USA TODAY 10Best
Step right up: 10 best walkable cities for tourists in the US
Most Walkable City to Visit (2024)
Visiting a walkable city in the United States offers a lot of benefits for travelers who want to explore different attractions, enjoy the local culture, stay healthy, and especially save some money. Not to mention, you'll be doing the environment a favor by reducing your carbon footprint.
These 10 cities — selected by a panel of travel experts and voted by readers as the best for their walkability during a visit — offer lots of things to do, places to eat, and places to stay, and it's all connected by pedestrian-friendly streets.
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- New York City, New York
- Chicago, Illinois
- Boston, Massachusetts
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Key West, Florida
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Photo courtesy of Explore St. Louis
No. 10:
If you’re looking for the most walkable part of St. Louis, look no further than its bustling city center. Downtown St. Louis has very walkable streets and numerous small parks, in addition to plenty of entertainment and dining options. It's also easy to explore the grounds around The Gateway Arch on foot.
Photo courtesy of Chattanooga Tourism Co.
No. 9:
Sitting along the banks of the Tennessee River, Chattanooga welcomes visitors to explore its downtown area without their cars. Highlights include the Tennessee Aquarium, the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge, and shopping the many local stores and boutiques.
Photo courtesy of deberarr // Getty Images
No. 8:
New York City is one of the ultimate walkable cities. It has plentiful public transportation, but many visitors prefer to explore the city on foot. In fact, several of the city’s landmarks are within easy walking distance from the others, and all five boroughs of the city are walkable.
Photo courtesy of Alice Achterhof
No. 7:
Chicago is easy to navigate on foot and that’s especially true for its downtown area. Many other parts of the city have sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly designs, too. Some of the best walkable areas include East Ukrainian Village, West Loop, Lincoln Park, Noble Square and Oak Park. The Chicago Lakefront Trail is an especially popular walking trail with great views.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Klein
No. 6:
Boston is a walking city that’s fun to explore on foot. Beacon Hill, the neighborhood where the real Cheers (the bar that inspired the eponymous TV series) is located, is easily enjoyed by pedestrians. Other walkable parts of the city for visitors to explore include the North End, Back Bay, and Harvard Square.
Photo courtesy of Art Wager // Getty Images
No. 5:
Nestled on the Mississippi River, New Orleans is a charming city to see on foot. In addition to Mardi Gras festivities, it's known for its nightlife, fascinating history, delectable cuisine, and live music scene. Neighborhoods that are most welcoming of pedestrians include the downtown area, French Quarter, Central Business District, Irish Channel, and Garden District.
Photo courtesy of FloridasHistoricCoast.com
No. 4:
The pedestrian-friendly streets of St. Augustine have a European feel, with many neighborhoods chock-full of easy-to-reach restaurants, entertainment options, and shops — whether you're staying uptown or by the beach. Trolleys are a popular mode of transportation for longer distances.
Photo courtesy of Lisa-Blue / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 3:
You can cover a lot of ground in Key West while walking, from shopping along Duval Street to touring The Hemingway Home and Museum to sampling the city's iconic Key lime pie at a number of many fantastic eateries.
Photo courtesy of N.Millard/GoProvidence.com
No. 2:
During your visit to Providence, enjoy a stroll along the river and snap a photo by the pedestrian bridge, shop along the city's cobblestone streets, and check out all the murals and public art on display throughout downtown.
Photo courtesy of Dan Knoll for Visit Philadelphia
No. 1:
Philadelphia is beloved for its cultural and historical attractions, and its walkability is appreciated by residents and visitors. Tourists would likely most enjoy strolling Center City — home to the historic Old City and gorgeous Rittenhouse Square neighborhoods.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Allison Tibaldi
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based... Read More
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education. She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
Allison Tibaldi
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education. She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
Cheryl Rodewig
Cheryl Rodewig is an award-winning journalist... Read More
Cheryl Rodewig is an award-winning journalist specializing in travel. When she’s not planning her next trip — preferably to a waterfall or garden — she’s putting her MBA to use crafting marketing stories for brands. You can read her words in Thrillist, AARP, USA Today, Insider, The Guardian, and all over cherylrodewig.com. She loves it when people reach out on Twitter and sometimes Instagram.
Cheryl Rodewig
Cheryl Rodewig is an award-winning journalist specializing in travel. When she’s not planning her next trip — preferably to a waterfall or garden — she’s putting her MBA to use crafting marketing stories for brands. You can read her words in Thrillist, AARP, USA Today, Insider, The Guardian, and all over cherylrodewig.com. She loves it when people reach out on Twitter and sometimes Instagram.
Imani Bashir
Imani Bashir is a travel journalist who has lived... Read More
Imani Bashir is a travel journalist who has lived in five countries across four continents. Her work has been in major magazines and focuses on destinations, culture, family, and accommodations.
Imani Bashir
Imani Bashir is a travel journalist who has lived in five countries across four continents. Her work has been in major magazines and focuses on destinations, culture, family, and accommodations.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She... Read More
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She was born with deeply ingrained wanderlust and has visited 45 countries and counting. She often brings her children along for the adventure and is passing her love of travel on to the next generation. Jamie has written for Insider, Fodor's Travel, Yahoo, the Huffington Post, the Washington Post, Viator and Reviewed among many other publications. Jamie is from Philadelphia and now lives in Washington, DC, where she takes advantage of everything the region has to offer. Jamie can be reached at [email protected] and can be found on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She was born with deeply ingrained wanderlust and has visited 45 countries and counting. She often brings her children along for the adventure and is passing her love of travel on to the next generation. Jamie has written for Insider, Fodor's Travel, Yahoo, the Huffington Post, the Washington Post, Viator and Reviewed among many other publications. Jamie is from Philadelphia and now lives in Washington, DC, where she takes advantage of everything the region has to offer. Jamie can be reached at [email protected] and can be found on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Larissa Milne
Larissa Milne has been traveling the world... Read More
Larissa Milne has been traveling the world full-time with her husband Michael since 2011 in search of historic and quirky spots around the world and to date has visited nearly 80 countries and all 50 states. She's passionate about food and can often be found seeking out local flavors at a destination--whether it's a fancy restaurant, local market or the best hot dog stand. Learn more about the Milnes' global adventures on their award-winning travel blog, Changes In Longitude and their recommendations on Arizona at Arizona Journey.
Larissa Milne
Larissa Milne has been traveling the world full-time with her husband Michael since 2011 in search of historic and quirky spots around the world and to date has visited nearly 80 countries and all 50 states. She's passionate about food and can often be found seeking out local flavors at a destination--whether it's a fancy restaurant, local market or the best hot dog stand. Learn more about the Milnes' global adventures on their award-winning travel blog, Changes In Longitude and their recommendations on Arizona at Arizona Journey.
Melissa Curtin
Melisa Curtin is a travel and food writer who has... Read More
Melisa Curtin is a travel and food writer who has documented her globetrotting adventures for over a decade. A Connecticut girl madly in love with California, her work has appeared in Lonely Planet, LA Weekly, Canadian Traveler, AAA, Roadtrippers, JohnnyJet, Travel Awaits, and many southern California print publications. Melissa is always on the hunt for the best local bites and destinations with few tourists, splitting her non-travel time between Malibu and Palm Springs with her husband and ever-growing collection of plants. Traveling around the world at age 20 on Semester at Sea sparked Melissa's desire for learning about other cultures. As a 20+ year educator and new travel advisor with Fora, she inspires others to reach their goals and pursue their travel dreams. Some of her recent favorite jaunts include a Viking river cruise from Paris to Normandy with her mom, truffle hunting in Tuscany, and eating her way through Florence. Get to know the Best of L.A. and California by checking out her website LaLaScoop.com or following the @lalascoop on Instagram.
Melissa Curtin
Melisa Curtin is a travel and food writer who has documented her globetrotting adventures for over a decade. A Connecticut girl madly in love with California, her work has appeared in Lonely Planet, LA Weekly, Canadian Traveler, AAA, Roadtrippers, JohnnyJet, Travel Awaits, and many southern California print publications. Melissa is always on the hunt for the best local bites and destinations with few tourists, splitting her non-travel time between Malibu and Palm Springs with her husband and ever-growing collection of plants. Traveling around the world at age 20 on Semester at Sea sparked Melissa's desire for learning about other cultures. As a 20+ year educator and new travel advisor with Fora, she inspires others to reach their goals and pursue their travel dreams. Some of her recent favorite jaunts include a Viking river cruise from Paris to Normandy with her mom, truffle hunting in Tuscany, and eating her way through Florence. Get to know the Best of L.A. and California by checking out her website LaLaScoop.com or following the @lalascoop on Instagram.
Melissa Locker
Melissa Locker is a freelance travel, lifestyle,... Read More
Melissa Locker is a freelance travel, lifestyle, and culture writer and world-renowned fish telepathist. You can learn more about Melissa at melissalocker.com and connect on Instagram and Twitter via @woolyknickers.
Melissa Locker
Melissa Locker is a freelance travel, lifestyle, and culture writer and world-renowned fish telepathist. You can learn more about Melissa at melissalocker.com and connect on Instagram and Twitter via @woolyknickers.
Skye Rodgers
Skye Rodgers is a seasoned travel writer who fell... Read More
Skye Rodgers is a seasoned travel writer who fell in love with Tampa, Florida over a decade ago and has since made it her home base. Originally from Canada, Skye traded snowy winters for sunny beaches and now enjoys sharing her adventures with readers worldwide. Whether she's uncovering hidden gems in Tampa Bay or jetting off to exotic destinations, Skye's passion for exploration shines through in her engaging travel narratives. Follow her journeys and discover the best of Tampa and beyond on her Facebook page @BestofTampa.
Skye Rodgers
Skye Rodgers is a seasoned travel writer who fell in love with Tampa, Florida over a decade ago and has since made it her home base. Originally from Canada, Skye traded snowy winters for sunny beaches and now enjoys sharing her adventures with readers worldwide. Whether she's uncovering hidden gems in Tampa Bay or jetting off to exotic destinations, Skye's passion for exploration shines through in her engaging travel narratives. Follow her journeys and discover the best of Tampa and beyond on her Facebook page @BestofTampa.
Wendy O'Dea
Born and raised in western New York, Wendy O'Dea... Read More
Born and raised in western New York, Wendy O'Dea moved to L.A. to attend the USC graduate School of Journalism and stayed for the innovative and creative lifestyle the city offers. Other than the traffic, there's not much about California she doesn't love. You can track her gallivanting ways on Instagram via @WendyTravels .
Wendy O'Dea
Born and raised in western New York, Wendy O'Dea moved to L.A. to attend the USC graduate School of Journalism and stayed for the innovative and creative lifestyle the city offers. Other than the traffic, there's not much about California she doesn't love. You can track her gallivanting ways on Instagram via @WendyTravels .
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
