13 Best Outdoor Concert Venues in the U.S.

Since opening in 1986, the Gorge Amphitheatre has become known as one of the best outdoor concert venues in the world. Settled near the   with the Cascade Mountains in the background, this majestic performance space can fit more than 27,000 visitors, many of whom stay in the nearby campground before shows. Over the years, the Gorge has hosted Pearl Jam, The Police, Dave Matthews Band, Tom Petty, Coldplay, and many more high-profile performers as well as multi-day music festivals.

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Surrounded by the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Crosby Theatre is home to the Santa Fe Opera. The open-air theater features a visually arresting roof that curves to capture the “shape of the sound” and to collect rainwater, which is then stored and used for upkeep around the campus. The entire stage and mezzanine roofs span 26,615 square feet. The Crosby Theatre, named after opera company founder John O. Crosby, seats 2,126 guests (with 106 additional standing-room places) from around the world during its July and August opera season. More than 2,000 performances have been given over the years including a mix of classic works and American and world premieres. Both the venue and the performances have received prestigious awards including Festival of the Year at the International Opera Awards.

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As the world’s only naturally-occurring and acoustically perfect amphitheater, Red Rocks is one of the very best outdoor music venues in the U.S. Since its grand opening in the summer of 1941, the world’s greatest musicians have graced its stage which is made up of two 300-foot sandstone rocks. The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead, U2, Sting, Dolly Parton, and Diana Ross have all rocked the stage. Denver-born architect Burnham Hoyt designed it by balancing functionality with nature, and catching a performance in the presence of these intensely red-hued sandstone monoliths is a must-do for any music-lover. The amphitheater seats close to 10,000 and it is located in Red Rock Park, 6,450 feet above sea level with cinematic views of the surrounding Denver area.

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Unquestionably one of the top outdoor concert venues in the U.S., the Hollywood Bowl is a legendary performance space, public park, and picnic ground. During its star-studded history, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, and James Brown have appeared on its world-famous stage. The Los Angeles Philharmonic performed its first Easter Sunrise Service back in 1921 and has continued to call this iconic venue home ever since. Snag tickets for a star-studded show during The Bowl’s action-packed summer season from April to October.

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Designed by celebrated architect Frank Gehry, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion is one of the best outdoor concert venues in Chicago. For starters, it is located right in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Then, it features 120-foot stainless steel ribbons and crisscrossing steel pipes that stretch over the Great Lawn and it’s a headline act in itself. With a mix of fixed seating and lawn space, more than 11,000 people can attend one of the park’s concerts, many of which are free. Home to the Grant Park Music Festival, the concert venue has also welcomed Jewel, Clint Black, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to its stage. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion opened in the summer of 2004 and shows here provide covetable views of Chicago’s skyscrapers.

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Another Frank Gehry-designed structure, Merriweather Post Pavilion is located within 40 acres of forest that’s appropriately called Symphony Woods, and it was originally built to house the National Symphony Orchestra. Now, however, the music venue and surrounding green space are known for hosting legendary musicians—Jimi Hendrix played the guitar with his teeth back in the day—as well as a number of large music festivals. To accommodate bigger festival events and maximize the experience for music lovers, temporary stages are sometimes added throughout the preserved acres of Symphony Woods. Since opening in 1967, the Pavilion itself has undergone some changes including environmental-friendly enhancements such as solar panels to powerhouse lights. Notably, the first 15 rows of seats were taken out to build a mosh pit before Green Day’s American Idiot tour appearance and the loge sections were added specifically for Tom Jones. The historic venue gets its name from American businesswoman and philanthropist Marjorie Merriweather Post.

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When Hurricane Sandy hit New York in 2012, Jones Beach Theater suffered extensive flooding and structural damage. Fortunately, it reopened seven months later and has since re-emerged as one of the top outdoor concert venues in the U.S. The popular Long Island performance space first opened in 1952 and hosted musicals before shifting focus to concerts. Depeche Mode, Kesha, Jimmy Buffet, Aerosmith, Muse, One Direction, and Pitbull are among past headliners at this scenic 15,000-capacity Zachs Bay spot. Formerly called Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater and then Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, Northwell Health was awarded the naming rights in 2017. While its moniker may have changed several times throughout the years, adoration from concert-goers has remained constant.

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UC Berkeley’s William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre first launched in 1903, with a student production of The Birds. Since then, the amphitheater has hosted a number of chart-topping artists and theater performances including a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream featuring Olivia De Haviland. The Greek Theatre is also the site of UC Berkeley graduation ceremonies where many notable names have given commencement addresses (including President Theodore Roosevelt), and the school’s annual Big Game Bonfire Rally before the UC Berkeley and Stanford football match. The amphitheater, which was given to the university by its namesake, seats 5,900 and features Greek-style columns and architecture. It was also the inspiration for the 2010 comedy Get Him to the Greek starring Jonah Hill and Russell Brand.

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Located almost equidistant from Madison, Milwaukee, Rockford, and Chicago, the Alpine Valley Music Theatre is an iconic stage that has hosted Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Rolling Stones, The Who, Def Leppard, Metallica, and many more great performers. Want to be a part of rock and roll history? This is perhaps the best outdoor concert venue to visit. In the 80s, the Grateful Dead played this sprawling location around 20 times and Deadheads from far and wide loyally came along for the groovy ride. Alpine Valley Music Theatre can hold an impressive 35,300 people in pavilion seats and on expansive lawn space.

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While the Jay Pritzker Pavilion is the architecturally-forward centerpiece of Chicago’s Millennium Park, The Pavilion at Ravinia north of the city in Highland Park is open-air but covered, thus protecting attendees from the elements. Pack a picnic and perch at The Lawn before moving over to the 3,350-seat pavilion where you’ll soak up sweet sounds during Ravinia’s summer-long concert series. Erykah Badu, Stevie Nicks, Sting, Lionel Richie, and heaps more have performed. You can also enjoy all the phonically soothing arias, adagios, and crescendos that your heart desires courtesy of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra which boasts a 118-year history with Ravinia.

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Among the terrific list of Austin outdoor concert venues, Moody Amphitheater shines bright. Since it debuted in Austin’s 11-acre Waterloo Park in 2021, it’s been gloriously jampacked with notable musicians from every genre under the sun. There have been pop acts (Shawn Mendes, 5 Seconds of Summer), indie darlings (Olivia Rodrigo, Beach House), R&B heavyweights (Kehlani, H.E.R.), Latin superstars (Sebastian Yatra), and hometown heroes like Gary Clark Jr. Moody Amphitheater are capable of accommodating 5,000 adoring fans in this beautifully landscaped park.

Soak in a show at KettleHouse Amphitheater which has become a fan-favorite stage since opening to the public in 2017. This permanent outdoor space has seen the likes of Norah Jones, Incubus, Sheryl Crow, and the Goo Goo Dolls. Located on the banks of the Blackfoot River just outside Missoula, the fresh air, top-notch acoustics, and epic canyon backdrop make this 4,250-capacity venue a great experience whether or not your favorite act is on the line-up. A collaboration with KettleHouse Brewing also means that attendees will never go without a nice cold brew to accompany the excellent views.