10 Stunning Small Towns In The United States
Stunning small towns abound across the United States. With places like Cambria overlooking the Pacific Ocean, historic Wild West downtowns like Cody's, or towns like Valdez, framed by snow-capped mountains and blue glacier waters. Some of the most striking towns combine natural surroundings with lively downtown areas, offering access to top outdoor recreation in spots like Arches, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks. With so many gorgeous options, choosing is the hardest part, but don’t worry, our list makes it easy to pick your next standout small-town destination!
Custer, South Dakota
Custer is the oldest town in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, and its location makes it optimal for visiting South Dakota’s landmark attractions. Perhaps the most iconic of these is Mount Rushmore National Monument, 60-foot faces of four United States presidents carved into the Black Hills of western South Dakota.
Custer State Park spans 71,000 acres and grants visitors an unrivalled outdoor experience. The park is laced with hiking and biking trails, has numerous camping spots, and is home to 1,300 bison, which is the largest publicly-owned bison herd in the world.
Learn about the history of the town and the region at the 1881 Courthouse Museum, which gives insight into life on the prairie through exhibits on Native American artifacts, authentic mining tools, and everyday items.
Cody, Wyoming
Cody sits along the Shoshone River and is steeped in Wild West history, and that feeling when walking around town is further encapsulated by the Absaroka Mountains on the horizon. Take a step back through time at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, which contains five different museums narrating the Wild West. This includes the Buffalo Bill Museum, which explores western history and everyday life on the American frontier.
As a gateway to the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park, Cody is a prime basecamp for exploring the United States' oldest National Park. Visitors can view the park’s geysers, wildlife, and mountainous scenery.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
These streets of Eureka Springs are built into the side of Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains and lined with historic Victorian-era buildings. With over 60 natural springs in town, it certainly lives up to its name. Basin Spring Park is home to one of the most notable springs in town. Basin Spring was used by Native Americans and early pioneers for its healing properties.
Either hike or drive to the top of Magnetic Mountain, where the Christ of the Ozarks statue oversees the town. The statue stands 67 feet tall and offers views of the whole town and region to those who reach the top. Thorncrown Chapel is a structure like no other. It is part of the woodland and built on native stone and colored flagstone.
Whitefish, Montana
With direct lake and mountain access paired with a fun downtown, Whitefish has it all. A crown of tree-covered mountains encircles Whitefish Lake, which can be visited directly from town at places like City Beach. The beach has a shaded grass area, swimming area, docks, gazebos, and picnic tables, all of which can be used to take in the surrounding scenery. You do not have to be a skier to enjoy Whitefish Mountain Resort. Ride the gondola to the summit of Big Mountain for unparalleled panoramic views of Whitefish Lake, the Flathead Valley, Glacier National Park, and the Northern Rocky Mountains.
Whitefish serves as a gateway to Glacier National Park, which offers year-round, snow-covered alpine scenery and over 700 miles of trails leading to lakes, glaciers, and viewpoints.
Moab, Utah
Moab is encompassed by red rock sandstone formations and is within close proximity to many of Utah’s State and National Parks. Canyonlands National Park’s 527 square miles of canyons, pinnacles, cliffs, and spires were formed by the Green River and Colorado River. The park’s topography can be viewed throughout 70 miles of hiking trails, varying in difficulty. Arches National Park, on the other hand, is a popular area for stargazing. On a clear night, you can see the stars anywhere in the park, but the farther north you drive away from Moab, the more stars you will see.
Don’t drive too far away, though, because downtown Moab is tightly bound with great places to visit, such as the Moab Museum, which houses an incredible collection of artefacts from Moab’s past, from the first inhabitants of the valley to its uranium mining history.
Valdez, Alaska
Practically everywhere in Alaska is stunning, but Valdez might be the winner. It is rooted in a fjord in Prince William Sound, while the town itself is circled by the Chugach Mountains, which look like they are rising from the water. Kelsey Dock is a great place in town to really take in the mountains expanding on the horizon. If you are lucky, you may also spot wildlife such as a pod of orcas breaking the surface or sea lions frolicking in the shallows.
Valdez also grants visitors access to the Alaskan Wilderness. Valdez Glacier Lake beautifully mirrors the mountains on its glassy, blue surface. In the summer, it is popular among kayakers, whereas in the winter, it lures in Nordic skiers and snowshoers. Alternatively, go hiking through Keystone Canyon, which passes through several waterfalls.
Cambria, California
Halfway between San Fransico and Los Angeles, Cambria is a combination of forest and seascapes on California’s central coast. Meander across the mile-long Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, which trails along the coastline with various opportunities to rest on benches dotted throughout the beach park, explore tide pools, and the possibility to view marine life such as whales, dolphins, and sea otters. The Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is high atop bluffs overlooking the ocean with a sprawling grassy meadow framed by a forested ridge.
View amazing artwork in one of the many art galleries that line the streets of downtown Cambria. The Vault Gallery is considered one of the finest art galleries on California's central coast, showcasing high-quality pieces of work from many national and international painters, photographers, and sculptors.
Hanalei, Hawaii
Hanalei is on the shore of the crescent-shaped Hanalei Beach while lush, rainforest-covered mountains sprout up from the Hanalei River Valley. Spend an afternoon at the Hanalei Bay Pier, a historic pier that is now a popular spot for paddling the calm waters during the summer months, fishing, picnicking, and watching the sun set below the ocean.
For a panoramic, bird’s eye view of the Hanalei Valley and the neighboring green mountains opening up in the horizon, hike to the top of the Hanalei Valley Lookout. The lookout is on the side of the highway and easily accessible by car. Unwind at Hanalei Beach Park, which is right on the white sands of Hanalei Beach. Wade into the clear waters, or simply relax in the shade of the palm trees.
Issaquah, Washington
In the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, Issaquah has both mountain and lake access, as well as a historic downtown to match. Lake Sammamish State Park is on the outskirts of town and comprises 531 acres of trails, two separate beaches, a campground, a boat launch, and outdoor recreational activities on the water.
Gilman Village is an outdoor mall with independent stores and restaurants housed inside historic former mining and farming buildings. The Flat Iron Grill is housed in a historic two-story structure built in 1910, when it operated as a grain and hay supply house for local farmers. Now, as a steakhouse, it still has roots to its cattle-related heritage and even features a traditional frontier false front.
Telluride, Colorado
Telluride is on the valley floor of a box canyon within Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Ride the free Telluride Gondola for 12 minutes to Mountain Village and experience an elevation change of 1,750 feet. It grants entry to hiking and biking trails in the summer and ski slopes in the winter. Although at any time of the year you ride, the view is just as breathtaking.
Additionally, you can spend an afternoon at Telluride Town Park. From the bottom of the box canyon, the surrounding mountains create a cozy snow globe-like effect and are complete with an outdoor pool, pond, and mixed-use athletic fields for various games. Avid hikers can hike to Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado, at 365 feet.
Stunning Small Towns
The United States' most stunning small towns are those that have preserved their pasts in places like Gilman Village in Issaquah or places like Moab, which are surrounded by National Parks. Each town has its own winning combination of natural landscapes and colorful downtowns. For travelers seeking breathtaking beauty in town and outside it, these ten towns highlight the United States' most stunning towns.
