9 Standout Main Streets In The United States
With so many great little towns spread across 50 states to choose from, it’s not easy to find a favorite. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have crossed the United States from north to south and east to west several times, and along the way I’ve collected no end of memories (and snapshots) of some of the most amazing main streets you’re likely to encounter. While narrowing it down to just a handful was no easy task, these Main Streets certainly stand out as shining examples of what America’s best small towns are all about: community, character, and plenty of genuine charm.
Park City, Utah
Visit Park City’s historic Main Street and it’s hard to imagine that this Utah mountain town once came close to being wiped clean off the map. Founded as a silver mining camp in 1868, just 25 percent of Park City was spared the devastation of the 1898 Great Fire after quick-thinking townsfolk used dynamite to create firebreaks. Those structures that survived include the Washington School House, built in 1889 and now a classy boutique hotel and restaurant, and a former livery stables dating from just before the fire that now houses the High West Saloon, a bar with an adjoining whiskey distillery.
You can learn about the fire and the town’s silver mining history at the Park City Museum. Housed in the old City Hall building from 1885 (another survivor of the Great Fire), highlights include the basement jail cells and a fascinating replica of the 1901 underground mine tunnel system. The Egyptian Theatre, also on Main Street, was built in 1926 and hosts Sundance Film Festival premieres, while the street’s Park Silly Sunday Market brings many local vendors, street performers, and musicians to set up shop on summer weekends.
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Having just returned from Fernandina Beach on Florida’s Amelia Island, memories of this wonderful small town in the northeast corner of the Sunshine State are still fresh. With a vibe that’s part Key West, part Hilton Head - it’s lively but not a party-town, and classy without being stuffy - the action here takes place along Centre Street, the main drag through Fernandina Beach Historic District.
Consisting of 50 extremely walkable blocks listed on the National Register of Historic Places, you’ll find attractive architectural examples dating from the 1850s through the early 20th century, many of them with plaques explaining their history.
More by luck than judgement, my late October arrival coincided with the 8 Flags Car Show, a fun event that saw the entire downtown section of Centre Street closed off to anything but parked classic cars and people. More than 150 of these classic cars were parked in front of town attractions like the Historic Courthouse and the famous Palace Saloon, the state’s oldest bar, even spilling over onto side streets.
To make the most of your visit, book a room at The Blue Heron Inn Bed & Breakfast. It’s a comfortable stay within easy walking distance of Centre Street's charming Victorian-era architecture. Just around the corner from the Amelia Island Welcome Center, the patio of the Boat House Restaurant offers superb sunset views over Fernandina Harbor Marina.
Wytheville, Virginia
If you’ve driven along Interstates 81 and 77 and wondered whether there was more to Wytheville than just gas stations and the typical highway hotels… well, there is. A whole lot more, in fact. Venture off the interstate and you’ll find yourself immersed in one of Virginia’s most attractive Main Streets.
The standout building here is The Bolling Wilson Hotel, built in 1927 and renamed in honor of First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson, a Wytheville native. Book a stay and enjoy a meal at the hotel’s popular Graze on Main restaurant, and afterward savor a Virginian bourbon from its well-stocked bourbon bar. And if the weather’s nice, head to the hotel’s Perch Rooftop Terrace to watch the sun set over Main Street.
Directly across the road, the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of President Woodrow Wilson's second wife, with artifacts and tours of the rooms she and her family once inhabited. From here, you’re also an easy stroll along Main Street to other sites, including the Millwald Theatre (check out its new speakeasy, the Ghost Light Bourbon Bar), and The Log House 1776 Restaurant. Occupying a historic log structure, this quirky dining spot has grown over the years into a must-visit for antique shoppers and collectors.
Oatman, Arizona
Speaking of quirky, the Arizona town of Oatman has set the bar pretty high for American main streets that stand out not for being pretty, but, well… different. In fact, half a million tourists visit every year, all of them travelling along the iconic Route 66 to get here. And they don't come here for the brick-paved sidewalks or the red-brick buildings. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/u-s-route-66-a-unique-american-roadway.htmlThere aren't any.
A product of the 1915 gold rush after prospectors struck a $10 million gold find, the population boomed to over 3,500 souls within a year. That brief period of prosperity now firmly in the rearview mirror, the 98 folks who live in Oatman are now more interested in having the town stand out for its authenticity than they are in winning any awards for beautification efforts. Instead of sidewalks, you walk along uneven porches that shelter you not just from the sun, but from those roving burros.
That's right, burros. You’ll see many of these critters wandering the town’s main street, the Oatman Highway, looking for treats. Descendants of pack animals released by miners when operations shut down in the 1940s, they make for a great photo as they wander past original old buildings like The Oatman Hotel, built in 1902, and the region’s oldest two-story adobe structure.
As for when to visit, you couldn’t do better than plan to explore this Wild West town than during its annual Sidewalk Egg Fry. Held in July (okay, it’s going to be hot!), while you don’t actually have to cook your eggs on the sidewalk (there aren't any, anyway). All you need to do is use the sun to fry them.
Stowe, Vermont
One of the most recognized small towns in America, tourism in Stowe, Vermont, is closely tied to its being the East Coast’s top ski destination. With the advent of the first chairlift in 1940, Stowe’s downtown, too, began to experience a surge in tourist traffic, with attractions like the Vermont Ski & Snowboard Museum cementing the winter sport connection. Located on Vermont Route 100 (the town’s main street), the museum is set in the old Town Meeting House, built in 1818 and featuring over 8,000 items documenting winter sports history, including Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, and snowboarding.
A great option if you’re looking for a place to stay downtown is The Green Mountain Inn. Established in 1833, your classy lodgings will place you directly on Main Street and steps from Shaw's General Store, a staple here since 1895 (it’s still a family business).
Frankfort, Kentucky
One of the smallest state capitals in the country, Frankfort became Kentucky's capital in 1792 when it beat out Louisville and Lexington for the title. Despite its lofty role in state affairs, wander Frankfort’s Main Street and you’ll appreciate its small-town appeal. Running parallel to the Kentucky River, wander from the Kentucky Historical Society and the Capital City Museum through the historic business district to the Bourbon Traveler Signpost, a selfie spot dedicated to the state’s iconic beverage.
You’ll also pass the old Grand Theatre, built in 1911 and still hosting professional theater and performers, and The Ashbrook Hotel, a high-end hotel set in a mansion built in 1818. While Main Street ends at the equally attractive Liberty Hall Historic Site, you can continue along the Riverwalk Trail to pleasant green spaces and parks set along the Kentucky River. It’s a fun place to walk, whatever the weather.
Ellicottville, New York
After stumbling across Ellicottville while heading south from the cold (I’m not a skier, or I would have known of it), I immediately fell in love with this picture-perfect Upstate New York community. Located 50 miles south of Buffalo, its position in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains only adds to its allure.
Washington Street serves as the main drag through what’s affectionately known as the Village, or downtown Ellicottville. In addition to locally owned shops like Watson’s Chocolates and Mud Sweat n’ Gears (a cool place to shop if you like outdoor adventures), there’s no end of great eateries, too, including favorites such as The Gin Mill and Madigan's. Pretty places of worship like St. John's Episcopal Church and the cute redbrick Ellicottville Historical Museum enhance the appeal of this short yet bustling main drag even further.
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Named for the beautiful mountain range in which it’s located, Georgia’s Blue Ridge community boasts a unique Main Street that is, in effect, two separate roads. This distinctive downtown is literally split down the middle by railroad tracks, creating two parallel main streets, West and East. Those tracks belong to the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, whose depot sits between these commercial corridors, serving riders looking to enjoy excursions through the Chattahoochee National Forest.
After your train ride and having explored the businesses on both sides of the tracks, you can carry on the railway theme with a stay at The Blue Ridge Inn Bed & Breakfast. This comfy, cozy B&B occupies one of the town's oldest residences, built in the 1890s for the owner of the original railroad around which the town grew. And for a great dinner, head to the west end of West Main Street to the Black Sheep Restaurant (reservations suggested).
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Ocean Avenue functions as Carmel-by-the-Sea’s main street and descends gradually for a mile from Highway 1 to Carmel Beach. Usually referred to by locals as “Carmel,” the town only really got going after the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake saw creative types like writers and painters move to safer ground. The legacy of the original informal arts colony lives on, preserving the town's unique character with quirky ordinances that still prohibit street addresses, neon signs, parking meters, and chain restaurants.
Exploring Ocean Avenue and its many side streets provides plenty of excuses to dig a little deeper into the town’s past. Tor House, built by poet Robinson Jeffers from 1918 to 1919 using granite boulders from the beach below, can be toured, while the Sunset Center, originally Carmel's school (it was built in 19126), now hosts the Carmel Bach Festival, a fixture on the local social calendar since 1935. And check out The Cottage of Sweets is another must-visit and has been selling handmade confections since 1955 from a storybook-style building dating from 1924.
The Final Word
When it comes to standout Main Streets, America certainly has no shortage of contenders. Whether it’s the kind of bustling main drag we grew up around as kids or a quieter thoroughfare that peaked a century or more ago, the best of the nation’s main streets have managed to maintain that authenticity that reflects both past and place. For curious travelers looking for a genuine slice of Americana, these walkable main streets are exactly the kind of places you need to get to know.
