Known for picturesque coastlines, it’s no surprise this Maine town, boasting the internationally acclaimed Acadia National Park topped the list of America’s best small towns to visit in 2025! Soon, the nearby The Asticou Hotel will open following a $28 million renovation, bringing another top-tier hospitality experience to the region.
Bar Harbor, Maine named ‘America’s best small town to visit in 2025’
Bar Harbor Maine, equally famous for its nature and coastline as it is for its lobster rolls, ranked number one on the U.S. News report of the “Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA for 2025.”
“With charming bed-and-breakfasts and a quaint downtown lined with shops and art galleries, Bar Harbor is small-town Maine at its finest. Join a boat tour, history tour or culinary tour to get acquainted with this New England coastal retreat, or stroll along the scenic Shore Path at your own pace. What’s more, the town is a gateway to Maine’s top attraction, Acadia National Park, where visitors can hike, bike, kayak and explore tide pools. Travelers should come hungry: Lobstering is still an important contributor to Bar Harbor’s economy, which means local restaurants feature fresh lobster and other seafood on their menus,” notes U.S. News.
Best small towns in America
It’s a big year for Maine, which secured two towns among the top ten on the list. According to U.S. News, these are the top ten small towns in America to visit this year:
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Telluride, Colorado
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Steamboat Springs, Colorado
- Sedona, Arizona
- Monterey, California
- Taos, New Mexico
- Camden, Maine
- Breckenridge, Colorado
- Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket ranked at number 10, meaning 30% of the top ten best small towns to visit in America this year are in New England! Not far behind are Stowe, Vermont at number 14 and Martha’s Vineyard at number 23.