The Best Mountain Towns to Stay In Within the US

The US is filled with TONS of different mountain ranges. Because of these mountain ranges, the US is lucky to have MANY different hiking trails, ski resorts, backcountry skiing, and more. Across the US, there are SEVERAL different mountain towns, and they’re not all in Colorado and Utah, contrary to popular belief. New York, yes the concrete jungle, has AMAZING mountain towns as well, which is what you’ll learn more of in this post.

I grew up in upstate New York, so I know A LOT of different east coast mountain towns, specifically in Vermont. However, I have done my fair share of traveling, a lot of it, being to the western US, so I do know and have been to a lot of these towns listed.

That being said, in this post, you will learn all about the best mountain towns within the US, mountains to visit in the USA, the best mountain towns to visit, the best mountain towns for young adults, the best mountain towns to raise a family, the best mountain towns to live, and more.

This post is all about the best mountain towns.

Best Mountain Towns:

Best Mountain Towns in Maine

To start off this list, I did want to start with the east coast, and the most northern east coast state, Maine. In this list, we will work our way down the east coast, then move onto the western and west coast US. Thus, if you want to skip ahead, you can do so, but otherwise we will start with the beautiful, cold, state of Maine.

Maine is home to the White, Appalachian, Longfellow, Mahoosuc, and the Western White Mountains. This makes Maine a great state for skiing and hiking. It is also home to the beautiful, Acadia National Park. This park is situated right on the coastline of Maine, with rugged shorelines and beautiful mountains along it, it’s really something special. There are a couple great mountains towns, that I recommend staying at or near if you wish to visit.

Bangor & Ellsworth & Acadia: are great towns about an hour away from Acadia National Park (Bangor about an hour, Ellsworth about 30 minutes, Acadia about 20 minutes from the park but very small town).
Lewiston: a great town, about an hour and a half from the gorgeous Tumbledown Mountain & Pond.
Millinocket & Lincoln: great towns for hiking, camping, etc. in Baxter State Park, Lincoln is a bigger city but farther away from the park (about an hour and a half).
Rangeley: about an hour from Tumbledown Mountain & Pond and close by Saddleback Ski Resort.
Carrabassett Valley or Waterville: about 10 minutes from Sugarloaf Ski Resort & Bigelow Range/Appalachian Mountains (Waterville about an hour away).
Eustis & Stratton: close by Maine’s high peaks.
Bethel: near the Mahoosuc Range and the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

{Related Article : The Best Ski Resorts in Maine & Hiking in Maine}

Best Mountain Towns in New Hampshire

Home to the INCREDIBLE White Mountains and the tallest peak in the east, Mount Washington (6,288ft tall), New Hampshire is such an underrated state. However, I think the locals want to keep it that way to avoid crowds. That being said, if you are a true hiker, who lives in the northeast, I’m sure you’ve already heard about New Hampshire and the epic White Mountains. Here are some great mountain towns in New Hampshire:

North Conway → I think this is one of the best mountain towns to raise a family, there is a good amount of people here and it has SO many outdoor activities nearby, like, Mount Washington, Bretton Woods & Attitash Ski Mountains are within an hour to two hours of all the White Mountain 48 high peaks.
Gorham → about 40 minutes from Sunday River Ski Resort, about 15 minutes from Wildcat Ski Area, and about 45 minutes from Cannon Ski Mountain, within an hour to two hours of all the White Mountain high peaks.

Best Mountain Towns in Vermont

Vermont, much like upstate New York, has a special place in my heart. It is home to the Green Mountains, apart of the Long Trail, which are all beautiful. Now, they are not as impressive as the Whites (apart from Mount Mansfield, Camel’s Hump, and their other 3 4,000fters) but they are just as peaceful and beautiful. However, SKIING in Vermont is awesome, and that’s much more what it’s known for.

Now, Vermont has one of my favorite cities, a main one being, Burlington! Burlington really is a GREAT mountain town and another one of the best mountain towns to raise a family. It’s got SO much near it, there’s a lot of shops, restaurants, breweries, I think it’s truly one of the best mountain towns in the US. Vermont is known for its multiple SMALL towns, so, Burlington is considered the biggest town in Vermont, even though, for many other US cities, Burlington, is still considered pretty small. With all that being said, here are some more great mountain towns in Vermont:

Burlington: the most central location in Vermont, if you are looking to do a lot of activities, it’s within 1-2 hours of MANY ski resorts and hikes.
Jay: is a VERY small ski town, but I HIGHLY recommend it for the skiing at, Jay Peak. You can stay at the resort, it’s really only the main place to stay, but the skiing IS that good, which is why I included Jay on this list.
Stowe: is also a great resort town, Stowe is another good mountain to ski at and it does offer a lot of summer activities as well.
Rutland/Killington: this is another great central location, Rutland and Killington are about 20 minutes away from each other and are super close to Killington, Pico, Okemo Ski Mountains, and some great hiking.
Woodstock: is one of the best mountain towns to visit, in my opinion, it’s truly what you think of when you think of a small town. It’s close to Quechee Falls, Killington, Pico, Okemo, and more hiking.

Best Mountain Towns in New York

Home to the rugged and majestic Adirondack Mountains, then further south the Catskill Mountains, New York is NOT just a concrete jungle. I grew up in upstate New York, so, I have done A LOT of hiking in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains. And I will say, if I had to choose, I would MUCH rather go to the Adirondacks than the Catskills, but if you live in southern New York (or the city/Long Island) and don’t want to travel as far, then the Catskills will be great.

But if you have the time, I HIGHLY recommend traveling to the Adirondack mountains they are SO MUCH more impressive and beautiful compared to the Catskills. They are also much harder hikes than the Catskills. So, if you want to challenge yourself, go to the Adirondacks. I will say, I really like some of the ski mountains in the Catskills, such as, Belleayre and Windham but still, my favorite ski mountain in New York is in the Adirondacks, Gore Mountain. Okay, without further ado, here are the best mountain towns in New York:

Lake Placid → in the HEART of the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid is the best mountain town to visit in New York and I would put it right up there with Burlington, however, Lake Placid has MUCH better hiking, whereas Burlington has MUCH BETTER skiing, specifically ski resorts. I think both Lake Placid and Burlington are some of the best mountain towns to live in. They are both small, but have everything you need, and if you love the outdoors, you will LOVE these towns. Lake Placid is super close to the Adk Lodge, Whiteface Ski Mountain, SO MANY High Peaks to hike, lakes, and more.
Keene/Keene Valley → Keene and Keene Valley are also great mountain towns, however, they are MUCH smaller than Lake Placid and will not have the everyday necessities (like a regular grocery store) that Lake Placid will have, but it’s still near SO MANY hikes. Keene/Keene Valley are only about 30 minutes from Lake Placid.
North Creek/Warrensburg → Gore Mountain is SUPER close to these towns, and is the main attraction of these towns, and hiking. Indian Lake (about 30 minutes away) has some great fire tower hikes. North Creek again, is a SMALL town, whereas Warrensburg will have more everyday necessities. Both are small towns, just Warrensburg (about 25 minutes from Gore) has a little more to it, but North Creek is much closer to Gore Mountain (about 3 minutes away).
Lake George → Lake George is a great boat, mountain town. If you own a boat or want to rent one, Lake George is a great lake to do so. However, I would NOT stay in the village, I would stay right on the lake, otherwise you won’t enjoy your stay. Also, it gets SUPER crowded on the lake from June to August, so if you don’t like crowds, I would suggest staying at another smaller lake in New York (or Saratoga Lake).
Woodstock & New Paltz→ Woodstock is a great town for the Catskill Mountains, and the ski areas, Bellearye & Windham to stay at. A lot of people like to hike Overlook Fire Tower, then go into Woodstock for lunch afterwards. Minnewaska State Park (good for hiking and biking) is about 20 minutes from New Paltz.
Beacon → Beacon is also a great town for the Catskill Mountains and is only about an hour and a half from NYC, so it’s a great day trip to take, especially to Mount Beacon Fire Tower. Bear Mountain and part of the Appalachian Trail is close by.

{Related Posts: Best Ski Resorts in New York, Vermont & New Hampshire}

Best Mountain Towns in Virginia & West Virginia

Virginia is home to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. West Virginia is also a beautiful state surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains that holds the majestic, Grayson Highlands (wild horses you can feed), Dolly Sods, and part of the Appalachian Trail. Here are the best mountain towns in Virginia and West Virginia:

Roanoke, VA: is surrounded by the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains, so it offers a TON of hiking.
Harrisonburg & Luray, VA: both great towns to stay at if visiting Shenandoah National Park, both are under 40 minutes away.
Charlottesville, VA: about 45 minutes from Shenandoah National Park.
Damascus: lots of hiking and beautiful bike paths nearby.
Big Stone Cap: beautiful drives overlooking the Appalachian Mountains and hiking.
Galax, VA & Elkin, NC: both these towns are great places to stay at if you are interested in seeing the Grayson Highlands.
Berkeley Springs: in West Virginia, near Cacapon State Park.
Elkins: West Virginia, near Monongahela National Forest, only about 45 minutes from Dolly Sods Wilderness, which is also great for hiking and camping.
Shepherdstown & Charles Town, WV: very close to the Appalachian Mountains, great for hiking.

Best Mountain Towns in Tennessee

Okay, on to our next state, Tennessee. Apart from Nashville, Tennessee is also home to the Great Smokey Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is FILLED with gorgeous mountains, hiking, camping, places to swim, and so much more. The Smokey Mountains are much like the Adirondack Mountains, where there’s endless lush, green forests everywhere, which is much different from hiking in Colorado, Utah, or California. So, here are the best mountain towns in Tennessee:

Gatlinburg & Townsend → very close to the Smoky Mountains, this is the best and closest mountain town to the Smoky Mountains. Townsend is about 40 minutes away, but much quieter and less busy.
Sevierville & Pigeon Forge → Pigeon Forge where Dollywood is located, also close to the Appalachian Mountains. Sevierville is a little less crowded than Pigeon Forge, both towns are very close to the Smoky Mountains as well.
Johnson City → about 2 hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains and a little under two hours from the Smoky Mountains, this is a great central location if you want to see both ranges.
Knoxville → is about an hour from the Smoky Mountains.
Wears Valley → very close to the Smoky Mountains, but this town does not have the crowds that the other towns have.

Best Mountain Towns in North Carolina

Okay, moving on to North Carolina, North Carolina, is home to the peaceful Blue Ridge Mountains, and part of the Appalachian and Smoky Mountains. Here are the best mountain towns in North Carolina:

Asheville: is a great town if you are visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains, pretty big town as well.
Boone: near Grayson Highlands, the Appalachian Ski Resort, Pisgah National Forest, and much more hiking/camping and skiing/snowboarding.
Cherokee: right next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Hendersonville: about an hour from the Smoky Mountains, and an hour and a half from Mount Mitchell.
Banner Elk: near some great ski mountains, Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Brevard: very close by the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Waynesville: very close to the Appalachian Mountains.
Maggie Valley: about 30 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains, lots of tourist stay here.
Highlands: close by Nantahala National Forest, also Bryson City is another great mountain town where this park is located.

Best Mountain Towns in Georgia

Alright, onto our last state in the east, Georgia. Georgia is again, home to the Blue Ridge Mountains and tons of camping and hiking. The Appalachian Mountains and part of the Appalachian Trail also run through Georgia as well. The Appalachian Trail actually starts in Georgia and runs all the way to Maine, a total of 2,194.3 miles. Most people who hike the entire trail, take about 4-5 months to complete it. Here are some great mountain towns in Georgia:

Blue Ridge: next to the Chattahoochee National Forest, the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Benton Mackaye Trail and much more.
Dillard: is a great town surrounded by mountains, so there’s towns of hiking, camping, biking, and more.
Helen: very close to lots of hiking, fishing, wineries, and more.
Blairsville: also near Chattahoochee National Forest, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Nottely, Lake Trahylta, and many other fun outdoor activities.

Best Mountain Towns in Montana & Wyoming

Okay, moving onto the west! Western US truly has some of the BEST mountains in the world. I have skied out west and I really do love it. There really isn’t anything that compares to the mountains out west, they are huge and SO impressive, they just never end. They are breathtaking to look at. Particularly, in Montana the major mountain ranges are the Rocky Mountains, the Beartooth Mountains, Crazy Mountains, Absaroka Mountains, and many more.

Whereas, the most well-known mountain ranges in Wyoming are the Grand Tetons, the Rocky Mountains, the Bighorn Mountains, the Absaroka Mountains, and again, many more. Here are the best mountain towns in Montana and Wyoming:

Bozeman, MT → close to Yellowstone, about an hour from Big Sky Ski Resort (you could stay at the resort, but it’s expensive).
Whitefish, MT → next to Whitefish Ski Resort, and close to Glacier National Park.
Kalispell, MT → near Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake.
Libby & Choteau, MT → in the Kootenai River region, near Kootenai National Forest, great for all your outdoor activities for both winter and summer. Choteau is nearby Flathead National Forest, Lewis & Clark National Forest, and Glacier National Park.
Big Timber & Gardiner, MT → near the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness.
Jackson & Jackson Hole, WY → Jackson Hole Ski Resort and about an hour from Grand Targhee Ski Resort, and Grand Teton National Park.
Alta, WY → pretty close to Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole Ski Resorts.
Buffalo → WY near the Bighorn Mountains.
Cody, WY → next to Bighorn Basin by Owl Creek, Bridger, and the Absaroka Mountain Ranges.

Best Mountain Towns in Colorado

Our next mountain state, I’m sure you’ve heard of, Colorado. Most people think of Colorado, when they think of mountains. And rightfully so, Colorado is FILLED with SO MANY ski resorts and hiking, surrounded by the impressive Rocky Mountains. So, here are the best mountain towns in Colorado:

Breckenridge: this is one of the best mountain towns to live in, in my opinion, it is close by Breckenridge Ski Resort, and so much hiking and biking.
Crested Butte: surrounded by Crested Butte Ski Resort.
Winter Park: next to Winter Park Ski Resort and close to Copper Mountain, Keystone, Loveland and Steamboat Springs Ski Resorts, also a little over an hour from Denver.
Ouray: next to Lee’s Ski Hill and the San Juan Mountains.
Silverton: I think is one of the best mountain towns to raise a family, it’s nearby Silverton Ski Area, Steamboat Springs, and Loveland Ski Area.
Telluride & Durango: close to Telluride and Purgatory Ski Areas.
Vail & Aspen: these are very rich towns but they are nice, Avon is a nice cheaper option to stay at if you still want to ski/snowboard at Vail or Aspen Ski Resorts.
Steamboat Springs: Steamboat and Keystone Ski Resorts, these two ski areas are great for families.

Best Mountain Towns in Utah

Utah, again is a great, well-known, mountain town in the US. It is home to the Rocky Mountains, Wasatch, Uinta, La Sal, Wah Wah, Abajo, and many more. Here are the best mountains towns in Utah.

Salt Lake City → pretty close to many different ski resorts and much less expensive, close to Park City Ski Resort, Brighton, Powder, and Snowbasin.
Park City → (expensive and crowded) nice resort town, near other major resorts, that you can find here.
Herber City → (about 30 minutes from Park city but not as expensive or crowded) and near the same ski resorts.
Moab → near Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, great for hiking, climbing, and more.
Springdale → near Zion National Park.
Midway → next to the Wasatch Mountains.
Garden City → near Beak Lake State Park and many different hiking trails.

Best Mountain Towns in New Mexico, Idaho & Nevada

Alright, we are almost done with the western US, our last couple states in the west are often overlooked, New Mexico, Idaho, and Nevada. They are all great mountains states with some great deals for skiing and awesome places to hike. Here are the best mountain towns in New Mexico, Idaho, and Nevada:

Taos, NM: near Taos Ski Valley Resort, also has great hiking, rafting, and more.
Sun Valley, ID: Sun Valley Ski Resort, and lots of nearby hiking and camping.
Boise, ID: if you are on a budge, I advise staying in Boise, it’s also near, Bogus Basin Ski Resort, it’s another one of the best mountain towns to live in.
Reno, NV: best mountain vacations on a budget, like Boise, if you are on a budget, I recommend staying in Reno, it’s very reasonable and close by Mount Rose, Kirkwood, Diamond Peak, Sugar Bowl, Northstar, and many more ski resorts.

Best Mountains in Washington & Oregon

Alright, moving onto the northwest pacific area of the US, Washington and Oregon states. Washington is home to the gorgeous Olympic and Cascade Mountains, whereas Oregon, is home to the Cascade, Blue, Elkhorn, Pueblo, and more mountain ranges. Here are the best mountain towns in Washington and Oregon.

Spokane, WA → near Mount Spokane State Park, Lookout Pass, 49 Degrees North, and Schweitzer ski resorts.
Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks & Quinault, WA → are all great towns close to Olympic National Park and the Quinault Rainforest.
Glacier, WA → close by the Cascade Mountains and Mount Baker.
Bend & Portland, OR → close by Deschutes National Forest, Tumalo Falls, Mount Bachelor, Drake Park, Cascade Lakes, and much more outdoor activities.
Ashland → close to the Pacific Crest Trail, white water rafting, the Klamath River, Mount Ashland, Crater Lake National Park, great for hiking and camping.

Best Mountain Towns in California

Finally, onto our last mountain state, California. California is FILLED with lots of different mountain ranges. Some of them include, the Sierra Nevadas, Coast Ranges, San Gabriel, and the San Bernardino Mountains. Here are the best mountain towns in California:

Lake Tahoe: in Lake Tahoe, one of the best mountain towns to visit but is pretty pricey.
Big Bear Lake: on Big Bear Lake, a great mountain boating and kayaking town.
Mammoth Lakes: close by Mammoth Ski Resort, another one of the best mountain towns to visit.
Lone Pine: near Mount Whitney and other amazing Eastern Sierra Mountain Range hikes.
Mount Baldy: not too far from Los Angeles, next to the Mount Baldy hiking trail, and many others.
Idyllwild-Pine Cove: in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Wrightwood: great for backcountry camping and hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Mariposa & Bass Lake: close by Yosemite National Park.
Bishop: near Death Valley National Park, Mount Whitney, Mammoth Ski Resort, June Lake, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Three Rivers: near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

And that wraps up our list of the best mountain towns in the US. I hope this article gave you some great new getaway towns to visit to fulfill all your outdoor activities. Thank you so much for reading and get out there!

This article was all about the best mountain towns within the US, mountains to visit in the USA, the best mountain towns to visit, the best mountain towns for young adults, the best mountain towns to raise a family, the best mountain towns to live, and more.