11 of the Friendliest Towns in the United States

Sprinkled throughout the country, the friendliest towns in the US offer a respite from the chaos of everyday life. Find your happy place in a town from this list, or hit up a few on a road trip to experience true American hospitality. 

You will find plentiful artist enclaves in towns like Key West and awe-inspiring natural sights in the likes of Bar Harbor. If striking up a conversation with a friendly local is your cup of tea, then you are in luck. In these towns, people rejoice in greeting strangers, so prepare to leave with a treasure trove of cultural insights, a few gifts, and numerous new friends!

Alpharetta, Georgia

You may have never heard of this best-kept secret central town in the north of Georgia, but when life gives you lemons, you visit sweet Georgia's Alpharetta for a peach-scented lemonade. A favorite escape for the friendly crowds from Atlanta suburbs, "The City of Celebration" has a real throwdown of annual events, both city- and region-wide. You can make friends with the inviting locals at the most populous Village Tavern, get invited to a backyard party, or set a picnic date with your new friends at the town's scenic Wills Park.

From the long-loved Alpharetta Arts StreetFest to the delectable Taste of Alpharetta, Alpharetta never fails to impress. To witness the community coming together in real-time, make sure you visit in August to catch the Old Soldiers Day Parade. You can combine a themed small-town escape with your favorite holidays during the Scarecrow Harvest with artsy scarecrows crafted by the locals or during the warmth-emanating holiday tree-lighting ceremony this Christmas! With something exciting always going on along the decorated street, Alpharetta envelops you in community spirit, warmly inviting tourists to join in yoga groups, book clubs, and movie nights.

Bar Harbor, Maine

This postcard-like town on Mount Desert Island, right on the gorgeous Frenchman's Bay, envelopes you with warmth in the sea breeze. Already a popular destination along Maine's enchanting coastline, this island town within Acadia National Park, home to real outdoor lovers, is full of friendly vibes. Get acquainted with Bar Harbor at fun gatherings like art shows while the refreshing nature of Acadia National Park calls for exciting adventures.

Welcoming thousands on an annual basis, this seaside town keeps local charm where everyone knows each other's names; prepare for a weekend over charming pursuits, scenic downtown views, and waterfront panoramas. You can join the annual local Acadia Night Sky Festival, which includes overnight hikes and movies under the stars! From flying or sailing over to the islands to fresh Italian garden-to-table cuisine from the beloved chef-owner of Nostrano, Frank Pendola, you will be on a first-name basis with the locals before you leave!

Burlington, Vermont

Unlike other large towns in the United States, Burlington is friendly and sociable. Taking the best from both worlds of small-town charm and big-city amenities, Burlington welcomes you with farm-to-table dining, a picturesque downtown, and a sense of belonging despite a bustling population of 43,000. The locals are happy to share their hometown, offering advice on the best places to hit along the laid-back streets with an artsy vibe. Here, it is not hard to find your soul companion in artists, young professionals, and other friendly locals, especially during the summertime outdoor festivals.

With an event each weekend, you can make friends with music lovers at the Jazz Fest or have a hopping time at Brewers Fest and Art Hop and have a lifelong friend afterward. The Saturday farmers' market is a great place to shop for local sights, produce, and crafts. Once that's through, enjoy a local-style lunch made fresh with ingredients from the area. The Waterfront Park is great for leisurely family recreation and strolls, where unreal sunsets over the Adirondacks, blessing the landscape in pink and purple shades, bring crowds of locals and tourists to celebrate each evening.

Downers Grove, Illinois

Despite the name, Downers Grove will get you right out of your blues on any visit, hosting more festivals than any other town around. With over 140 community events and festivals each year, there's always a reason to visit for an exciting time in the outdoors! The name really fits this town, as there are nearly 600 acres of parks and green space around, offering easy access to friendly nature, steps away from hospitable stays and other amenities.

With themed events like Friday evening car shows, you can mingle and make friends with like-minded enthusiasts at a local park, and you can bet there's a traditional gathering for drinks at a nearby bar afterward! Stay for the Saturday market, or make it a weekend family getaway to shop downtown. Once acquainted, you will see that this town, fully embracing Midwestern charm, can turn a frown upside down on a quick escape just 25 miles outside of Chicago, making it easy to visit your new friends next time.

Dublin, Ohio

"It's always greener in Dublin!"

Indeed it is. With tons of open spaces, playgrounds, sports fields, and dog parks, Dublin makes it easier to make new friends for all ages and even species! The renowned Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, with 10,000 animals, including exotic ones from around the globe, offers six regions to prowl and learn about these various species. There are a ton of hiking opportunities and easy strolls, from prairies to wooded trails and waterfalls, including over 100 miles of bike paths. With over 60 parks, the 1,036-acre Glacier Ridge Metro Park offers various trails, a disc golf course, picnic spots, and an observation tower.

Dublin, a vibrant oasis where calming nature meets small-town charm and urban amenities, reveals its Irish roots with traditional tourist attractions and a splash of Mediterranean flavor. From feisty fiddle music to Irish comfort foods and other merrymaking, the bridges downtown complete the historic appeal. You can't leave without touring the retail shops in the downtown. In Dublin, there's a strong belief that good deeds come back to you manifold; so when you're here, expect a wave of pleasantries and consider yourself fortunate.

Gig Harbor, Washington

At the turn of the century, this sleepy village along the friendly waters of the Puget Sound turned into a vibrant town that celebrates the local culture of fishermen and sailors. With trendy chain stores, upscale restaurants, and a booming tourism industry, mingling is the name of the game here. The stylish small-town getaway welcomes thousands. From gallery walks on the first Saturday of the month to regular theater productions, Smithsonian magazine also called it the country's fifth-best small town, noting the restaurants for gourmet fare and Washington State wines.

From open-air movie nights to chowder competitions and farmers' markets, don't be surprised if locals strike up conversations at the grocery store, and you can always depend on a helping hand around town. There's always a reason to hang out and make friends, to experience Gig Harbor's unwavering town pride, or to spend a weekend when the city life has worn you down. Just 14 miles from Tacoma, Gig Harbor makes it easy to visit your new friends on a day trip, where the waterfront will take the last of your worries away with endless views and chirpy schooners.

Hammondsport, New York

Humble as a hummingbird, this charming town at the base of the Kayuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region is happy to greet visitors, particularly the boat-loving ones! Aviation fans also seek out the little town, which is home to the Curtiss Museum dedicated to the pioneer pilot who also designed and manufactured motorcycles, Glenn H. Curtiss. Born here in 1878, he worked alongside Alexander Graham Bell in Hammondsport on the early development of aircrafts and seaplanes. Visit the museum for his legacy and a full-size replica of the first naval aircraft, and take to the skies in a seaplane over the lake in his honor! The sweet village from above and the distinct Y-shaped, 20-mile-long lake will forever imprint on your mind's eye.

Depot Park offers Hammondsport's free "dock and dine" and "stay and shop," two minutes from Pulteney Square with boutique shops and dining. There's also a designated swimming area at Depot Park, and it's just 0.1 mile to Champlin Beach! Home to some 1,000 residents, Hammondsport is even smaller than you think, being a village within the town of Urbana. Under one kilometer in area and packed with attractions, it is easy to meet locals, friendly as hummingbirds. Get to know the other side of the poised New York coin in the heart of Finger Lakes wine country, where the laid-back atmosphere prevails with local wineries and gourmet cuisine.

Key West, Florida

Are you after the Floridian sun but not the snobbiness of living basically in a vacationland? For a unique change of pace from the city and a one-of-a-kind brand of comedy, there's no better than this, the southernmost city in the continental United States. With traditional southern hospitality and a Floridian atmosphere mellowed down by tropical vibes, a firm Floridian handshake comes traditionally with a delicious key lime pie offering in the other!

The locals living in the sedated beach sights are experts at being neighborly, making it difficult not to have a good time in Key West. Make the first stop at the tree-flanked historical Audubon House and Tropical Gardens from 1840 to really soak up the atmosphere. Seeking life away from the ordinary, Key West is home to friendly artists, visionaries, and authors, where even Ernest Hemingway long sought out escape and creative vibes. With tolerance and acceptance, you can lose yourself in easy-going pursuits along the streets, let the worries escape at sea, and even cut loose at a bar.

Provincetown, Massachusetts

This friendly town, with its sandy shore at the edge of the continent, some 60 miles out in the sea, is really something to rave about. With a feel of laidback luxury and celebrating diversity, Provincetown attracts people from all walks of life to the remote swatch of land with beautiful beaches around. The LGBTQ+-friendly atmosphere where everything goes is replete with restaurants, charming shops, and art galleries. You can join the open-minded culture, consistently ranked as one of the most friendly and dog-friendly towns, on a stroll along Commercial Street to enjoy art galleries, shops, and eateries with your pooch.

Plan an imminent visit to the First Light at year's end and come back in the summer for Race Point Beach and Herring Cove Beach. There's also whale spotting and cruises, with the Carnival in August and hitting the trail to the Long Point Lighthouse Trail even in the fall before Women's Week in October. With a rich and creative history as the oldest continuous art colony in the US, you can snatch a charming rental, a lavish guesthouse, or a boutique inn stay that welcomes you to equality and freedom of expression to the fullest.

Santa Claus, Indiana

Do you believe in Santa Claus? This 19th-century town will make you! First called Santa Fee, kind of like Santa Fe just 200 miles north, the residents picked a quirky name after getting a post office with an 1856 document commemorating the event at the town's museum. Likely chosen on Christmas Eve, with the other choice being Wittenbach, after a preacher, Santa Claus is home to 2,500 jolly residents, not counting the 10-foot Santa at the entrance. From strolls along the high street, Christmas Boulevard, the lakefront Christmas Lake Village is a residential area with streets named after the three wise men, Melchior, Balthazar, and Kaspar.

You can ride Prancer Drive and Vixen Lane or stroll down Chestnut by the Fire. The town soaked in Christmas spirit 365 days a year in the southwest corner of Indiana is otherwise classic Americana with a friendly midwestern vibe along Route 162. People come to embrace the Christmas season with cheer year-round and many traditions, like Christmas shops and the Holiday World with roller coasters—the cleanest amusement park in the world! The family-friendly destination is particularly magical right after Thanksgiving when Santa Claus receives wish lists from thousands of children around the world at its post office! Guess what? The friendly residents, Santa's elves, are more than happy volunteers to respond to every single letter!

Whitefish, Montana

Nestled along the picturesque shore of Whitefish Lake, this charming Flathead County town shines with friendly nature and avid outdoor-loving locals. Join the outdoorsy crowds on an escape from the city you won't forget. 

Don't be surprised if you get a personal invitation to return for skiing or perfect your boarding skills with a new friend! Next door at Glacier National Park, endless trails offer boundless exploration with scenic views and scenic spots. Often mentioned as one of the friendliest in the US, Whitefish boasts a lineup of shopping, dining, and performances at the professional theater with local cultural sights to keep everyone in your gang happy!

Hop over to Provincetown with your pooch, or hit up Santa Claus and his "Elves," who respond yearly to kids' letters from around the world, and you will see how good human nature really is. You can visit the once-sleepy fishing village of Bar Harbor or Provincetown, 60 miles off the continental coast, for a laidback getaway destination with a luxurious feel!