As countless folk songs and movies make clear, America’s small towns are great places to explore on long, meandering road trips. But what if your preferred mode of transport doesn’t involve a car?
Thanks to rail routes, ferry lines, and pint-sized regional airports, plenty of small towns can be reached without driving — and these 10 are some of the country’s best. Whether you’re an urbanite who never got a license or just a traveler who prefers that someone else do the navigating, you’ll find lots to enjoy in these locales, which offer the perfect mix of transit access, walkability, and quaint village living. From the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Massachusetts, read on to find the best small towns in America for car-free travel.
Jackson, Wyoming
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There’s a reason why billionaires have flocked to Jackson in recent years for their second (or third) homes: Unlike most Wild West towns, it’s got a bustling commercial airport. A 15-minute taxi ride through Jackson’s picturesque outskirts will bring you from JAC to the town square, where dozens of hotels sit within walking distance. Stay at the luxurious Cloudveil or the affordable-but-trendy Anvil Hotel to be steps from all the action. When you’re ready to take in the surrounding Teton Range, rent a bike or book an excursion — outfitters like Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris can come right to your hotel doorstep to pick you up for a private or group tour.
Winter Park, Colorado
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For ski bums looking to hit the Colorado slopes without slogging through I-70 traffic, there’s no better destination than Winter Park. Each ski season, the village is served by Amtrak’s Winter Park Express, departing several days a week from Denver’s Union Station. The train drops riders right at the foot of Winter Park Resort’s 12,060-foot mountain, making this the only place in the Rockies where you can get from big city to fresh powder without setting foot in a car.
Traverse City, Michigan
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Michigan’s most famous pedestrian hotspot is Mackinac Island, which has forbidden cars since 1898. Insiders know, though, that the island is near-impossible to reach without first driving to the mainland’s far-flung ferry ports. For an easier experience, travel instead to Traverse City, two hours south. This charming town of 15,000 comes with its own airport, as well as a walkable, beachfront downtown that’s loaded with fudge shops, boutiques, and stylish lodgings. TC is also an outdoor lover’s paradise, offering everything from kayaking on Grand Traverse Bay to hiking and biking on the TART Trails network, which crisscrosses almost all of the Leelanau Peninsula.
Laurel, Mississippi
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Let’s face it: The South isn’t exactly known for its walkability or its transit access. Proudly bucking both those trends, though, is Laurel, Mississippi, located 90 miles southeast of Jackson. The town of 17,000 has gained national attention as the setting of HGTV’s Home Town, but the architecture and shops created by the show’s Erin and Ben Napier aren’t the only things to see here. From the city’s many downtown Airbnbs, you can walk to a world-class art museum and a park designed by the firm of Central Park architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Laurel also boasts a downtown Amtrak station, making it an easy rail destination — particularly from New Orleans, a three-hour ride away.
Red Wing, Minnesota
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Seasoned car-free travelers are probably used to reaching their destinations by train or airplane. Some towns, though, are best reached by cruise ship — and Minnesota, of all places, has one of the country’s finest small-town ports. Lying just southeast of the Twin Cities, the Mississippi River town of Red Wing has shopping (yes, Red Wing Shoes are headquartered here), historic hotels (try the St. James), and a wealth of hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities. Not arriving by boat? Red Wing also lies on Amtrak’s new Borealis line connecting Chicago and St. Paul.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
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California’s Central Coast is world-famous for its scenic driving, but it’s just as stunning to explore on foot. The storybook town of Carmel especially prizes walkability, with a one-square-mile downtown that’s laced with pedestrian-only lanes. Take a stroll along the beach before tucking in for dinner at the Michelin-starred Chez Noir and an overnight at L’Auberge Carmel. The Monterey Regional Airport is a 10-minute Uber ride away, making Carmel easy to fly into, but ambitious hikers and cyclists can also access the town via the California Coastal Trail, a statewide network that includes 144 miles of trails here in Monterey County.
Rosemary Beach, Florida
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Okay, so getting to this teensy Panhandle village requires some effort — it’s a 30-minute drive from the airport in Panama City. Once you’re here, though, you’ll see why it’s worth the extra-long Uber. Rosemary Beach was built from scratch in 1995 with a walkable, New Urbanist master plan, and its 105 acres are explorable entirely by foot, bicycle, or golf cart. Stay in one of the town’s plentiful luxury vacation rentals, and you’ll be strolling distance from exceptional spas, lively restaurants, and some of the country’s greatest white-sand beaches.
Edgartown, Massachusetts
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With its densely packed cities and strong rail systems, New England is chock-full of pedestrian-friendly destinations — and Edgartown may be its very best. This centuries-old village has all the historic charm and natural beauty that have drawn travelers to Martha’s Vineyard for generations. But, as the island’s largest community (population just over 5,000), it also has the kind of infrastructure that can keep a visitor entertained for days without ever leaving town. Fly or float in via the local airport and ferry terminal, then enjoy windswept beaches, galleries, and upscale restaurants all within steps of Main Street. To be right in the clapboard-sided center of it all, stay in any of the six buildings that make up Faraway Martha’s Vineyard.
Hudson, New York
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Just upstate from NYC lies the Hudson Valley, a stretch of countryside that’s home to some of the most transit-accessible outdoor recreation in the United States. To explore the region’s highlights, set up camp in Hudson, a stylish riverfront town reachable by a dozen trains a day from Manhattan. The community is such a favorite among New Yorkers that many who’ve tired of city life have moved here permanently — which means the town of 6,000 boasts such cosmopolitan offerings as kombucha sorbet at Culture Cream and Frette linens at hotels like The Amelia. To take your trip beyond the town limits, kayak upriver in a rental from Hudson Paddles or head to the multi-use Empire State Trail, which has an entry point just blocks from downtown.
Friday Harbor, Washington
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Given that Friday Harbor lies miles off the coast in the rugged San Juan Islands, driving here is arguably harder than arriving by any other means. Whether you opt for a seaplane, charter boat, or a combo pack of buses, trains, and ferries, your journey will take you through some of the Pacific Northwest’s most stunning scenery — and land you in one of its most welcoming towns. Friday Harbor’s walkable core is packed with Airbnbs; stay in any of them to be minutes away from museums, coffee shops, and the harbor, where you can (and should) embark on unforgettable whale-watching tours.
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