20 of America’s best small towns
Riding through the backwoods and blue highways of America, you’ll discover lots of great small towns to fill up the gas tank and fill up your soul. Here are 20 of the best:
1. Squashbuckle, Vermont
Home to the annual Golden Gourd festival, where townsfolk vie for the largest and most unusually shaped squashes.
Mayor Patty Green says: “Our Golden Gourds aren’t just squash, they’re a testament to Squashbuckle’s nurturing spirit!”
2. Chickendoodle, Georgia
Every Sunday, Main Street is overrun by free-range chickens in a scene straight out of a children’s doodle book.
Mayor Clive Henley proclaims: “In Chickendoodle, every day is an egg-stravaganza!”
3. Hayhair, Kansas
Locals claim the hay here is the softest, leading to a spike in farm-tourist naps and hence the name.
Mayor Hayley Strand invites: “Come lie in our hayfields, and you’ll understand why Hayhair’s the place for peace!”
4. Turnip Twaddle, Idaho
A town filled with folks who love to chat, especially about turnips. Their turnip soup recipe is the stuff of legend!
Mayor Timothy Root boasts: “Soup, pie, or just a chat – we turnip the charm in every way!”
5. MooMeadow, Wisconsin
Each summer, the meadows bloom, and the cows produce what locals boast is the sweetest milk around.
Mayor Daisy Udderfield declares: “Our cows give us the best milk because we give them the best meadows!”
6. PlowPuddle, Washington
Known for its unexpected rain showers, which lead to delightful mud puddles perfect for jumping.
Mayor Raina Waters says: “We’ve made splashing an art form. Come for the puddles, stay for the fun!”
7. Cackleberry, Iowa
Every breakfast cafe boasts a special “Cackleberry” egg dish. Morning gossip is called “Cackle Chatter.”
Mayor Egbert Shellby claims: “Our hens rule the roost, and our breakfasts rule the state!”
8. Sheepshank, Montana
Blankets made here are a hot commodity. Locals swear they can spot their own sheep’s wool in the weave.
Mayor Wolly Threadson shares: “You haven’t experienced coziness until you’ve spent a night under our starry Sheepshank skies.”
9. Hogsnort, Arkansas
Home to the state’s liveliest pig dance, where swine and humans swing and sway together.
Mayor Piggie Snuffle cheers: “Where pigs prance and folks dance, that’s Hogsnort for ya!”
10. CornCobble, Nebraska
The corn maze here is epic, and folks gather to swap corn recipes and tales at the Corny Cob Club.
Mayor Kernel Cobbins relates: “We’re more than just cornfields; we’re a community woven with golden threads!”
11. Duckwaddle, Oregon
The local duck parade, where the waterfowl waddle down Main Street, is a sight to behold.
Mayor Daphne Drake invites: “In Duckwaddle, every quack tells a story. We invite you to hear ours!”
12. CluckCliff, Maine
With steep cliffs echoing the clucks and crows of roosters, it’s a perch for poultry like no other.
Mayor Rocky Roost says: “High on cliffs and rich in history, CluckCliff is where heritage takes flight.”
13. Cowyawn, Texas
The cows here are so relaxed, they’ve been caught on camera yawning. Lazy day picnics are a local tradition.
Mayor Bessie Lull offers: “Big hearts, open fields, and cows that dream. That’s Cowyawn in a nutshell.”
14. SiloSigh, Indiana
With towering silos painted with local art, one can’t help but sigh at the beauty.
Mayor Arty Mural encourages: “In SiloSigh, we paint not just on canvases, but on the canvas of life.”
15. Pigglewiggle, Tennessee
Children’s bedtime stories here often feature the adventures of a playful pig named “Pigglewiggle.”
Mayor Piggly Wiggin smiles: “A wiggle, a jiggle, and a whole lot of joy – welcome to Pigglewiggle!”
16. BarnBumble, Ohio
Each barn in this town houses a different activity – from dances to dinners to DIY crafts. A bumbling adventure awaits at every door!
Mayor Barnaby Dance invites: “Every barn door in BarnBumble opens to a new adventure. Step in and see!”
17. GobbleGrove, Virginia
With turkey parades every fall, GobbleGrove celebrates its feathery friends with gusto.
Mayor Tom Gobbler enthuses: “Feathers, friends, and festivities – GobbleGrove’s Thanksgiving spirit lasts all year round.”
18. BaleBabble, North Dakota
Locals gather around hay bales for nightly chats, spinning tales taller than the bales themselves.
Mayor Haylie Stack shares: “In BaleBabble, we weave tales as easily as we stack bales!”
19. FurrowFumble, Illinois
Every spring, the townspeople hold a furrow-making competition; the wiggliest wins a prize. It’s all in good fun!
Mayor Fielding Furrow smiles: “Life’s a furrow, and sometimes we fumble. But in FurrowFumble, we always rise with a smile!”
20. TractorTumble, Alabama
A town with a love for vintage tractors, it hosts a unique downhill tractor race each year, though, luckily, most tractors stay upright!
Mayor Rusty Gear enthuses: “Vintage vibes and downhill drives, TractorTumble is where the past meets thrill!”
