Looking for an American travel getaway this summer, or a fun place to stop on your next road trip? Companies all across the country would love to give you a backstage pass to see how their products are made. Here is our list our USA factory tours that will get you up close and personal with some of America's most iconic products.
AMERICAN TRAVEL – USA FACTORY TOURS
Have you been on a USA factory tour that we don't have listed here? Let us know in the comments.
Northeast USA Factory Tours
- The Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory is located in the beautiful mountains of Waterbury, Vermont and offers tours 7 days a week, 362 days of the year. I have fond memories of visiting the Vermont Ben & Jerry's factory on family trips when I was younger and recently brought my own family there for the 30 minute guided factory tour. There is a free sample included in the tour of whatever ice cream flavor they are making at the time of the tour. Kids 12 and under are free, but there is a small fee for adults and older kids. This is a very popular tourist destination in Vermont and tour tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. If you have to wait for a tour, no problem, there is an ice cream shop right there and you can enjoy your favorite Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor while you wait. We love this made in USA ice cream tour!
- The Cape Cod Potato Chips factory tour is located- you guessed it- on Cape Cod in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The Cape Cod Potato Chips factory tours are free and self guided. My family really enjoyed this made in USA potato chip tour where we could see the potato chips cooking, cooling, and being bagged. At the beginning of the tour there is a board that even lets you know where the potatoes come from that are being used to make the chips. The tour ends at the gift shop where you can satisfy your potato chip craving and stock up on Cape Cod Potato Chips.
- Harley Davidson manufactures several of their models in their factory in York, Pennsylvania and offers free tours Monday – Friday. There are also extended, more involved two-hour tours available for a fee. Children under 12 are not allowed on tours. Don't worry, you don't have to own a Harley to feel welcome here!
Southern USA Factory Tours
- Nothing screams Americana more than a good ole' Louisville Slugger baseball bat. The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory is located in Louisville, Kentucky and is home to the world biggest bat (standing 120 feet tall)! Guided tours are available 7 days a week, for a fee- children under 5 are free. After the tour everyone leaves with a FREE miniature Louisville Slugger baseball bat.
- Although Lynchburg, Tennessee is located in a dry county, it is also home of the famous Jack Daniels Distillery. Multiple tours are offered with different topics covered and of different time lengths. Each tour has a fee, and all ages are welcome with restrictions. Most of the tours involve walking outside, so wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Lookin' for a taste of the south? A two-hour drive west of New Orleans brings you near Avery Island, Louisiana – the home of Tabasco sauce. The Tabasco factory offers guided and self-guided tours, both for a slight fee. Also available for a fee are VIP Tours, Culinary Tours, and cooking classes. Make sure to visit the Tabasco Restaurant 1868 for authentic Cajun cuisine.
Midwest USA Factory Tours
- If you are traveling cross country, especially with kids, make sure to check out the Spangler factory tour in Bryan, Ohio, where the famous Dum- Dums lollipop is made. There is a slight fee for this made in the USA candy tour which includes a ride on the Dum-Dums Trolley. Don't forget to check out the Spangler museum while you are there.
- Another tour to check out if you are in Ohio is the Airstream factory tour. Airstream travel trailers have been manufactured in the USA since the 1930s. Today, you can take a tour of the Silver Bullet travel trailer factory and the Touring Coach factory, both located in Jackson Center, Ohio.
- Located just outside of Detroit, Michigan is Ford Motor Company's Rouge factory – purchased by Henry Ford himself in the early 1900s. A tour of the factory allows visitors the opportunity to watch the final assembly process (when the assembly is in production) for the Ford F-150 – America's best-selling pickup truck for over 35 years. A bus has to be taken from the Henry Ford Museum to the Ford Motor Rouge Factory tour. The tour is self-guided and there is a fee.
- If you find yourself in or near Ironwood, Michigan, take some time to visit the Stormy Kromer factory where the iconic Stormy Kromer cap is made. The Stormy Kromer factory tour is held Monday- Friday at 1:30 PM only each day. Reservations are required for this kid-friendly free tour.
Western USA Factory Tours
- The Celestial Seasonings tea factory in Boulder, Colorado offers free guided tours 7 days a week. On this tour, you will witness the actions at the heart of the Celestial Seasons manufacturing facility. This walking tour lasts about 45 minutes and is only available for persons over the age of 5.
- The Jelly Belly jelly bean factory is located in Fairfield, California (a short drive from San Francisco). The Jelly Belly factory offers a free self-guided tour with interactive exhibits- and with free samples.
Let us know in the comments below about any factory tours you've enjoyed. We'll add them with our next update!
American-made Never Summer Snowboards in Denver CO is a wonderful factory to tour. They give daily tours for free.
The Herrs Potato Chip Factory is one of my faves and a frequent school trip for my kids.
I would love to go on more factory tours! Thank you for this amazing article. And who could’ve ever guessed that the Jack Daniels factory would be in a dry county!
Someone should put some more effort into this list. There are dozens more just in my state of Colorado. Most people aren’t going to drive or fly all over the country to go to a factory tour, but they might visit many in their own state if they were all listed.
These sound like some fun tours! In September, we’re going to visit Ben & Jerry’s. I’ve been to Hershey’s Chocolate World and Kellogg’s.
We enjoyed the tour at the Jack Daniels Distillery. Even if you do not drink their product , it is still interesting to learn about the process of making it.
Tillamook cheese factory tour was always a great one when I was a kid. Free sample at the end of the tour!
This might be strange, but I love factory tours! Pendleton has a great one in both Pendleton, Oregon and Washougal, WA (about 1 hr from Portland).
These are cool ideas – I’ve heard of people going to Hershey’s, but none of these others. I like to see any and all of them!!!
Wonderful idea! Let people see how how Americans do work!
I would LOVE to go to Hershey’s Chocolate World!!
Jelly Belly Tour was loads of fun, and the Louisville slugger tour was really great especially for baseball fans. Thanks for the great ideas for other tours. There are a lot of factories out there, but they don’t give tours I guess. I always pass the Necco Wafer building in Boston, any tours there?
Whiskey, baseball bats, cars and ice cream? Sounds like a winning combination to me!