American desert towns off the beaten path.
Less-touristed desert towns in America, for travelers seeking fewer crowds but all the beauty.
Needles
This modest Mojave Desert city on the western bank of the Colorado River, Needles sits at the California border with Arizona and Nevada, with mountain views…
Lakeview
Billing itself as the "Tallest Town in Oregon," Lakeview sits high in the Warner Mountains at the edge of the state's high desert country, with Goose Lake cl…
Fillmore
Fillmore, a compact city in Utah's Millard County, served as the capital of the Utah Territory from 1851 to 1856, and the original Territorial Statehouse fro…
Ludington
A little Lake Michigan city at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River, Ludington is the home port of the SS Badger, a vehicle and passenger ferry that crosses…
Susanville
Susanville, the county seat of Lassen County in northeastern California, sits along the Susan River at high elevation in the Sierra Nevada foothills, with mo…
Alamosa
This small Colorado city on the Rio Grande, Alamosa serves as the commercial hub of the San Luis Valley and the seat of Alamosa County.
Cloudcroft
This compact village in New Mexico's Lincoln National Forest, Cloudcroft sits at high elevation in forested mountains, offering mild summers as a contrast to…
Ephrata
Tiny Washington state county seat anchored by a handsome neoclassical brick courthouse, with a modest dining scene, several historic churches, and surroundin…
Marfa
This modest high-desert city in far west Texas that has become a major center for minimalist art, with the Chinati Foundation and Building 98 among its main…
Kingman
Kingman, Arizona's Mohave County seat, pairs a neoclassical courthouse and heritage-dense downtown streets with easy access to the rugged upland country that…
Yuma
Certified by Guinness World Records as the sunniest city on Earth, Yuma sits in Arizona's southwestern corner where the Gila River meets the Colorado, near t…