1. Wall, South Dakota
This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town off I-90 is home to the sprawling Wall Drug Store, which somehow grew into a 76,000-square-foot mega stop. Originally offering free ice water to dusty travelers in the 1930s, Wall Drug turned a clever marketing move into a full-blown roadside empire, according to Theresa Jorgensen of SixSuitcase Travel. Now it’s got everything from a dinosaur statue to a chapel, plus the kind of kitschy souvenir shops you can’t resist. Somehow, this town of under 1,000 people lures over two million visitors a year.
What started as a simple pit stop has become a full-day affair for many families heading to or from Mount Rushmore or Badlands National Park. It’s part nostalgia, part chaos, and a whole lot of caffeine from their famous 5-cent coffee. But let’s be honest—most people leave wondering why they bought fudge and a cowboy hat in the middle of South Dakota. And yet, every summer, cars line up like it’s Disneyland.
2. Helen, Georgia
Helen looks like someone plucked a Bavarian village from the Alps and dropped it in the Appalachian foothills. This tiny mountain town reinvented itself in the 1960s to look like a German alpine village, complete with cobblestone alleys and gingerbread trim. The transformation was part of a tourism gamble that totally paid off. Now, it draws over two million people a year for bratwurst, beer, and Instagrammable buildings.
There’s an Oktoberfest celebration that stretches for two months and draws revelers from all over the Southeast, according to Claire Grulick of AAA Connect. But if you strip away the faux-German charm, Helen is still just a small town with a population under 600. The souvenir shops lean heavily on cuckoo clocks and lederhosen you’ll never wear again. Still, there’s something weirdly lovable about tubing down the Chattahoochee in a town pretending to be in Bavaria.
3. Solvang, California
Nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang is a slice of Denmark in the middle of California wine country. It was founded by Danish immigrants in 1911, but really leaned into the Scandinavian aesthetic starting in the 1940s. Windmills, stork statues, and pastry shops line the streets, pulling in over a million tourists each year, according to Anneta Konstantinides of Business Insider. People come for the æbleskivers, stay for the selfies.
The town only has about 6,000 residents, but on weekends it feels like three times that. The touristy part is tightly packed with gift shops, Viking-themed merch, and tour buses galore. You might get whiplash going from wine tastings to wooden shoes. Still, it’s hard to deny the novelty appeal—even if it feels a little like Disneyland for Danish culture.
4. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Pigeon Forge isn’t much of a city—it’s more like an entertainment corridor with traffic lights. With only about 6,000 full-time residents, it’s best known as the home of Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s massive theme park, according to Nathan Diller of USA TODAY. But the town itself is stuffed with wax museums, go-karts, dinner theaters, and mini-golf courses galore. It’s kind of like Branson, Missouri, but with more bears and biscuits.
You’ll find endless places trying to get your dollars with promises of Elvis impersonators or a Titanic museum (yes, there’s a giant replica ship). Most of it feels completely disconnected from the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains. But despite the cheese, millions flock here every year, especially families. It’s one of those places where you wonder how you spent so much money without realizing it.
5. Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth is Washington state’s answer to Germany, complete with beer halls and lederhosen-clad shopkeepers. In the 1960s, the town revamped its economy by transforming itself into a Bavarian village. Now, with a population under 2,500, it draws around two million tourists a year. Visitors come for the Christmas lights, schnitzel, and to feel like they’re on a European holiday without leaving the U.S.
The town is undeniably cute, but also undeniably crowded during peak seasons. Shops lean heavily on the theme, offering everything from beer steins to yodeling CDs. Events like Oktoberfest and the Christmas Lighting Festival turn the place into standing-room only. Still, it’s hard to argue with mulled wine and mountain views.
6. Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Just down the road from Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg is another small mountain town that’s been totally taken over by tourism. It sits at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the U.S. With only around 4,000 residents, it manages to pack in millions of visitors each year. Most come for nature, but stay for the Ripley’s attractions and moonshine tastings.
The town itself is like a carnival stuck in a mountain postcard. Candy shops, haunted houses, and pancake restaurants dominate the strip. It’s charming in a “this is chaos” kind of way. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, you’ll have to drive a few miles out of town.
7. Tombstone, Arizona
Yes, the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral happened here, and yes, the town plays that card for all it’s worth. With a population hovering around 1,200, Tombstone thrives on its Wild West identity. Reenactments, costumed cowboys, and saloon-style restaurants dominate the landscape. It’s touristy, sure—but that’s kind of the whole point.
If you’re into frontier history (or just old-timey photos), it’s a fun place to spend a few hours. But be prepared for some cringe-worthy performances and overpriced souvenirs. Still, there’s a certain charm in how unapologetically theatrical the whole thing is. It’s the Old West through a theme park lens—and people can’t get enough.
8. Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell leans hard into its extraterrestrial fame. Ever since the alleged 1947 UFO crash, this small town has marketed itself as ground zero for alien conspiracy culture. With fewer than 50,000 people, it wouldn’t otherwise make much of a blip on the map. But thanks to alien museums, festivals, and sculptures on every corner, it draws hundreds of thousands of tourists annually.
You can visit the International UFO Museum, pose with green mannequins, and buy every kind of alien-themed merchandise imaginable. Is it tacky? Absolutely. But if you’re even mildly interested in sci-fi or pop culture weirdness, it’s kind of a must-see.
9. Metropolis, Illinois
Metropolis has fully embraced its fictional status as the “Hometown of Superman.” Despite being a real town with only about 6,000 residents, everything here screams Krypton. There’s a giant Superman statue, a Super Museum, and even a Superman-themed newspaper office. Every June, they host a Superman Celebration that brings in thousands of comic book fans.
It’s kitschy, sure, but undeniably unique. The town’s identity is completely built around a fictional character, and they lean into it with both capes and capers. There’s not a ton to do outside of the superhero theme, but fans still make the pilgrimage. It’s a great example of a town turning a gimmick into an economy.
10. Slab City, California
Technically not even a town, Slab City is a squatters’ haven in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. It’s most famous for Salvation Mountain, a brightly painted hill covered in religious messages. With no official population, infrastructure, or government, it somehow draws thousands of curious tourists and Instagram influencers every year. The place calls itself “the last free place in America.”
It’s equal parts fascinating and unsettling, with an undeniable outsider-art appeal. But beyond the colorful paint and creative anarchy, Slab City is rough living—no running water, no electricity, and lots of contradictions. Still, people can’t resist the oddball mystique and the sense of lawless freedom. It’s like Burning Man met a Mad Max set and decided to stay forever.
11. Casey, Illinois
Casey’s claim to fame? It’s got a whole bunch of “World’s Largest” things—like a giant mailbox, rocking chair, and pencil. This little town of about 2,500 people has turned oversized objects into a full-blown tourism strategy. And weirdly, it works: road trippers pull over just to snap photos of themselves climbing into a mailbox.
There’s something disarmingly wholesome about it all. The town leans into its quirky identity without trying too hard. It’s not flashy or expensive—just a collection of enormous items that make people smile. In an era of curated feeds, Casey delivers big-time charm in a tiny package.
12. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
This seaside village of under 4,000 people has become a tourist darling thanks to its storybook cottages and upscale boutiques. Clint Eastwood was even the mayor here once, which added to its allure. But the town has strict rules—like no high heels without a permit and no chain restaurants. That quirkiness, along with its picturesque vibe, pulls in plenty of day-trippers from the Bay Area and beyond.
It’s undeniably beautiful, but also undeniably pricey. The tourist-heavy downtown can feel like a real-life Pinterest board, with everything perfectly curated. Art galleries, wine tastings, and boutique hotels are everywhere, and so are the crowds. It’s both magical and maddening.
13. Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is forever linked to its witch trial past, and the town has absolutely cashed in on that infamy. With a population around 44,000, it still manages to feel small—especially when it swells with visitors every October. Haunted tours, witch museums, and costumed “psychics” take over the streets. The town has practically become Halloween headquarters.
There’s genuine history here, of course, but it’s surrounded by a lot of theatrical spectacle. You can’t walk a block without seeing broomsticks for sale or hearing about spectral sightings. Still, people love it—both for the spooky fun and the historical intrigue. If you’re not into crowds, though, October is definitely the wrong month to visit.
