There are many charming small towns in the United States. These towns offer a peaceful escape from busy city life. You can experience local culture, outdoor adventures, and historical attractions. This article highlights the top small towns to add to your 2024 travel bucket list.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Type: Coastal New England Town
Bar Harbor sits on the rugged Maine coastline. It is the gateway to Acadia National Park, where you can hike and kayak. The town also features oceanside trails, whale-watching cruises, and excellent seafood restaurants. It attracts around 4 million visits in a year.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Type: Storybook European-Style Village
Carmel-by-the-Sea attracts visitors with its European-style buildings and tiny houses. The town looks like it’s from a fairy tale and has art galleries, shops, places to eat, and calm coastal paths. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is close by and has beautiful ocean views. It is listed by Essence as one of the best destinations for culinary travel In 2024.
Telluride, CO
Type: Ski Town in the Rocky Mountains
Telluride offers world-class skiing and stunning mountain scenery. The charming Victorian main street has shops, eateries, and bars. Summertime brings outdoor concerts, hiking, mountain biking, and lively festivals.
Beaufort, SC
Type: Southern Coastal Village
Beaufort’s downtown district looks over the Intracoastal Waterway. Visitors like the old mansions and walk on the Spanish Moss Trail. Hunting Island State Park is nearby and has lovely beaches.
Fredericksburg, TX
Type: Texas Hill Country Retreat
Fredericksburg serves as the gateway to the Texas Hill Country wine region. The town has a quaint main street with tasting rooms, shops, and German restaurants. Enchanted Rock State Park offers excellent hiking.
Ithaca, NY
Type: College Town in Finger Lakes
Ithaca sits on Cayuga Lake in New York’s stunning Finger Lakes region. It’s home to Cornell University. It offers access to more than 100 nearby wineries. Take advantage of the scenic waterfalls flowing through town.
Santa Fe, NM
Type: Arts Town with Adobe Architecture
Santa Fe boasts a unique artistic, Pueblo Revival adobe architectural style. It’s home to excellent art museums and galleries. The city also provides easy access to outdoor adventures.
Saratoga Springs, NY
Type: Horse Racing & Mineral Springs
Saratoga Springs combines horse racing history with relaxing mineral springs. Visitors can tour the Mineral Springs Spa State Park and participate in Saratoga Race Course races.
Provincetown, MA
Type: Beach Village on Cape Cod
Provincetown sits at the northern end of Cape Cod. You can enjoy beautiful, untouched beaches and sandy dunes. There are also art galleries, seafood shacks, and a vibrant LGBTQ community. Take advantage of the opportunity to go on a whale-watching cruise from the harbor.
Greenville, SC
Type: Southern Foodie Hub
Greenville wows visitors with its delicious and creative food scene. The charming downtown serves Southern cuisine straight from the farm to the table. Explore local breweries and enjoy the breathtaking Falls Park on the Reedy waterfall.
Hood River, OR
Type: Windsurfing & Fruit Orchards
Hood River provides access to world-class windsurfing and kiteboarding on the Columbia River. The surrounding valley contains fruit orchards, wineries, and alpaca ranches. Mount Hood offers scenic hikes.
Traverse City, MI
Type: Cherry Orchards & Wineries
Traverse City allows you to taste Michigan’s cherry and wine bounty. Visit the orchards and wineries. Relax on Lake Michigan’s beach and explore Sleeping Bear Dunes. The lively downtown hosts summer festivals.
Los Alamos, NM
Type: Southwestern Arts Escape
Los Alamos offers a peaceful escape among northern New Mexico’s mesas. Historic homesteads dot the landscape. Visit Los Alamos Arts Council exhibits and trails through Bandelier National Monument.
Port Townsend, WA
Type: Victorian Seaport on Puget Sound
Port Townsend showcases Victorian architecture set on Puget Sound. Fort Worden State Park provides hiking beside the sea. Whale watching, kayaking, and mountain biking allow you to embrace the outdoors.
Cape May, NJ
Type: Beach Resort on the Jersey Shore
Cape May is one of America’s top 10 best small coastal towns. It offers quintessential Jersey Shore charm on Delaware Bay. Walkable neighborhoods feature ornate Victorian homes. The town provides access to charming beaches and coastal state parks.
Leavenworth, WA
Type: Bavarian-Style Mountain Village
Leavenworth transports visitors to a Bavarian alpine village in the Cascade Mountains. Visit and browse the shops and sample German food and beer. Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest provides year-round access to outdoor recreation.
Brunswick, GA
Type: Coastal Island Town
Brunswick sits among Georgia’s Golden Isles along the Atlantic coastline. Visit and relax on Jekyll Island’s beaches. Kayak through salt marshes and learn about shrimping culture. Downtown offers lively shops, restaurants, and historic architecture.
Bozeman, MT
Type: Mountain Town Near Yellowstone
Bozeman provides easy access to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. It also enjoys a lively downtown scene with Montana State University influence. Nearby mountain ranges offer excellent hiking, fishing, and skiing.
Taos, NM
Type: Adobe and Skiing in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Taos combines Southwestern charm with excellent skiing. Visitors admire the only Native American community and UNESCO World Heritage Taos Pueblo. Plan to hike through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Look out for the charming downtown filled with galleries and boutiques.
Eureka Springs, AR
Type: Ozark Mountains Arts Escape
Eureka Springs tucks into the verdant Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Winding streets lead past Victorian cottages and lively downtown galleries and shops. Nearby hiking trails offer excellent views of the fall foliage.
Cannon Beach, OR
Type: Pacific Coast Beach Village
Cannon Beach charms visitors with its laid-back Oregon coastline ambiance. You can admire Haystack Rock, browse the art galleries and sample fresh seafood. The surrounding state parks and beaches offer trails through lush coastal rainforests.
Grand Marais, MN
Type: Lake Superior Fishing Village
Grand Marais sits on Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota. Major attractions are the Sawtooth Mountains and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Visitors enjoy sailing, kayaking, fishing, and learning about Ojibwe culture.