These Are America’s 10 Best Small Towns for 2026

As the United States turns 250 years old this summer, it feels like the perfect time to celebrate the hidden gems and happening hamlets found across the country with our annual list of the best small towns in America.

That’s me, Sarah, at The Waverly Local in Waverly, Alabama.

We strolled many Main Streets, perused many mercantiles, and put in countless hours of research to uncover the standout small businesses and creative communities that make these places well worth a trip, whether you’re visiting for a weekend or looking for a long-term change of scenery. From charming new inns to revitalized barn shops, well-stocked general stores to postcard-perfect festivals, each spot offers plenty of reasons to love life in a little town.

You’ll also meet residents deeply committed to all things local, who use their talents in art, food, fashion, music, design, event planning, and more to elevate and support their neighbors. These destinations also make ideal home bases for exploring the wonderful regions around them, many of which are rich with history, heritage, and beautiful natural scenery (there are even national parks nearby).
So, practice your neighborly wave, slow your pace, and stay awhile. Here are Country Living’s 10 Best Small Towns of 2026.

Buoyed by a nearby university, this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it railroad town delivers big on homegrown creativity.

A true whistle-stop town born of railroad expansion in the 1870s, Waverly packs an outsized dose of Southern hospitality within three square miles. Spring mornings are best spent at Wild Flour Bakery, where owner Sarah Jones turns out espresso drinks and pastries for Auburn University students sprawled across the front lawn. Design lovers will want to wander over to Fig & Wasp, where antique oak furniture mingles with co-owner Tammy “Scout” Nance’s creamy white pottery. Next, pop into Fern + Johnson Mercantile, where sisters-in-law Deborah and Lori Conway (pictured above) offer cheerful art and vintage finds.

Ahead of your visit, check the calendar of Standard Deluxe, a creative live-work compound that hosts everything from yoga classes to live music, and book a table at The Waverly Local, a beloved haunt serving Southern classics (from bacon-wrapped okra to pork hash) alongside cocktails. Come nightfall, follow the college crowd 20 minutes back to Auburn and settle in at the spirited Graduate by Hilton Auburn, where the guest rooms and the rooftop bar deliver a healthy dose of Tiger pride.

A small town with an artistic heart, Livingston offers visitors the chance to discover the region through the work of local makers and provides easy access to Yellowstone National Park, just 55 miles away.

Surrounded by four mountain ranges and positioned along the Yellowstone River, this historic train town, once a stop on the Northern Pacific Railway, has evolved into a haven for artists inspired by the region’s striking natural scenery. In the heart of downtown, the former railroad station is now the Livingston Depot Center, a museum featuring local history and art exhibitions, as well as events like the annual Festival of the Arts in July with work from more than 100 regional artists and craftspeople. Get an overview of Livingston’s art scene with a visit to Main Street’s Danforth Museum of Art and during the fourth Friday of every month from June to September during Livingston Art Walks. The evening strolls include visits to studios of makers such as Chase DeForest, who creates leather art pieces as well as stunning custom cowboy boots, and local businesses such as shop-and-art space Cactus Blossom Collective, where you can scoop up made-in-Montana goods like hand-painted playing cards featuring the state’s wild fauna.

There’s plenty of great eating to be done in town, too, from farm-to-table French fare at 2nd Street Bistro to pan-seared trout from Flathead Lake served in a former general store at Campione. In the evenings, roast s’mores over the fire during a glamping stay in the tents of Under Canvas, a short drive from downtown. Be sure to also save time for a trip to nearby Chico Hot Springs where you can go for a relaxing soak in the historic geothermal pools or explore Montana’s wilderness on horseback.

This pint-sized hamlet on the Sugar River packs a lot into just a few blocks with a dairy factory-turned-hotel, on-the-water adventures, and live music.

Located just 12 miles from downtown Madison, the hamlet of Paoli was originally known for its dairy factory nestled along the Sugar River, which produced Swiss cheese and sweet cream butter for nearly 100 years before shutting its doors in 1980. In 2023, the factory space put the town on the map once more, this time as Seven Acre Dairy Company, a boutique hotel with nods to its history found throughout (a chandelier crafted from vintage milk bottles welcomes guests in the lobby). The cafe from award-winning cheesemaker Anna Landmark’s Landmark Creamery churns out soft-serve ice cream made with milk sourced from the family farm next door, as well as breakfast and lunch fare like grilled cheese sandwiches stuffed with Landmark Fontina and local rhubarb-chili jam. Landmark’s cheeses are also on the menu (opt for the “Dairy Experience,” a tower of seasonal selections) at Seven Acre Dairy Company’s Little Cloud restaurant, open for brunch and dinner.

Work off the cheese and butter during a kayaking session with Sugar River Outfitters, or on a shopping stroll to a pair of Paoli Road boutiques: metalsmith Julie Walser’s Paoli Road Mercantile for art, jewelry, and pottery by Wisconsin makers, and Lily’s Mercantile & Makery, stocked with candles, culinary gifts, and apparel. Antiques lovers should also explore the eclectic finds at Paoli Vintage Art & Americana on Canal Street. Treat yourself to dinner at Paoli Schoolhouse American Bistro, where classic dishes such as beef Wellington are served in what was once Paoli’s one-room schoolhouse, then head to Hop Garden at the historic stone mill for craft beer and live music along the river.

The chance to experience Native American history and culture firsthand, as well as thriving arts and food scenes, make a visit to this remote town at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains well worth the journey.

Soak in Taos’s abundant art scene from the start with a check-in at Hotel Willa in historic downtown. Opened last May, the boutique sleep’s gallery features rotating work by emerging regional artists curated by the nonprofit Paseo Project. From here, it’s a short stroll to fuel up with coffee and fresh sourdough at Tomorrow and Tomorrow before a trip to Harwood Museum of Art, where the permanent collection includes Native American and Hispanic work, pieces from the Taos Society of Artists, and a gallery dedicated to abstract painter Agnes Martin.

Head north to Taos Pueblo, home to the Indigenous community of this high desert region for more than 1,000 years, where visitors have the unique chance to learn about the Pueblo’s history during a guided tour and explore the multistory adobe buildings up close. Check the event calendar to take in traditions like Feast Day celebrations and the annual Taos Pueblo Pow Wow, a multitribal gathering held each July featuring dancing, drumming, and songs. Next, swing by Farmhouse Cafe & Bakery for a locally sourced lunch of chicken enchiladas, then detour to the 200-year-old enclave of Arroyo Seco, home to independent shops like Santos Y Mas, which carries a curated selection of Northern New Mexican folk art, as well as galleries from local sculptors, jewelers, and artists, like potter Logan Wannamaker.

Back downtown, treat yourself to a scoop of local-peppermint and chocolate chip ice cream at Manzanita Market or a martini mixed with New Mexico-made gin at Corner Office. If you’re visiting in the summertime, check the lineup of live music to keep you dancing ’til sunset at the historic Taos Plaza.

In the Cherry Capital of the World, summer unfolds at a slower, sweeter pace.

With acres of verdant farmland, abundant orchards, and two slender peninsulas stretching into the waters of Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City has quietly transformed from a sleepy sawmill town into one of the country’s most exciting food-and-drink destinations. Get a taste of the region at Farm Club—a lively restaurant, farm, brewery, bakery, and market all in one—and plan ahead for meals at sought-after spots like Modern Bird, The Cooks’ House, and The Mill Glen Arbor in nearby Glen Arbor. Still, the area hasn’t lost its old-school charm. To find that, venture out along the peninsulas. On the Leelanau Peninsula, the fishing shanties of historic Fishtown now house a delightful mix of restaurants, shops, and galleries.

Over on Old Mission, the Old Mission General Store is a nostalgic stop for ice cream before checking in at the circa-1869 Old Mission Inn, the oldest continually operating hotel in Michigan, where amenities include outdoor hammocks for enjoying the lake breezes. Back in town, vintage lovers should pop by Penny Lane, Wilson Antiques, and Antiquities Warehouse, while wine enthusiasts can sample pours from one of the region’s many thriving vintners—look for favorites like Neu Cellars and Bos Wine.

If you find yourself in town between July 4 to 11, don’t miss the state’s annual National Cherry Festival. Michigan leads the country in the production of tart cherries, and this eight-day celebration marks its 100th anniversary this year with cherry-spitting contests, pie-eating showdowns, and fireworks. Country Living will also be there this year as a stop on our Great American Picnic Tour in partnership with Hershey’s, so come by and say hi and have a s’more.

If your ideal trip includes vintage finds and fine wine, head to this Loudoun County town offering award-winning vineyards, destination antiquing, and a stylish new spot to stay.

Situated in the heart of Virginia’s wine and hunt country an hour northwest from D.C., Leesburg will likely ring a bell for vintage enthusiasts as it’s home to beloved antique destination Lucketts, which, in addition to hosting a pair of wildly popular annual antique markets and a Holiday House event, also offers year-round shopping in their farmhouse showroom. There’s plenty to peruse in historic downtown, too, from French country finds at Tara and Ben Wegdam’s Crème de la Crème to local art, furniture, and antique decor at Lori Tran and Colleen West’s interior design studio and store, wldwst. Apparel and accessories boutique Muz & Rose, named for owner Elyse Smith’s two grandmothers, hosts front porch pop-ups with local artisans each weekend, while Books and Other Found Things showcases work by regional artists among shelves filled with gently used titles.

Toast to your finds at nearby wineries like Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, a fourth-generation working farm where tastings take place among the vines or in the 200-year-old manor house, and Stone Tower Winery, which serves its wine list alongside lunch options like salads and pizzas should hunger hit. When you’re ready to rest, check into newcomer Hotel Burg. The fashion-forward boutique sleep and social club opened on King Street last summer alongside its buzzy restaurant, The Huntōn, where the dinner menu includes game dishes like venison and morsels. Nearby, Goosecup offers an all-day option with a menu that moves from coffee to cocktails, while longtime Leesburg favorite The Wine Kitchen serves comforting farm-to-table fare like housemade tater tots paired with a long list of bottles from both near and far. For a sweet treat, stop by Mom’s Apple Pie Company for a slice filled with locally grown strawberries and rhubarb.

This artsy Far West enclave makes an ideal home base for exploring one of America’s largely unsung national parks.

Founded in 1882 as a railroad stop and a cattle ranching outpost, Alpine now serves as an unofficial gateway to Big Bend National Park, an 800,000-acre expanse of desert and mountain vistas and dark skies sparkling with stars, with the Rio Grande winding its way through swaths of desert marigold, prairie verbena, and Mexican poppies. Before heading to the park, be sure to stop by the recently refreshed Museum of the Big Bend for an overview of the region’s history and culture.

After a day spent exploring, Alpine’s historic Holland Hotel—and its slightly more rambunctious sister property, The Maverick Inn—are ideal spots to kick up your (cowboy) boots ahead of a night of live music at the come-as-you-are dive bar Railroad Blues. When hunger eventually strikes, Penny’s Diner, open 24/7, serves up platters of pancakes and bacon at all times, or you can indulge in jalapeño and bacon mac and cheese and other Tex-Mex favorites at Reata.

A celebrated inn, a cider-mill-meets-country-store, and a barn brimming with charming housewares make this hamlet the perfect home base for a cozy stay in the Catskills.

Named for the north branch of Callicoon Creek, this tiny hamlet has become a destination for weekends in the Western Catskills thanks to a pair of historic businesses reimagined for today’s traveler. Book your stay at The North Branch Inn, a 14-room hotel-and-restaurant that first opened its doors in 1868. There’s plenty to do on its seven acres: wake up to coffee and a breakfast of farm-fresh eggs and pastries, make use of their board games and vintage magazine collections, play a round of croquet on the lawn, or cast your line with a guided fly-fishing session. Days are capped off with dinners of farm-to-table fare like roast chicken from chef/owner Jake Eberle, followed by a soak in the hot tub or a warm drink around the fire pit.

When you do leave the inn, make your first stop the historic North Branch Cider Mill. Established in 1942 and reopened in 2023 by Tom Roberts and Anna Åberg of design studio Homestedt, you’ll find fall provisions like fresh apple and pear cider donuts alongside jars of local wildflower honey, sweet dill pickles, and apple butter. Across the driveway is the couple’s latest home goods shop Homestedt Barn, stocked with a mix of new and antique furniture and decor. From here, spend a relaxing day in Sullivan County with brunch served alongside views of the Delaware River Valley at Seminary Hill cidery in Callicoon, followed by a Catskill Clay Wrap treatment at Hemlock Neversink’s spa. Take in evening concerts from acts like James Taylor and Thomas Rhett at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, and don’t miss Peace, Love & Pumpkins in the fall, when the center’s trails are lined with thousands of hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns.

Born as a set for Westerns, this one-horse town set against the Sawtooth Mountains has moved beyond mere production value, roping in visitors with cowboy-chic boutiques and boot-stomping fun.

Established in 1946, Pioneertown was created as a backdrop for filming the
popular Westerns of the day and as a place where onscreen cowboys like
Dick Curtis and Roy Rogers could kick off their boots. Eighty years later, this
high-desert destination a short drive from Joshua Tree National Park is
drawing a new audience thanks to creative small businesses set in and
around its 1880s-themed storefronts.

Amble down “Hoof and Foot”–only Mane Street, open to pedestrian and horse traffic. Start with an overview of Pioneertown’s cinematic history at the Film Museum, then head to Sarah Tabbush’s Pioneertown General Store, stocked with Western wear essentials like cowboy hats, boots, and vintage belt buckles. Next, mosey
over to Soukie Modern for Moroccan rugs pretty enough to design a room
around and Xēba Botánica, where husband-and-wife team Rachel and
Daniel Olvera offer natural, locally made skin care products like Desert
Balm healing salve. At high noon, hit the Red Dog Saloon for Tex-Mex or, if
it’s a Sunday, swing by between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for Honky Tonk with the
Mane Street Band and margaritas mixed with jalapeño-infused agave. Rest
up in the hammocks of the historic Pioneertown Motel, where Gene Autry
played poker until dawn. When the sun starts to sink, head to beloved
roadhouse Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace for barbecue and a live music stage that’s hosted acts like Paul McCartney and Robert Plant.

This Marion County town’s Dutch heritage is at the heart of its postcard-perfect holiday celebration.

Founded by Dutch immigrants in 1847, Pella celebrates its cultural heritage throughout the year with events including a popular Tulip Time Festival each spring. In December, Pella’s snow-covered windmills, horse-drawn carriages, and market stalls festooned in evergreen garlands are especially transporting, like wandering into a Hallmark holiday movie set in Holland. Start at the town’s Kerstmarkt, inspired by the traditional outdoor Christmas markets of Europe. Expect traditional Dutch dance demos, workshops on the Staphorst Nailhead style of wooden shoe painting, and carols sung by local choirs. Wooden booths stationed along the canal in Molengracht Plaza sell Dutch-themed crafts and treats like fresh stroopwafels and cinnamon-roasted pecans. Jaarsma Bakery is also a must for Dutch goodies, especially their letter cookie—almond paste filling wrapped in puff pastry and sprinkled with sugar—shaped in an “S” for Sinterklaas, who parades down Franklin Street during the town’s celebration.

Dive deeper into the town’s Dutch influence at Pella’s Historical Village, home to a Werkplaats where klompen (wooden clogs) are crafted and the Vermeer Windmill, among the tallest working windmills in North America. Take a break for koffietijd (coffee time) with a side of the town founders’ history at Maria’s Tea Room in the historic Scholte House Museum, then visit the Klokkenspel, a musical clock tower with mechanical figures that perform scenes from Pella’s history. Also on the list of unique attractions: Opa’s Barn, home to local craftsman Randy Wineland’s more than 2,000-piece-strong collection of antique woodworking tools, with woodworking classes and guided tours available by request.

PHOTO CREDITS (clockwise from top left, for each banner)

WAVERLY: Standard Deluxe and Fig & Wasp exterior and interior by Becky Luigart-Stayner. Graduate by Hilton Auburn courtesy of The Graduate by Hilton Auburn. The Waverly Local interior and portraitr by Becky Luigart-Stayner.

LIVINGSTON: Emigrant Peak courtesy of Chico Hot Springs. Cactus Blossom Collective courtesy of Kristi Reed. Barnyard exterior and downtown shops courtesy of Chico Hot Springs. Glamping tent courtesy of Under Canvas. Portrait courtesy of Chloe Nostrant.

PAOLI: Paoli Vintage Art & Americana courtesy of Discover Paoli. Sugar River courtesy of Discover Paoli. Seven Acre Dairy Company courtesy of Seven Acre Dairy Company. Lily’s Mercantile & Makery courtesy of Lily’s Mercantile & Makery. Canoeing courtesy of Discover Paoli.

TAOS: Wannamaker Pottery courtesy of Tira Howard Photography. Tomorrow and Tomorrow courtesy of Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Rio Grande Gorge Bridge by Mona Makela Photography/Getty Images. Hotel Willa courtesy of Patrick Chin. Taos Pueblo by Getty Images.

TRAVERSE CITY: Penny Lane courtesy of Jessica Ryan. Farm Club by Michael Gilger. Old Mission General Store by Stephen Saks Photography/Alamy Stock Photo. Cherries courtesy of Traverse City Tourism. Old Mission Inn by Kylee Nelson. Fishtown docks by Alexey Stiop/Getty Images.

LEESBURG: Hotel Burg interior courtesy of Hotel Burg. Crème de la Crème courtesy of Crème de la Crème. Stone Tower Winery courtesy of Stone Tower Winery. Lucketts vignette and exterior courtesy of Lucketts. Zephaniah Farm Vineyard courtesy of Zephaniah Farm Vineyard.

ALPINE: Penny’s Diner by Ian Dagnall Commercial Collection/Alamy Stock Photo. Holland Hotel by Wynn Myers. Big Bend National Park by David Goodell/Getty Images. Railroad Blues performance by Parker Photography/Alamy Stock Photo. Museum of the Big Bend courtesy of Casey Dunn.

NORTH BRANCH: Homestedt Barn courtesy of Peter Crosby Photography. North Branch Cider Mill interior courtesy of Gabriel Zimmer. North Branch Cider Mill exterior courtesy of Daniel Schwartz. Hemlock Neversink courtesy of Lawrence Braun. Seminary Hill apples and North Branch Inn courtesy of Daniel Schwartz.

PIONEERTOWN: Pappy & Harriet’s performance by Harmony Gerber/Getty Images. Desert oasis by Denise Vasquez/Getty Images. Pioneertown Motel by K.D. Leperi/Alamy Stock Photo. Pioneertown Soukie Modern courtesy of Soukie Modern. Saddlery by Alexander Jung/Getty Images.

PELLA: Shopping village, wooden clogs, Royal Amsterdam Hotel, and Opa’s Barm by Megan Rochelle Photography. Pastries courtesy of Ashley Newman/The Newviewography. Windmill by Megan Rochelle Photography.

Sarah Zlotnick

Lifestyle Director

Sarah Zlotnick is the Lifestyle Director at Country Living, where she has run point on travel, rural lifestyles, and all things vintage and antiques since 2021. Previously a lifestyle editor at Washingtonian and Philadelphia magazines, she has been championing small businesses and regional destinations for 15 years. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Georgetown University, a major her younger self would be quite surprised to learn has come so in handy. First and foremost a service journalism enthusiast, she loves an in-depth explainer on an everyday topic or a deep dive into the history of vintage objects. When she’s not editing and writing, you’ll find her needling her husband to pull off the highway so they can explore a new small town or cozying up with a juicy murder mystery. 

Leigh Crandall

A writer and editor with 20 years of experience in the lifestyle and travel realms, Leigh Crandall has been a contributing editor to Country Living since 2020. She regularly writes about small businesses with big ideas, U.S. destinations worth a road trip, holidays, hobbies, and more rural pursuits. She is also a children's book author and co-founder of Cowbell, a creative studio inspired by farming and heritage. When she’s not working, you’ll find her curled up with a cozy mystery on her front porch or exploring the outdoors with her family.