Whether you’re an avid hiker looking for a new place to explore or just someone who enjoys a leisurely stroll, there’s no denying the appeal of a town that is easily walkable. This is not some random list created by a robot, it’s a list that has been lovingly created over time by Eric and I. Most of our travels within the United States revolve around this list because we choose our destinations based on how much walking we can do while we’re there.
We have personally walked the streets of each of these towns or intend to in the near future.
Table of Contents
How we choose what makes the list
Population
Only cities with a population of less than 300,000 are on this list. We do have our favorite walkable cities and they deserve their own article so we’ll save them for later.
Amenities
There must be food, preferably local restaurants with character. Bonus points for local merchants such as a good coffee shop, bookstore, local artisans and a comfy library with good Wi-Fi.
Nearby Hiking
Most small towns can be walked in one day but it takes longer than that to fully experience a new place. There should be walking/hiking trails or other walkable towns nearby to keep us active for a few days. Some of our favorite places to meet this criteria are actually islands and you’ll find those in our Car Free Vacations in the US for Walkers.
Our favorite walkable towns in every US state, from Alabama to Montana
Alabama: Birmingham
Northern Alabama has hills and Birmingham takes full advantage of them with plenty of urban parks and nearby Oak Mountain State Park. Find out why we love this walkable town in Naked in Birmingham.
Alaska: Sitka
Sitka Alaska may be hard to reach but once you’re there you can stay for awhile. All your necessities are within walking distance and epic trails are at your doorstep.
Arizona: Sedona
Sedona has long been popular with hikers for their red rock trails leading straight from town on all sides and their world famous wellness resorts.
Arkansas: Hot Springs
Eureka Springs is usually everyone’s favorite walking town in Arkansas but we prefer Hot Springs. Not many towns can boast a national park inside city limits, not to mention the lovely Garvan Woodland Gardens and neighboring state parks.
California: Mill Valley
California has TONS of walking-friendly towns but Mill Valley is #1 in our book. The Dipsea Trail begins here and you won’t find another place on earth that looks like this ewok village. Read our Conquering the Dipsea in Marin County.
Colorado: Crested Butte
While we love Boulder, Crested Butte ranks higher on our list because you can get by without a car in this mountain town. Read how you can hike inn to inn and why Crested Butte is a hiking mecca.
Connecticut: New Haven
New Haven is often listed as one of the most walkable towns in America and for good reason. Walking the Yale campus and downtown area is a delight, as are the trails in East Rock Park.
Florida: St. Augustine
Fernandina Beach is a close second, but St. Augustine has our heart. Walking America’s oldest European settlement is something to savor and beach walks in Anastasia State Park and Vilano Beach are just a short drive away. Find out why we think St. Augustine is queen of the South.
Georgia: Athens
This university town ranks a whopping 91 on Walk Score, partly because of its city parks. Walk the campus, explore historic Antebellum neighborhoods and take your pick of woodland walks through Oconee Forest Park, Sandy Creek Nature Center or the State Botanical Gardens.
Hawaii: Kaka’ako
You can walk to everything in this Honolulu neighborhood and it’s at the base of some epic hikes with volcanic craters and rainforests.
Idaho: Ketchum
Ketchum has over 90 miles of hiking trails within 5 miles of town, which may make it the top walkable destination on this list! Its proximity to the Sawtooth Mountains also makes it one of our favorites.
Illinois: Glencoe
This suburb north of Chicago is the perfect place for urban hiking. The North Branch Trail System connects the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe and passes around Skokie Lagoons on its way towards the city.
Indiana: French Lick
We couldn’t resist a name like French Lick and as the name implies this town is a little touristy but we like its proximity to Hoosier National Forest which offers ample hiking trails. If French Lick is too much for you, try Bloomington and hike in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness.
Iowa: Dubuque
Located on the Mississippi River, this town offers historic trails with fascinating cliffside hikes through the Mines of Spain Recreation Area. Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens are a bonus.
Kansas: Ottawa
Kansas has a hidden gem and it’s called the Flint Hills Nature Trail. Once completed, this trail will connect Herington to Osawatomie and make an excellent inn to inn biking trip. You can hike sections now and this website will make it easy to plan.
Kentucky: Paducah
We may be biased since Eric grew up in Paducah, but we love walking along the Ohio River and taking photos of Paducah’s flood wall murals. Their Greenway Trail connects to Noble Park and the downtown makes for great walking. Hike in Land Between the Lakes and stop for dinner at Patti’s Settlement. Cross into Metropolis, take a photo with Superman and walk to Fort Massac.
Louisiana: Mandeville
This is the toughest state on our list and we live here! We love Mandeville because it’s next to Fontainebleau State Park, on the Tammany Trace Trail, surrounded by swamp trails in wildlife management areas and can be combined with historic walks in New Orleans and Covington.
Maine: Millinocket
No point mentioning the national park that everyone knows about, so we’re highlighting the town that every thru-hiker hopes to reach. Millinocket is located near Mt. Katahdin, Baxter State Park and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (start of the International Appalachian Trail).
Maryland: Ellicott City
Besides having excellent restaurants and a quaint historic vibe, Ellicott City boasts the #9 Trolley Trail (lovely woodland walk along a river) which you can use to walk to the Benjamin Banneker Museum. Nearby Patapsco Valley State Park has 200 miles of trails.
Massachusetts: Cambridge
Maybe we’re nerds, but we love walking university campuses and one of our favorites is Harvard. You can walk for days by adding MIT just around the corner, city parks and trendy neighborhoods, and Mt. Auburn Cemetery (don’t knock it, cemeteries are great places for walking).
Michigan: Ontonagon
Sorry Michigan, we’re Yoopers all the way so it’s Upper Peninsula for us! While you’ll have to do a bit of driving, it’s worth it for hiking the Porcupine Mountains and Presque Isle River Waterfalls. Plus you get gorgeous views of Lake Superior. Enjoy photos from our Bittersweet Michigan trip.
Minnesota: Grand Marais
This one’s way the hell up there (practically in Canada), but flying into Duluth and stopping at every state park along the way to Grand Marais is one epic road trip – with TONS of beautiful walks everywhere you look.
Mississippi: Long Beach
Our favorite place to beach walk, this quiet town offers the prettiest stretch of beach on the Mississippi coast. It’s also in the middle of Pass Christian and Ocean Springs which offer more restaurants and quiet walks around oak covered trees and old southern homes.
Missouri: Hermann
How does inn to inn hiking from vineyard to vineyard along the Missouri River sound? With the Katy Trail you can do that and this site will help you plan your route. We suggest starting in Augusta, staying at inns in Marthasville and Treloar and ending in Hermann.
Montana: West Glacier
It’s expensive and you have to plan ahead to get into Glacier National Park, but it’s on everyone’s bucket list. Some of the most beautiful trails in America are at your doorstep in this tiny town. Can’t get a park pass? Stay in Libby and hike Kootenai National Forest.
Stay tuned for more as we cover the next 25 states that make our favorite walkable destinations.
