Top 100 Best Main Streets in the U.S. to Walk [2025 Survey]

When it comes to wellness, we often think in terms of step counts, workout classes, or fitness apps. But what if the secret to feeling better is hiding in plain sight—right on your town’s Main Street? Our recent survey of 3,000+ Americans revealed the most walkable and “feel-good” streets in the country.

And once we dug into the full list, a few patterns stood out.

The below ranking shows the top 100 main streets in smaller towns across America for wellness walks.

1

Main Street

Main Street, Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid’s Main Street runs like a ribbon beside Mirror Lake, reflecting the mountains and inviting walkers to slow down and take it in. There’s a soft grade to the street, enough to warm your legs, especially if you’re coming off a chilly morning. You might see Olympic athletes training, or just locals sipping hot drinks on a bench with a view of the peaks. Whether it’s winter lights or summer wildflowers, this street makes wellness feel natural—like something the landscape itself has always encouraged.

2

State Street

State Street, Santa Barbara, California

State Street is one of those rare places where a walk feels like a reward, not a task. You move from the buzz of downtown into beachy calm without even noticing the shift. The wide sidewalks are lined with palms and cooled by ocean air, and there’s always the scent of saltwater and orange blossoms in the mix. Shaded courtyards and quiet benches invite you to pause, sip a coffee, or people-watch under red-tile roofs. Whether it’s surfers heading to Stearns Wharf in the early morning or couples out for an evening stroll beneath twinkling lights, walking here always feels a little luxurious—and somehow good for you, too.

3

E Las Olas Boulevard

E Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

East Las Olas Boulevard feels more like a breeze than a street—lined with palms, flanked by fountains, and always touched by the scent of salt air and tropical blooms. The sidewalks are smooth and shaded, made for slow walking or long strides depending on your mood. You might spot a local sculptor setting up a new piece, or grab a cold coconut water from a juice stand. Morning light turns everything gold, and in the evening, the soft roar of the beach draws you east. It’s a flat, walkable stretch with enough beauty and movement to lift your mood—and enough stops along the way to keep you fueled and inspired.

4

Front Street

Front Street, Nome, Alaska

Front Street doesn’t feel like a sidewalk stroll—it feels like you’ve stepped into another world. The cold air wakes you up in the best way, and with the sea on one side and weathered wooden buildings on the other, it’s a walk that keeps your senses engaged. The flat terrain makes it easy for anyone to explore, and with nearly round-the-clock daylight in summer, folks tend to walk late and often. Even a slow stroll here clears your head fast. The horizon seems to stretch forever, and somehow, after just a few blocks, your lungs feel fuller and your mind a bit quieter.

5

Downtown Parkway

Downtown Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Walking Gatlinburg’s Downtown Parkway is a full-body sensory experience: sweet smells, bright colors, and the soundtrack of bluegrass, rushing water, and laughter. The terrain is flat and friendly, but the visual energy never lets up—from glassblowers and woodcarvers to mirror mazes and moonshine flights. It’s a mountain town, sure, but one that wears its carnival heart proudly. Every step offers something new, from old-world crafts to neon-lit fun, with the Smokies rising like a steady, grounding backdrop.

6

Main Street

Main Street, Sag Harbor, New York

Sag Harbor’s Main Street doesn’t pretend. It’s elegant but grounded, historic but lived-in. The harbor breeze keeps things moving, and the slope to the water offers just enough pull to get the blood flowing. You’ll pass clapboard buildings with centuries behind them, and bookshops that still carry Steinbeck in the window. There’s clam chowder cooking and kids skipping stones just beyond the last café. It’s not just a walk—it’s a moment in the story of a place that hasn’t lost touch with its roots.

7

Main Street

Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor’s Main Street gives you that deep-breath feeling from the very start. The ocean’s never far, and the breeze smells of salt and pine and maybe blueberry tarts if you’re lucky. You’ll start walking downhill toward Frenchman Bay, which makes for a relaxed beginning—just enough to wake up the legs. Coming back up offers a little extra movement, but the scenery makes it feel effortless. Victorian storefronts, lobster rolls on the patio, and the call of gulls overhead—it’s a walk that feels like a reward in itself, especially when the fog lifts and the harbor appears, clear and still.

8

King Street

King Street, Charleston, South Carolina

King Street in Charleston walks like a Southern novel—layered, lyrical, and rich with detail. Every few steps, sweetgrass baskets meet haute couture, and garden gates open into shaded courtyards humming with conversation. The terrain is easy, but the culture is deep. You walk to eat, to admire, to pause—and somehow, it always feels like the right pace.

9

Broadway Street

Broadway Street, Skagway, Alaska

Walking down Broadway Street in Skagway is like slipping into a living postcard. The wooden sidewalks creak a little underfoot, the buildings look straight out of a Gold Rush film set—and that’s exactly the point. There’s a steady uphill stretch that’ll raise your heart rate just enough, but the cool breeze off the mountains makes it easy to keep going. Between stops at locally-owned shops, you’ll hear stories from friendly historians and catch the scent of fresh-baked pastries or piney spruce-tip beer. It’s the kind of walk where you’re not just getting exercise—you’re walking through history, and that’s something you can feel in your bones.

10

S Main Street

S Main Street, Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge’s Main Street walks like a workout and unwinds like a vacation. At nearly 10,000 feet, you’ll definitely feel the elevation—but it’s the kind of healthy challenge that leaves you refreshed, not worn out. The buildings, painted in old-fashioned shades of alpine blue and burgundy, keep things interesting as you wander. There’s always a breeze coming off the Blue River and usually the faint smell of pine or fresh snow, depending on the season. Locals amble along slowly, hot drinks in hand, and it’s easy to fall into that rhythm. The altitude gives your heart a boost, the scenery clears your head, and somehow a simple walk turns into the highlight of your day.

Ranking	Street	City	State
1	Main Street	Lake Placid	New York
2	State Street	Santa Barbara	California
3	E Las Olas Boulevard	Fort Lauderdale	Florida
4	Front Street	Nome	Alaska
5	Downtown Parkway	Gatlinburg	Tennessee
6	Main Street	Sag Harbor	New York
7	Main Street	Bar Harbor	Maine
8	King Street	Charleston	South Carolina
9	Broadway Street	Skagway	Alaska
10	S Main Street	Breckenridge	Colorado
11	S Main Street	Greenville	South Carolina
12	Main Street	Dahlonega	Georgia
13	Main Street	Montpelier	Vermont
14	Maine Street	Brunswick	Maine
15	Main Street	Lake Geneva	Wisconsin
16	Main Street	Franklin	Tennessee
17	Main Street	Park City	Utah
18	Main Street	New Iberia	Louisiana
19	Main Street	St. Charles	Missouri
20	Main Street	New Hope	Pennsylvania
21	Main Street	Grapevine	Texas
22	Main Street	Bozeman	Montana
23	Broadway Avenue	Jackson	Wyoming
24	Main Street	Frisco	Colorado
25	Shenandoah Street	Harpers Ferry	West Virginia
26	Historic 25th Street	Ogden	Utah
27	Main Street	Concord	Massachusetts
28	Main Street	Shelbyville	Kentucky
29	Broad Street	Red Bank	New Jersey
30	Ryan Street	Lake Charles	Louisiana
31	Main Street	Stockbridge	Massachusetts
32	Main Street	Vergennes	Vermont
33	Main Street	Deadwood	South Dakota
34	Broadway Street	Jim Thorpe	Pennsylvania
35	E Main Street	Blue Ridge	Georgia
36	W Main Street	Tupelo	Mississippi
37	Third Street	McMinnville	Oregon
38	Main Street	Natchez	Mississippi
39	Main Street	Walla Walla	Washington
40	Main Street	Blowing Rock	North Carolina
41	Water Street	Port Townsend	Washington
42	Central Avenue	Dover	New Hampshire
43	E Main Street	Lititz	Pennsylvania
44	University Boulevard	Tuscaloosa	Alabama
45	Government Street	Ocean Springs	Mississippi
46	Market Street	Frederick	Maryland
47	Main Street	Bisbee	Arizona
48	W Main Street	Rapid City	South Dakota
49	Main Street	Homer	Alaska
50	Spring Street	Eureka Springs	Arkansas
51	S Main Street	Frankenmuth	Michigan
52	W Washington Street	Marquette	Michigan
53	King Street	Alexandria	Virginia
54	Main Street	Chatham	Massachusetts
55	Main Street	St. Charles	Illinois
56	Xenia Avenue	Yellow Springs	Ohio
57	Main Street	Keene	New Hampshire
58	Main Street	Essex	Connecticut
59	E Main Street	El Dorado	Arkansas
60	Main Street	Kent	Connecticut
61	Main Street	Lambertville	New Jersey
62	Sherman Avenue	Coeur d'Alene	Idaho
63	Main Street	Wickford Village	Rhode Island
64	Front Street	Beaufort	North Carolina
65	Main Street	Charlottesville	Virginia
66	Dauphin Street	Mobile	Alabama
67	N Main Street	Cedar City	Utah
68	N Bishop Avenue	Bishop Arts	Texas
69	Main Street	Galena	Illinois
70	Main Street	Ashland	Oregon
71	Massachusetts Street	Lawrence	Kansas
72	Main Street	Boonville	Missouri
73	Main Street	Red Wing	Minnesota
74	Main Street	Broken Arrow	Oklahoma
75	Delaware Street	New Castle	Delaware
76	Main Street	Madison	Indiana
77	Main Street	Danville	Kentucky
78	Rehoboth Avenue	Rehoboth Beach	Delaware
79	State Street	Geneva	Illinois
80	Main Street	Ketchum	Idaho
81	Main Street	Plattsmouth	Nebraska
82	Main Street	Grinnell	Iowa
83	Washington Avenue	Cedarburg	Wisconsin
84	Sheridan Street	Ely	Minnesota
85	Main Street	Sarasota	Florida
86	Main Street	Berlin	Maryland
87	Broadway Street	Philipsburg	Montana
88	Main Street	Elkader	Iowa
89	Main Street	Ottawa	Kansas
90	W Main Street	Abingdon	Virginia
91	Main Street	Jerome	Arizona
92	Ocean Avenue	Carmel-by-the-Sea	California
93	Main Street	Logansport	Indiana
94	Main Street	Chadron	Nebraska
95	Columbus Avenue	Sandusky	Ohio
96	Main Street	Stillwater	Oklahoma
97	Main Street	East Greenwich	Rhode Island
98	Main Avenue	Truth or Consequences	New Mexico
99	1st Street	Raton	New Mexico
100	Main Street	Buffalo	Wyoming

Methodology: Online panel survey of 3,007 respondents based on age, gender, and geography. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting. June 2025.

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Key Findings

The word “Main” really means something

For over half the list, most walkable streets are literally named “Main Street”—a testament to the enduring charm and centrality of these hubs. Whether it’s Wickford Village in Rhode Island or Deadwood, South Dakota, “Main Street” still signals community, character, and foot traffic.

Northeast nostalgia is strong

New England streets are over-indexed in the rankings. Massachusetts alone claims four spots (Chatham, Concord, Stockbridge, and the surprising dark horse, Main Street in tiny Shelbyville), while Vermont, Connecticut, and New Hampshire each have multiple entries.

Turns out, cobblestones and clapboard still tug on the heartstrings – and the hamstrings.

Alaska quietly dominates

Not one but three Alaskan streets made the top 50: Nome, Skagway, and Homer. That’s more per capita than any other state.

While Alaska may not be the first place you think of for strolls, locals clearly value walks that come with a sea breeze and a backdrop of mountains and memories.

Walkability isn’t just about the coast

While beach towns like Santa Barbara and Fort Lauderdale made the top 10, so did inland gems like Dahlonega, Georgia, and Bozeman, Montana.

People love to walk where there’s character, not just coastline.

South of the Mason-Dixon, hospitality leads the way

Streets in South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee scored high, not for urban walkability, but for warmth, street life, and sensory overload.

Gatlinburg’s Parkway and Charleston’s King Street both turned walking into something soulful, social, and slightly slow—and people love them for it.

Elevation doesn’t deter – it motivates

High-altitude towns like Breckenridge, CO, and Park City, UT, still ranked highly, despite the physical challenge.

In fact, that slight exertion seems to add to the wellness factor. If the air’s fresh and the view’s good, a bit of incline isn’t a dealbreaker—it’s a feature.

More than half the streets listed feature water

Whether it’s lakefront (Lake Placid, NY), riverside (Eureka Springs, AR), ocean-adjacent (Bar Harbor, ME), or harbor-based (Sag Harbor, NY), there’s something about walking near water that clearly boosts appeal.

It’s not just scenic—it’s calming, grounding, and good for your pace.

Walkability feels local, not urban

Very few large cities made the list. The focus was on smaller towns and mid-sized communities, where you’re more likely to make eye contact with strangers or recognize your barista. It’s walkability as a human scale, not infrastructure.

Final Thoughts

This list isn’t just a collection of pretty towns—it’s a quiet argument for designing places where walking is natural, not forced.

Where exercise feels more like leisure, and wellness sneaks up on you between coffee stops and gallery windows.

If we want to encourage healthier lifestyles, maybe we need more tree-lined sidewalks with a bookstore at one end and a bakery at the other.

Methodology

Online panel survey of 3,007 respondents based on age, gender, and geography. Internal data sources are used to obtain population data sets. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting.

Respondents are carefully chosen from a geographically representative online panel of double opt-in members. This selection is further tailored to meet the precise criteria required for each unique survey. Throughout the survey, we design questions to carefully screen and authenticate respondents, guaranteeing the alignment of the survey with the ideal participants.

To ensure the integrity of our data collection, we employ an array of data quality methods. Alongside conventional measures like digital fingerprinting, bot checks, geo-verification, and speeding detection, etc. each response undergoes a thorough review by a dedicated team member to ensure quality and contextual accuracy. Our commitment extends to open-ended responses, subjecting them to scrutiny for gibberish answers and plagiarism detection.