By Liam Isola Summer is a little less than halfway over, which means that there’s still plenty of time to take a trip. We’ve already covered some of the most overlooked US cities to visit this summer. With the great summer flight deals we’ve shared, you may find it easier to visit some of those spots. However, today, we’ll cover some great small towns to consider for your next trip.
For our purposes, we’ll consider towns with populations under 50,000. While those overlooked cities we mentioned may be easily accessible by plane, that isn’t necessarily the case for all of these small towns. Road trips are a great way to see the US and we’ve tried to spread these towns across the map. So, there should be one within a few hours’ drive of you.
Here are our 15 great small towns in the US to visit this summer:
Great Small Towns in the US – 1. Galena, IL
Galena, Illinois, once had a larger population than Chicago, and many believed it would become the Midwest’s dominant city. Things didn’t exactly pan out that way, so only 3,250 people call Galena home today. Close to the Mississippi River, Galena is just three hours away from Chicago and has plenty of 1800s mansions like the Ulysses S. Grant Home.
The downtown area is charming and walkable, especially along Main Street. Otto’s is a classic stop for brunch. From the Horseshoe Mound Preserve you can also see views of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Great Small Towns in the US – 2. Monterey, California
Once the capital of Mexican California, Monterey is a beautiful town right off Pacific Coast Highway. Two hours south of San Francisco, Monterey has beautiful coastal scenery. Downtown, where there are still some preserved adobe houses, stop by the farmer’s market. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is also world-famous. Then, consider taking the 17-mile drive in nearby Pebble Beach for excellent views. There are plenty of opportunities to view marine life like whales and seals.
Great Small Towns in the US – 3. Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, 900 miles from Galena, is another Mississippi River town that was once the state capital. It is also known for numerous antebellum mansions like Stanton Hall, Rosalie and Longwood. Plenty of buildings in town are part of the Natchez National Historical Park.
The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians contains burial mounds and a museum on the history of native people in the area. Natchez also marks the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway, which is a 444-mile scenic road that ends in Nashville, TN.
4. Montauk, New York
Montauk is commonly called “The End” as it is the easternmost point on Long Island. It is a more down to earth alternative to the Hamptons and is around three hours from Manhattan. Montauk Point Lighthouse is iconic and worth the stop.
There are dunes at Hither Hills State Park and bluffs at Shadmoor State Park. Montauk’s beaches are also very beautiful. Meanwhile, Harvest on Fort Pond is one of the best restaurants around and has great family style dishes.
5. Taos, New Mexico
Taos is one of our great small towns in the US and it’s a good place to visit year-round. About 90 minutes north of Santa Fe, Taos has been inhabited for nearly 1,000 years. You can see the incredible multi-story adobe houses at Taos Pueblo, north of town.
The surrounding mountains present plenty of hiking and skiing opportunities for outdoor sports enthusiasts. Meanwhile, The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is one of the highest bridges in the entire country. There are also plenty of art galleries and boutique hotels in town.
6. Marfa, Texas
Marfa is a desert town in West Texas where you’ll see javelinas crossing the road and world-class art installations. Off the beaten path, Marfa is about 200 miles away from El Paso and 140 miles away from the incredible Big Bend National Park. The Prada Marfa installation, west of town on route 90, is quite famous, along with the Chinati Foundation right in town. At night, you’ll also want to try to see the mysterious Marfa lights.
7. Salem, Massachusetts
Known as the Witch City, for its famous 1692 Witch Trials, Salem, MA is one of the great small towns in the US. While you’ll want to go to to the Witch House, House of the Seven Gables and Salem Witch Trials Memorial, there are plenty of other things to do.
Salem is a coastal city where you can visit Winter Island Park for its beach and the Fort Pickering Lighthouse. The Pickering House, Peabody Essex Museum and Salem Commons are all worthwhile stops as well.
8. Moab, Utah
Moab is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Home to Arches National Park, this small town in Eastern Utah has hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, paddleboarding, canyoneering and more. Arches National Park is iconic for its natural arch formations, namely Delicate Arch, which graces Utah’s license plates.
Canyonlands National Park, pictured above, is 35 minutes away from Moab, and receives fewer visitors than Arches. Meanwhile, there’s excellent mountain biking in Dead Horse Point State Park. Moab is a great base for these outdoor activities and has a bunch of solid restaurants and lodging options.
9. Astoria, Oregon
Astoria, Oregon holds the distinction of being the first permanent settlement in the US west of the Rocky Mountains. The oldest city in Oregon has a Scandinavian flavor and sits on a peninsula on the mouth of the Columbia River. It’s also where “The Goonies” was filmed. You can walk or bike on the Riverwalk Trail and check out the Flavel House and Heritage Museum.
Astoria is known for fresh seafood, Victorian homes and its surrounding forests. You could also visit the beautiful Cannon Beach, which is just 45 minutes away.
10. Saint Augustine, Florida
Saint Augustine made our list of the 10 most beautiful cities in the US, but it barely qualifies as a city. It’s one of the country’s great small towns, as just 15,600 residents call Saint Augustine home. Saint Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied city in the US and just 50 minutes from Jacksonville on Florida’s northeastern coast.
It wears its Spanish influences on its sleeve, with colonial buildings and forts like Castillo de San Marcos. Saint Augustine is one of the few truly walkable places in Florida and is worth considering for a winter trip.
11. Door County, Wisconsin
While not a town, Door County, WI has only around 30,600 residents. Door County is beautifully located on a peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan and is known for its cherries. Door County has plenty of scenic water views, lighthouses and islands to explore.
Cave Point County Park has underwater caves and has nice cliffside scenery. Then, check out Peninsula State Park and Cana Island Lighthouse, two other iconic places to visit in Door County. Fish Creek is a good place to stay, with a few lodging options, restaurants and bars.
12. Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor, Maine is one of the great small towns in the US and the gateway to Acadia National Park. Located on Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor has plenty of places to eat lobster rolls. When the tide is right, you can walk out on a land bridge to Bar Island and see nice views of the town.
Agamont Park, right on the water, is also beautiful but the main draw is obviously Acadia National Park. Some of the best places in Acadia National Park are the Acadia Mountain Trail, Cadillac Mountain, Beehive Trail, Thunder Hole and Jordan Pond.
13. Whitefish, Montana
Like Moab, Whitefish is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Instead of high desert landscapes, you’ll find snow-capped mountains. Whitefish is just 35 minutes away from Glacier National Park, which should absolutely be on your bucket list.
There’s also hiking in town with views of Whitefish Lake, which is popular for boating and kayaking. Whitefish also offers skiing during the Winter and is one of America’s great small towns year-round.
Great Small Towns in the US – 14. Annapolis, Maryland
Maryland’s state capital, Annapolis is also known as America’s sailing capital because of its maritime history. Annapolis is right on Chesapeake Bay and a great place to get soft shell crabs during peak season in May and June. Downtown is very walkable and visitors are also welcome to tour the US Naval Academy. Some interesting museums in Annapolis include the Banneker-Douglas-Tubman Museum and the Annapolis Maritime Museum.
Great Small Towns in the US – 15. Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May is the oldest seaside resort town in the entire US. Exit 0 on the Garden State Parkway, Cape May is the southernmost town in New Jersey. Instead of heading to more bustling areas along the shore, consider a laid back vacation in Cape May.
Climb to the top of Cape May Lighthouse to see ocean and bay views. On a clear day, you’ll also be able to see Delaware. While Cape May beaches are quite nice, you are required to purchase beach tags if you’re visiting from Memorial Day to Labor Day.