Destinations

11 Small Town Getaways We Love

Whether it’s for a day or a weekend, a respite from city living in major US cities is always appreciated. 
Tourists riding a trail at a dude ranch in Estes Park Colorado
Ed Freeman/Getty

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Sometimes, you’ve just got to get away. Whether it’s for a day or a long weekend, a trip out of town can be just the reset button you need before returning to work on Monday, refreshed and ready to hit the ground running. For every big, bustling city though, there’s a small town perfect for a respite not too far away—as long as you know where to look. In just a couple hours by car, it’s easy to feel completely transported and away from it all, without having to think about flights or that big-city pace you're used to. 

Below, we cover the best small town escapes from major American cities—whether you’re looking to eat well in wine country, stick your feet in the sand, or never leave your bed and breakfast. 

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Just a couple hours from New York you'll find seafood shacks and breezy dunes in Amangansett. 

Dawn Bauer/Getty

Amangansett, New York

Two hours from New York City

Between cramped apartments and honking taxis in the street, getting out of New York for a day or two is always a welcome relief. Luckily, the Hamptons are only a two-hour drive from Manhattan and promise all the space, greenery, and soothing ocean views you could hope for. Our favorite destination is Amagansett, which has a nice balance of beaches and seafood shacks, with rustic farm stands and a picturesque Main Street. 

Hamptons
Its reputation may be posh, but anyone can enjoy this seaside getaway just outside the city.

Plus, with great boutiques like TIINA the Store, beloved restaurants such as Hampton Chutney Co. and Wölffer Kitchen, and the breezy dunes at Indian Wells Beach (a great spot for families), there's a little something for everyone. Nab an Airbnb in one of the quiet neighborhoods just off the main drag, or stay at a boutique hotel like The Huntting Inn.

The small town of Ojai has been an easy escape for stressed-out Angelenos for decades—it's just 1.5 hours from Hollywood. 

Getty

Ojai Valley, California

One and a half hours from Los Angeles

Just ninety minutes up the coast from Hollywood and surrounded by Santa Ynez Mountains and the Los Padres National Forrest, the small town of Ojai has been a respite for stressed-out Angelenos for decades. The go-to stay is the Ojai Valley Inn, where updates to some of the historic rooms have further improved the already immaculate hotel. There’s also the Farmhouse, the Inn’s culinary center, which features regular dinners from guest chefs like Nancy Silverton and Christopher Kostow, as well as cooking classes. Or, keep busy with one of the many on-site activities—golf, tennis, and yoga are regularly available. 

Get out of Houston and head to Round Top, Texas, for a weekend of antiques shopping. 

JJ Walters/Alamy

Round Top, Texas

One and a half hours from Houston

For those living in Houston, the sprawling country town of Round Top is always worth the drive. While the legendary antiques market, The Round Top Antiques Fair, draws tastemakers from across the world twice annually, the town is full of vintage and antiques dealers year-round, selling everything from rugs to armoires and cupboards. In the off season, the stores and stalls are a little easier to wander through sans-crowds—ideal during pandemic times. Some of our favorite spots to shop include Antiques on the Square and Bill Moore Antiques for more traditional, American-style designs; Bader Ranch offers a distinctly more European collection of treasures. The Frenchie Hotel and the Round Top Inn are two great spots for unpacking your haul, and grabbing a bite after a long day of retail therapy.

Find wellness and wine in Calistoga, a lesser-known alternative to Napa under two hours from San Francisco. 

Alamy

Calistoga, California

One and a half hours from San Francisco

While Napa may be the poster child for wine country, further north is the lesser-known gem of Calistoga. The town is built of Western-style buildings, all given new life thanks small-batch vintners. Castello di Amorosa is a great vineyard to visit, as the wine varietals cross a range of different palettes, and the gorgeous grounds are home to a medieval castle that hosts tours and tastings well-worth the splurge (go for the dinner and wine pairing, $125). 

Wellness is also very popular in Calistoga, thanks to the area's hot springs. Get a taste of all of the above with a stay at Solage, an Auberge Resort and Spa, or book an artist cottage at the Mount View Hotel and Spa right in the center of town (then, grab a meal at their restaurant Veraison, where the entire menu, from game hen to pasta courses, is built to pair with the region’s wines).

Things move slower in Rehobeth Beach, just outside of Washington, DC

Joe Benning/Alamy

Rehobeth Beach, Delaware

One hour from Washington, DC

Due east from the capital, quiet Rehoboth Beach in Delaware welcomes those looking to get out of Washington, DC. It won’t take long to see why locals call it Slower Lower Delaware, either—relaxation is a way of life in these parts. After hitting the beach, take it easy at Big Fish Grill, where you can count on the freshest catch from the bay, or hit the boardwalk, a popular stop for families thanks to plenty of games and great food (don't miss salt and vinegar fries at Thrasher’s, nor the Kohr Brothers frozen custard stands). Whatever you do, make sure to sip a few locally-sourced brews from the Dogfish Head Brewery, Delaware's greatest contribution to the beer world.

On the shores of Lake Michigan, Saugatuck promises great food and wine, plus regular art installations and theater performances. 

Getty

Saugatuck, Michigan

Two hours from Chicago

Leave Chicago heading northeast up the coast of Lake Michigan, cross the state line and you'll hit Saugatuck. Many come to boat and lounge around the lake’s sandy dunes, but the quaint town also has plenty more on offer: Hit up great local eateries like Vicki’s Family Diner, and chef Melissa Corey's Pennyroyal Cafe & Provision (don't miss the Michigan-focused wine list). Or, tap into the local art scene at the Discovery Art Center, and the Center for the Arts's garden and sculptures display. Time your visit right to catch outdoor shows and theater performances also put on by the center.

Less than two hours from Atlanta, Suches is a different kind of busy—with hiking, camping, rafting, and birdwatching all on offer. 

Ryan Nelson/Alamy

Suches, Georgia

One and a half hours from Atlanta

A brief drive north of Atlanta, this small community is colloquially called the “Valley Above the Clouds” for its scenic views of the Chattahoochee National Forrest. But Suches also has plenty to keep you busy, from hiking and camping along this southernmost stretch of the Appalachian Trail, to birdwatching, fishing, and rafting on the nearby Toccoa River. While small inns and B&B’s are available—we love the rustic setting of the Long Mountain Lodge and the pop-up, modernist Getaway cabins in the area—the town is perfectly situated for anyone looking to shake up life in the city with a weekend under the stars. Bootleggers Grille, just off the trailhead a short walk north of the town, is also a great place to restock any supplies to bring back to camp, as well as get a home-cooked meal.

A weekend in Estes Park, Colorado, means days spent in Rocky Mountain National Park, and evenings at restaurants with locally sourced ingredients. 

Ed Freeman/Getty

Estes Park, Colorado

One and a half hours northwest of Denver

Getting out of the city and into nature is a lot easier near some of the national parks in the west. Not too far outside of Denver, Estes Park buttresses Rocky Mountain National Park, and has a few small boutique hotels well worth checking out. The town is perfectly suited for a night or two while embarking into the park during the day to explore. After you kick your hiking boots off, Estes Park has a charming museum describing pioneer life, plenty of locavore restaurants, like Bird and Jim, and incredible views of the surrounding mountains and rivers. 

City dwellers from Boston and even New York City head to Martha's Vineyard come summer for a cool ocean breeze and upscale home rentals. 

John Piekos/Getty

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Three hours from Boston

Sure, it can be a haul to get all the way out to Martha’s Vineyard, but you’ll be happy you did. Crosswinds and grassy lawns keeps the climate a bit cooler in the blistering summer months, so it’s no wonder it regularly attracts people from Boston and New York looking to get out of town for a while. The thriving summer rental scene has pushed past hotels, meaning you better start searching on Airbnb and be willing to act early to score the best deal on a house targeted to upscale clientele.

Quaint New Hope is a popular day trip for families from nearby Philly. 

Jim Bogosian/Alamy

New Hope, Pennsylvania

An hour north of Philadelphia

Just a short drive from the city of brotherly love is the small hamlet of New Hope. This quaint town is perfect for families and a day out in the suburban setting. There’s a children’s museum, a historic railway station of old trains, a regional theater, and a budding arts scene with galleries and exhibitions from The LAA Art Collective, and New Hope Arts. The town is also on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, and the Delaware Canal is a protected state park to worth carving out time for a hike in. 

Connect with nature and take in the scenic views of Blackberry Mountain in Walland, Tennessee.

Jerry & Barb Jividen/Getty

Walland, Tennessee

Three hours east of Nashville

A contrast to the nonstop drinking and partying that brings many to Nashville in the first place, it’s worth taking an extended car trip a few hours east to Walland, in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. Here, you can connect with nature and take in the scenic views of Blackberry Mountain looking over the valley. The small town is also home to one of the most lauded resorts in the whole country: Blackberry Farm. The site offers everything from skeet shooting to spa treatments, and standout farm-to-table dining. If you get a little antsy in nature, just go another half-hour north to Knoxville for more of a city atmosphere.