This ‘adventure’-packed NC town ranks among the best in the South. Here’s why
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- Bryson City, North Carolina ranks on USA Today 10Best’s list of top Southern towns.
- The small town of about 1,500 residents is known as an “Outdoor Adventure Capital.”
- The mountain destination offers hiking, rafting and a top-ranked beer scene.
A North Carolina destination is packed with adventure — and ranks among the best small towns in the South.
Bryson City is No. 8 on a list of the region’s most “charming” getaway spots, according to results published April 8.
“The South is known for its charm, hospitality, and rich history,” USA Today’s 10Best wrote in its report. “But it also has some of the most beautiful and diverse small towns in the country.”
To create the list, the website said it asked travel experts to pick can’t-miss destinations with roughly 25,000 residents or fewer. Editors narrowed down the nominations before giving readers a month to vote for the Southern towns they loved the most.
Why Bryson City is a fan favorite
The resulting list of readers’ choice award winners includes places that offer visitors “relaxing getaways, cultural immersion, outdoor adventures, and culinary delights.” Bryson City was the only destination in North Carolina to earn a spot in the top 10, results show.
The town of about 1,500 people is located in the mountains, a roughly 65-mile drive southwest from Asheville. Though the Explore Bryson City tourism website calls the destination the “Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Great Smoky Mountains,” there also are opportunities to relax in nature.
“Located at the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bryson City offers year-round recreation including white water rafting on the Nantahala River, fly fishing, hiking, and mountain biking,” 10Best wrote in its report. “Downtown Bryson City is home to small businesses, restaurants, and breweries; it also has a train depot for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which offers scenic excursions.”
It’s not the first time the “hidden gem” has earned wide recognition. In 2024, the town’s Sky Ridge Yurts ranked as the nation’s No. 1 spot for “glamping,” or glamorous camping.
And last year, Bryson City was named one of the nation’s best small towns for beer. In those rankings, the destination was praised for offering beer lovers a variety of drink options near outdoor activities, CharlotteFive previously reported.
Other top Southern towns
Across the South, 10Best said the No. 1 small town was Starkville, Mississippi, a roughly 125-mile drive northeast from the state capital of Jackson. Here are the places that rounded out the top five:
- Inverness, Florida, at No. 2
- Lewisburg, West Virginia, at No. 3
- West Monroe, Louisiana, at No. 4
- Thomasville, Georgia, at No. 5
In the same contest, 10Best ranked locations across the country in eight other small-town categories. The only other North Carolina winner was Beaufort, which landed at No. 8 on the list of best coastal towns.
In the past, 10Best has said it doesn’t reveal the number of people who vote in its contests.
This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 4:16 PM with the headline "This ‘adventure’-packed NC town ranks among the best in the South. Here’s why."
