The U.S. has four major deserts– the Mojave, Great Basin, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan– and several other areas that qualify as deserts, such as Wyoming’s Great Divide Basin and much of the Colorado Plateau.
In addition to outstanding scenery, these deserts are also home to some really unique towns you won’t find anywhere else. Make one or more of these a base or a planned stop on your next trip to the desert!
Kanab, Utah
Image Credit: Christophe KLEBERT/Shutterstock.
Kanab lies just north of the Arizona border, and it’s a key gateway town for attractions like Zion National Park and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It’s surrounded by beautiful sandstone scenery that includes slot canyons and otherworldly rock formations. It has no big-box stores but still has all the amenities a visitor could need while retaining a laid-back, small-town feel.
Moab, Utah
Image Credit: Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock.
Moab is the biggest “city” in southeastern Utah and a hub for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. It’s in the shadow of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and attracts hikers, photographers, mountain bikers, off-road drivers, rock climbers, and more. It’s pretty much always busy there, but it has a fun vibe and a lot of great restaurants and brewpubs.
Boulder, Utah
Image Credit: davidrh/Shutterstock.
If you were driving from Moab to Kanab or the other way around, you would likely pass through Boulder. It’s so tiny that if you’re a passenger and you blink while passing through, you might miss it. Boulder is set amid southern Utah’s epic slickrock country, and the popular lodge and restaurant there makes a fine base for exploring it. One of the best ways is via the Burr Trail, a scenic road that has its eastern end in Boulder.
Joshua Tree, California
Image Credit: Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock.
If Joshua Tree National Park has a true bedroom community, it’s probably Palm Springs, but the little town of Joshua Tree is just outside the park’s north entrance and makes a great place to stay when visiting the park. When not out exploring the park’s wonders, you can enjoy museums, restaurants, and art sculptures in this town with an authentic Southern California vibe.
Slab City, California
Image Credit: Gerald Peplow/Shutterstock.
The California desert is famous for attracting eccentric people, and Slab City is a mecca for them. Residents here live off the grid without electricity, running water, or government entities. It attracts artists, vagabonds, and people who just want to get away from the pace, pressures, and rules of modern society.
Taos, New Mexico
Image Credit: La Terase/Shutterstock.
Situated among the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, the highest in New Mexico, Taos is most famous for Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Historical Landmark that has been continuously inhabited by Native Americans for more than 1000 years. Taos also has a thriving art scene and is a gateway to a world-class ski area.
Silver City, New Mexico
Image Credit: Underawesternsky/Shutterstock.
Founded as a mining community, Silver City retains a lot of Old West culture and especially shows it in arts, entertainment, and architecture. It’s also a popular base for people checking out Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, City of Rocks State Park, and other outdoor attractions in the region.
Beatty, Nevada
Image Credit: Gchapel/Shutterstock.
Along U.S. 95 between Las Vegas and Reno, Beatty was once a busy mining town but now serves more as a tourist stop. It’s also a key gateway to Death Valley National Park, and one of the gas stations there has one of the most amazing candy shops you’ll ever visit.
Baker, Nevada
Image Credit: BestOverthinker/Shutterstock.
Baker is a small town just outside Great Basin National Park, which is one of the least-visited national parks in the country due to its remote location. This makes little Baker a great place to visit if you like a slower pace and an escape from crowds.
Sedona, Arizona
Image Credit: Nigel Jarvis/Shutterstock.
Just about everyone’s heard of Sedona and the beautiful red rock country around it, and it can be really busy and expensive, but it’s worth visiting at least once. In addition to its gorgeous setting, Sedona has a thriving art community that attracts people from all around the country.
Bisbee, Arizona
Image Credit: Thomas Trompeter/Shutterstock.
Just north of the Mexican border in southeastern Arizona, Bisbee is about the size of Moab but much quieter. Mining was an important part of its past, and you can learn about its influences and history when you visit. It also has a great art scene without the bustling feel of Sedona.
Bend, Oregon
Image Credit: Nicholas J Klein/Shutterstock.
The region Bend lies in is technically considered “high desert.” It’s a mecca for people who love the outdoors, giving the town a fit, active, and adventurous vibe. A fun place to live in or visit, Bend is in the “rain shadow” of the Cascades, making it a lot sunnier and drier than the infamously rainy coastal parts of the Pacific Northwest.
Alpine, Texas
Image Credit: Jason Christopher Murrell/Shutterstock.
Although it has scenic mountains as a backdrop, Alpine is in the desert. It’s an interesting mix of Old West Texas and a college town with historic buildings and a lively feel as well. Many travelers make Alpine an overnight stop on their way to or from remote Big Bend National Park.
Marfa, Texas
Image Credit: Rosemarie Mosteller/Shutterstock.
If you’re looking for an even more unique Texas desert town, try Marfa. Contemporary art is the story here, and it has an isolated, remote feel while being surrounded by starkly beautiful desert scenery. It’s also famous for the mysterious and unexplained Marfa Lights, which you might get to see when you visit.
Terlingua, Texas
Image Credit: William Silver/Shutterstock.
Once an important mercury mining town, tiny Terlingua is now a mix of a ghost town and an artistic community, and it’s famous for its annual chili cook-off. Terlingua is also really close to Big Bend National Park. It’s also near the Rio Grande and is the launch point for guided float trips through the beautiful Santa Elena Canyon inside the national park.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
Image Credit: Igor Lushchay/Shutterstock.
Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border makes a lot of lists of the most beautiful places in America. There’s also a lot to do there, with a wide range of outdoor recreation, great dining, resorts, nightlife, and more. If it’s your first time going or if you’re going back, consider adding some of the following places to your itinerary.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
The World’s 5 Friendliest and 5 Unfriendliest Cities
Image Credit: Motortion Films/Shutterstock.
Some cities welcome visitors and want them to be there. Other cities are rude to visitors and would just as soon see you leave. It can be jarring to be in an unfriendly city, though some of the world’s most enticing cities rank high on the rudeness scale. When you visit a friendly city, it’s much easier to soak in the culture and meet the locals. Rough Guides readers voted on the cities for their level of friendliness. According to Rough Guides, these are the world’s friendliest and unfriendliest cities.
Leave a Reply