If your idea of a perfect getaway involves salty air, dramatic coastlines and delicious lobster rolls, Bar Harbor just got official bragging rights. The Maine harbor town has been named the number one best small town to visit in the U.S. for 2026 by U.S. News & World Report, topping the publication’s latest best vacations rankings.
The annual rankings blend traveler votes with expert and editor analysis, scoring destinations across 10 categories, including sights, food, culture, adventure and overall charm. For the small-town list, U.S. News focused on places with fewer than 50,000 residents that still punch well above their weight when it comes to things to do—and Bar Harbor sailed straight to the top.
The win is part of a 2026 travel picture that favors character-rich destinations. Rome reclaimed the number one spot globally for the first time since 2018, while Grand Canyon National Park took top honors as the best place to visit in the U.S. But in the small-town lane, Bar Harbor stood out for combining postcard-worthy scenery with a surprisingly full itinerary.
Set on Mount Desert Island along Frenchman Bay, Bar Harbor is best known as the gateway to Acadia National Park, one of the country’s most beloved outdoor playgrounds. Visitors can hike granite peaks, bike historic carriage roads or catch sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, the first place in the U.S. to see the sun most of the year. Whale-watching tours run from spring through early fall and the Shore Path offers an easy, scenic stroll right along the water.
What makes Bar Harbor more than just a park-adjacent basecamp, though, is its small-town vibe, thanks to a population of fewer than 6,000 people. Downtown is packed with seafood shacks, ice cream counters and indie shops, while historic inns and waterfront hotels keep things charming rather than flashy.
U.S. News’ editors pointed to a broader shift toward destinations with “authentic charm” and Bar Harbor fits that mood perfectly. It’s scenic without being precious, outdoorsy without being extreme and busy enough to be fun without losing its small-town soul. If 2026 is the year you’re trading crowds for coastlines, Bar Harbor just made a very convincing case.