Culture and beauty are often thought to reside in large cities—but not always. From coast to coast, many towns of less than 10,000 residents prove that America is filled with magnificent microcultures. Beauty in the form of lakes, historic main streets, forests, architectural splendor, and beaches are what the lucky residents of these 50 towns call home. From Kennebunkport in Maine to Washington’s San Juan Islands—plush inland communities along lakes and within forests—here are the 50 most beautiful small towns in America (listed in no particular order). When developing this list, we looked at easy access to nature, the presence of historic or design districts, and topography that’s appealing in its own right—whether it’s a beach or mountains, or maybe a riverside perch.
Rocheport, Missouri
Two hours from both Kansas City and St. Louis, this tiny town along the Katy Trail, and whose name means “rocky port” in French, was once a trading post for Native Americans. It boasts many B and Bs for a weekend getaway but also keeps locals engaged with many buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
Decorah, Iowa
Rooted in Norwegian culture, this town is home to the country’s largest museum about an immigrant group (Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum) and flaunts many beautiful spots in nature, including Dunning’s Springs Park. It’s also a college town, thanks to Luther College.
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Gorgeous scenery surrounds this small town, which has plenty of eye candy, from an 1861 Italianate museum (Asa Packer Mansion Museum) to hiking Glen Onoko Falls.
Cape May, New Jersey
Known for its collection of well-restored Victorian gingerbread homes that hug the Atlantic Ocean where it meets the Delaware Bay, Cape May has a balanced mix of beach-town nostalgia (such as a boardwalk) and cutting-edge entertainment (like annual jazz and film fests).
Yellow Springs, Ohio
Even in winter, this town—home to Antioch College—is stunning, with natural splendor that includes the 78-mile-long Little Miami Scenic Trail that connects to the 752-acre John Bryan State Park. Also, many residents are artists.
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
While during summer this town along the Atlantic Ocean balloons to accommodate a high number of tourists, one of America’s most celebrated craft brewers—Dogfish Head—calls Rehoboth Beach home and recently opened an adorable inn in nearby Lewes (Dogfish Inn).
Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Travel 70 miles north of Charleston and across a causeway to find this barrier island, which claims only around 100 residents but can trace its roots back to the 1700s through historic buildings (including antebellum homes).
Houghton, Michigan
Among this Upper Peninsula town’s natural gems is Isle Royale National Park, accessible through Rock Harbor on Lake Superior. Home to Michigan Technological University, Houghton’s downtown is filled with cafes, outdoor-apparel boutiques, and eclectic dining.
St. Francisville, Louisiana
Part of the Baton Rouge region, and on the banks of the Mississippi River, St. Francisville has many plantations (including Rosedown Plantation) from the town’s founding in the early 1800s that still stand today.
Meredith, New Hampshire
Take your pick of nine lakes to explore in this White Mountains village, including Lake Winnipesaukee, which is the state’s largest.
Sewanee, Tennessee
Middle Tennessee includes Sewanee, home to the University of the South (a private liberal arts college) and also, as you might expect in a college town, chic dining and outdoor concerts.
Cashiers, North Carolina
Silver Run Falls, in the heart of this Blue Ridge Mountains town—63 miles southwest of Asheville and at about 3,500-feet elevation—is just one of the natural beauties.
Marfa, Texas
Within the last decade, artists and designers began to flock to this wide-open landscape three hours south of El Paso, opening galleries, hotels, and shops, but not without compromising the swathes of nature and iconic buildings like the Italianate-style Presidio County Courthouse, built in 1886.
Rhinebeck, New York
This darling Dutchess County village along the Hudson River affords views of the Catskill Mountains, plus it has a vibrant indie-shopping scene in its downtown. An observation tower in the 200-acre Ferncliff Forest is a favorite hiking spot (with a view).
Mystic, Connecticut
With the Mystic Seaport’s tall ships and schooners, plus the country’s largest maritime museum, this village along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline truly celebrates maritime life. It also boasts three historic districts.
Galena, Illinois
Chicagoans like to book romantic weekends in this town along the Mississippi River where the state’s flatlands are replaced by river bluffs. Between April and November, a popular attraction is the funicular, affording a bird’s-eye view of the town.
Madison, Georgia
When you think of a quaint Southern town with magnolia trees and antebellum homes, Madison—60 miles east of Atlanta—is just that. One of Georgia’s largest historic districts lies in Madison, and it is a stop on the state’s Antebellum Trail.
Boonville, California
Part of the Anderson Valley wine-growing region, the town’s bucolic-meets-boho-chic vibe extends to the Boonville Hotel and Pennyroyal Farm, a creamery that also makes wine.
Nashville, Indiana
Anchoring the arts community in this Southern Indiana town is the Brown County Art Colony, established in 1907. Lots of antiques shopping, along with hikes through Brown County State Park, provide visual stimulation.
Ketchum, Idaho
In the heart of Idaho’s Sun Valley, this town is an outdoors utopia, with snow sports, fishing, rock-climbing, and more. Four gorgeous alfresco hot springs are nearby and open for soaking.
Leadville, Colorado
At around 10,000 feet, the country’s highest-elevation incorporated city—a former mining town that during the late 19th century had Colorado's second largest population behind Denver—boasts all the goods for foodies and beverage snobs (including a brewery) and is a popular training spot for runners.
Magnolia Springs, Alabama
Mature magnolia trees create a canopy in this small town along the Magnolia River where mail is still delivered by boat. Magnolia Springs Bed and Breakfast is the only lodging option in this Gulf Coast town—but it’s very stylish.
Sitka, Alaska
Near both Juneau and the Tongass National Forest, and in a mecca for world-class king salmon and halibut fishing, Sitka boasts 22 buildings and sites on the National Register of Historic Places.
Snowmass, Colorado
Skiers and mountain bikers love this tiny town but so do spa and dining enthusiasts, who can be kept busy for days thanks to resorts like the Westin Snowmass Resort and Viceroy Snowmass. Anderson Ranch Arts Center is an enclave for artists through its artist-in-residence program and hosted workshops, programs, and events.
Deadwood, South Dakota
This Black Hills town’s Main Street appears to be trapped in a time where life stands still (that’s a good thing). While many decades removed from the gold rush, the somewhat recent HBO series Deadwood renewed interest in the town’s National Historic Landmark status.
Stowe, Vermont
One of the Northeast’s premier ski towns, Stowe’s amenities—in addition to the ski hills—include spas, boutique shopping at indie retailers (including Shaw’s General Store, in business since 1895), and year-round outdoor recreation, thanks to its location at the foot of Mount Mansfield.
Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
Home to natural beauty, a castle dating back to 1885, and tons of spas and art galleries, this community is only a 90-minute drive from the nation’s capital.
Chimayó, New Mexico
A beloved getaway for residents of Taos and Santa Fe, this Northern New Mexico town is just as artsy with unique events like the country’s most important Catholic pilgrimage each Easter and dozens of galleries selling native rugs and more. El Santuario de Chimayó is thought to be a healing spot.
Big Sky, Montana
This Southern Montana community in the Rocky Mountains is not called Big Sky for nothing: Stargazing is among the country’s best because of no light pollution and the absence of any metropolis. Skiing—both Nordic and downhill—is a huge draw.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Historic buildings dating as far back as the late 1880s line the streets of the tiny, artsy downtown of Eureka Springs, tucked into the Ozark Mountains. The entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin
Near the top of the Door County peninsula, and along Lake Michigan, this harbor town boasts a cute A-frame coffee shop, a microbrewery’s taproom, a nature sanctuary with hiking trails, and adorable inns.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Sugar-white sands along the Pacific Ocean—with a shoreline of stunning cliffs and wispy cypress trees—and a Spanish Mission–style downtown anchor this community, which is tucked into a wine region (Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are the main thrust). Actor Clint Eastwood is a former mayor.
Seaside, Florida
So darling is this New Urbanism town—hugging the Gulf of Mexico—that it starred as the setting in a Jim Carrey film ( The Truman Show ). Brightly colored cottages are a short walk to the downtown, with Airstream food trucks, an indie bookstore, art galleries, and seafood eateries.
McCall, Idaho
Its outdoor activities year-round ranging from fly fishing to cross-country skiing, this resort town (home to quite a few wellness properties) on the southern shore of Payette Lake also hosts an annual Winter Carnival and, in 2018, launched its first sled-dog race.
Kennebunkport, Maine
Long a playground for presidential families such as the Bushes and the Kennedys, this coastal community thrives come summer when its resort status ratchets into motion. Sailboats cruise along the shore and a trolley runs through local streets.
Woodstock, Vermont
A quintessential town for glimpsing peak foliage each autumn, one of Woodstock’s most charming traits are its covered bridges, including the apple-red Taftsville bridge.
Seward, Alaska
This coastal town in the Final Frontier state is a gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and also a mecca for sailing, sport fishing, and kayaking with its stunning glaciers (around 40).
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Considered “the Newport of the Midwest,” this lake community two hours north of Chicago is rimmed with opulent mansions once belonging to wealthy Chicago families (Sears, Wrigleys, etc.) and, even today, are rich in affluence and design. Mail is still delivered by boat during the summer months.
Friday Harbor, Washington
The delightfully moody setting (cue fog and rain) of Friday Harbor, part of the San Juan Islands, is iconic to the Pacific Northwest but without the noise of an urban locale. Whale watching is a huge draw here, and the arts thrive at places like the San Juan Islands Museum of Art.
Jekyll Island, Georgia
Part of the Sea Islands, this island off the coast of Georgia was established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a vacation-home destination for the wealthy. Today’s visitors enjoy a mix of nature (such as marshlands and beaches) and architecture (a 240-acre historic district on the island’s north side includes the Jekyll Island Club Hotel).
Manzanita, Oregon
Along the Pacific Ocean shoreline in far western Oregon are miles of sparsely populated beaches, the town of Manzanita included. With Neahkahnie Mountain off in the distance, you get beach dunes and mountains in one view.
Incline Village, Nevada
Along the north shore of North America’s largest alpine lake (Lake Tahoe), and named for the incline loggers built here in 1878, Incline Village’s residents include tech billionaires and musicians. Sand Harbor, inside Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, is a great swimming and kayaking spot on warm days.
Springdale, Utah
Despite its size, this gateway to Zion National Park is brimming with an emerging restaurant scene (King’s Landing Bistro is a locals’ favorite), boutique shopping, and art galleries. But the natural surroundings—sandstone cliffs and splendid hiking trails—nearly trump all of that.
Mendocino, California
Victorians housing a mix of residences and retailers such as indie bookstores and art galleries line Main Street across from Mendocino Headlands State Park, perched above the Pacific Ocean. Most of this former logging community’s town is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Grand Marais, Minnesota
This gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness—which spans Minnesota’s Superior National Forest and Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada—is rich in the arts, which are quite robust for a tiny harbor town along the deepest Great Lake (Lake Superior). This includes the North House Folk School, offering classes in crafts like lace- and soap-making.
Hanaeli, Hawaii
Kauai’s blissful North Shore—including the town of Hanalei—is known for its shaved ice at Wishing Well (don’t knock it if you haven’t had it) and beaches, but also the relaxed and colorful vibe. From “the little green church” to the beach where South Pacific was filmed in 1957 (Haena Beach), this is a popular vacation spot for a reason.
Jackson, Wyoming
A cultural mecca for innovative food, the arts (spot a Warhol at the National Museum of Wildlife Art) and, of course, downhill skiing in this town a half hour south of Grand Teton National Park keeps throngs of visitors coming. Locals enamored with the great outdoors love it here, too.
Alys Beach, Florida
This design-centric, New Urbanism village along the Gulf of Mexico in Florida’s Panhandle region debuted in 2003, with whitewashed buildings and Bermuda-style architecture with courtyards, fountains, pools, and popped-out shutters.
Sedona, Arizona
Red-rock formations such as Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock rim this mystic Northern Arizona town where locals believe the natural vortexes have healing qualities. Dining, lodging, and spa jaunts are top-notch, too, including Auberge de Sedona’s creekside cottages and apothecary-tinged spa.
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
If this Berkshires town looks familiar, then you’ve probably seen it depicted in Norman Rockwell paintings. A canal (the Housatonic River) runs through downtown, where shops and galleries along Main Street (the subject of Rockwell’s 1967 painting Main Street, Stockbridge at Christmas ) feature everything from Victorian-era antique jewelry to contemporary glass. This town hits all three indicators of beauty: architecture, nature, and culture, including the Norman Rockwell Museum. And, most importantly, for a small town (the population is just under 2,000), there are cultural events year-round ranging from America's longest-running international dance festival (Jacob's Pillow, from mid June to late August) and Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas (a full weekend in early December that includes vintage cars and house tours). It's quintessential small-town America at its peak.
