The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word BATHROOMS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
B
A
T
H
R
O
O
M
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "where Americans go" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case where americans go = bathrooms.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BATHROOMS mean?
BATHROOMS noun- A room containing a shower and/or bathtub, and (typically but not necessarily) a toilet.
- A lavatory: a room containing a toilet and (typically but not necessarily) a bathtub.