMA
Followers: 10.1K

You’ll likely visit Massachussetts’ account for the same reason you’d enter its borders: Because you enjoy historic America and a vibrant lifestyle. While you’re there, you’ll find that maybe more than any other state on our list, “Mass” gets one of the most important things on Instagram right: great pictures of food.


Love food? These are the 10 Best Foodie Cities in the U.S.


8. Virginia

Utah|pure_mich.png|visit_nc.png|visit_ut.png|visit_co_0.png|visit_flo.png|visit_me.png|visit_mass.png|visit_va.png

Account: @VisitVirginia
Followers: 47.9K

This state feed, run by the Virginia Tourism Corporation, is for those who love Virginia, or the outdoors, or anything beautiful. The account is fitting for the state known for its famous loverly motto (“Virginia is For Lovers”), as it sports romantic locales, passion-inspiring views, and pictures of the kind of food that makes your heart race just thinking about.

Array ( [0] => 178233 [1] => 169755 [2] => 169850 [3] => 169846 [4] => 163184 [5] => 159685 [6] => 159839 [7] => 159646 [8] => 159613 [9] => 159698 [10] => 157585 [11] => 152670 [12] => 152623 [13] => 152697 )
Array ( )
Array ( )
Array ( [0] => 178233 [1] => 169755 [2] => 169850 [3] => 169846 [4] => 163184 [5] => 159685 [6] => 159839 [7] => 159646 [8] => 159613 [9] => 159698 [10] => 157585 [11] => 152670 [12] => 152623 [13] => 152697 )

More To Read

Newsletter Sign Up

Keep up to date with our latest rankings and articles!
Enter your email to be added to our mailing list.