Bar Harbor, Maine Named the Most Welcoming Town in America

There are certain things we Mainers already know, even before the rest of the country catches on.

Our coastline is unmatched. Our seafood is elite. Our small towns have more character than most big cities could ever dream of. And now, apparently, we can add this to the list: Bar Harbor is officially the most welcoming town in the country.

According to a new ranking from World Atlas, shared by Travel + Leisure, Bar Harbor, Maine, landed at number one on the list of the Most Welcoming Towns in the U.S.

The ranking looked at things like friendly locals, strong community spirit, neighborhood staples, locally loved restaurants, and special events. Basically, the kind of stuff that makes a place feel less like a tourist stop and more like somewhere you want to come back to every year.

And honestly, Bar Harbor makes total sense.

It has that classic Maine coastal charm, a walkable downtown packed with local shops, plenty of fresh seafood, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the entire country. Plus, it serves as the gateway to Acadia National Park, which is one of those places that somehow still feels magical no matter how many times you’ve been.

Sure, Bar Harbor gets busy in the summer. Very busy. Like, “good luck finding a parking spot without circling like a confused seagull” busy.

But underneath all the tourism, cruise ships, lobster rolls, and vacation traffic, there’s still a real Maine town with a close-knit community and a whole lot of pride.

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, came in second on the list, followed by Beaufort, South Carolina, Burlington, Vermont, and Burton, Ohio.

But number one belongs to Maine.

And as a Mainer, I’ll say this: we’re happy to welcome visitors. Just please learn how rotaries work before you get here.