The 50 Best College Towns in America

The students are back, colorful leaves are blowing across the quad and tailgating season is in full swing: there's simply no better time to visit a college town than autumn. Vibrant enough to own a full range of cultural and social diversions, but still possessing all the charms of a small town, American college towns are unique destinations and a visit to one of the following 50 might just have you looking to go back to school.

Most famously the home of the University of Kansas, Lawrence is also the location of Haskell Indian Nations University and has long been considered one of the Midwest's most liveable and lovingly-quirky towns. Spend a Saturday afternoon watching the Jayhawks play basketball or football then squeeze in some shopping at one of the town's many independent retailers. Lawrence is also loved for its leading music scene, spirited Civil War history and nearby Clinton Lake State Park, which provides a multitude of outdoor recreation opportunities.

This bubbly college town is home to Ole Miss and its famous football and baseball teams in addition to a plethora of award-winning restaurants and art galleries. Before you get your tailgate on at The Grove, take a sightseeing ride on one of the imported English red double-decker buses and visit Rowan Oak, the former home of William Faulkner.

Offering outdoor lovers a seemingly endless list of things to do and boasting a location close to the Grand Canyon, Northern Arizona University's home is one of the country's most underrated college towns.

The home of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa City paints itself gold and black when the football team plays at home, but that's not the only reason to visit. No, the mix of shopping, food and riverside views in the region's "curious communities' (as they call themselves) will keep you coming back for more.

Halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City in the center of the Show-Me State, "CoMo" is a lively little town home to the University of Missouri, or as its friends call it: Mizzou. Head to Harpo's for a few drinks before taking in a concert at the Blue Note or spend your day another way entirely by doing some hiking at the nearby Capen Park or bike riding on the Katy Trail.

Set on the banks of the Black Warrior River, Tuscaloosa is so much more than just the home of the Crimson Tide. Downtown is ultra-walkable-making shopping and dining a breeze-and the town is home to several important African-American heritage sites, an appealing Riverwalk and the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.

Home of the University of Michigan Wolverines, this town is just the right size to delight all styles of travelers. Head to the Big House-the largest football stadium in the country-to watch a game, then search the town for a series of small fairy doors installed by a local artist. The next day head to the characterful Kerrytown neighborhood for some great grub and coffee.

They may be calling it "Boz Angeles" these days in response to its ever-growing popularity, but Bozeman is still a college town at heart. Hang with the kids at Montana State on Friday night before setting off into the surrounding mountains on Saturday for hiking, skiing, rock climbing, biking or some fly fishing. Then, head back to Main Street to dive into the cultural and dining scene.

The home of the Oregon Ducks and their storied track & field and football programs, Track Town USA offers a diverse mix of things to do both in town and in the great outdoors. The natural beauty of the South Willamette Valley abounds offering countless recreation opportunities with the bounty of the region being served upon the tables of the town's eclectic range of restaurants and bars.

Besides being the home of the Arkansas Razorbacks and an especially fetching University of Arkansas campus, Fayetteville has now firmly established itself as one of the cycling meccas of the country. Spend your day out on the local trails and your night downtown, perhaps taking in a show at George's Majestic Lounge-the oldest live music venue in the state.

Set on the fringes of handsome Hoosier National Forest, Bloomington buzzes with students and has a little bit of something for everyone. Stroll through campus admiring the lovely Indiana limestone architecture-taking in an IU football or basketball game along the way-eat and drink your way down Kirkwood Avenue or take in a performance at one of the many arts venues in town.

This town may be the state capital, but the spiritual center of Nebraska isn't the gorgeous Art Deco capitol building, it's Memorial Stadium, the home of the Cornhuskers football team. Spend a few days here experiencing the lively arts and cultural scene before taking in a game for yourself and spending a night socializing in the Haymarket District.

You'll find eight state parks within 100 miles of Gainesville-the home of the University of Florida-allowing visitors to get out and do everything from hiking to paddling down calm streams. In the town itself, you'll find a mix of interesting shops and restaurants next to concert venues and student-centric nightlife spots.

As the tongue-in-cheek slogan says "Ithaca is gorges" and boy are they right. Ringed by glacier-formed gorges and waterfalls, the home of Cornell and Ithaca College owns one of the prettiest settings of any college in America.

One of the coolest towns in America period, Madison is also the state capital and makes the most of its location beside five lakes. Walk, run or cycle beside these bodies of water before hanging with the Badger-faithful at the bars and restaurants downtown.

The home of the University of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in addition to owning a thriving live music scene (one that famously helped nurture the Dave Matthews Band), Charlottesville is always a great choice for a getaway. This is to say nothing of all the nearby wineries that provide the perfect backdrop for fun fall days.

Anywhere you go in San Luis Obispo, you're never far from the mountains, the coast or the handsome campus of California Polytechnic State University. Head to Higuera Street for the famous farmer's market or time your trip to coincide with the monthly Bike Happening-a boisterous group bike ride.

If we were ranking the best college towns in numerical order, there's no doubt Athens would be in the single digits. Yes, this town has it all: an independent spirit, excellent craft beer, one of the top music scenes in the South, and of course, those Bulldogs.

Experience one of the Midwest's sneaky-sophisticated food scenes in these twin towns, home to the University of Illinois. Peruse public art and enjoy artistically-plated global dishes one day, artfully paint yourself orange and root for the home team the next.

It may be on the larger side, but Lex' still has the heart of a college town. Rupp Arena and UK Basketball are known far and wide, but the town is also picking up a reputation for a high quality of life and lively nightlife scene. In addition to scores of independent restaurants and retailers, the city is rich with horse heritage, with a visit to the Kentucky Horse Museum or Keeneland Race Course-one of the prettiest tracks in the nation-a must-do when here.

Another college town that doubles as the state capitol, Baton Rouge always gets the good times rolling. Visit the fascinating Old Governor's mansion before cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley and exploring the range of outdoor pursuits (fishing and kayaking being two of the most popular) on the city's doorstep.

Home to both Virginia Tech and Radford, Blacksburg combines a vibrant small town with stunning natural surrounds. Look no further than the fact that you can make a trip to McAfee Knob-one of the most scenic spots on the Appalachian Trail-and be back in time to watch the Hokies play ball.

Aggieland is known for affording residents and visitors alike a high quality of life, one that features many of the benefits of a much bigger town. Highlights include a wide array of hip restaurants and bars, independent boutiques and the opportunity to be part of one of college football's best traditions: Texas A&M's 12th man.

The home of Colorado State is also home to scores of craft breweries, endless outdoor opportunities and a postcard-perfect Old Town that is reported to have inspired the look of Walt Disney World's Main Street. If you had any questions about this town's college town quirkiness cred, look no further than Pianos About Town-a collection of art-splashed pianos scattered around town that can be played by anyone passing by.

The home of the Iowa State Cyclones is also where you will find the beautiful Reiman Gardens, one of the nation's finest botanical gardens. Spend a day among the flowers before rooting on the Cyclones and celebrating with the students on Welch Avenue.

Much to the chagrin of those Wolverines over in Ann Arbor, the home of the Spartans is a pretty stellar place, too. Michigan State University and the nearby state capital in Lansing help East Lansing punch well above its weight when it comes to both cultural and historical attractions. Make a beeline for the Broad Art Museum before taking a stroll at the W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens and socializing with the Spartan faithful.

In addition to being a thriving center for the arts and owning a prime location at the foothills of the mountains, Chico possesses one of the prettiest green spaces anywhere in its Bidwell Park. The town is also a pioneer in the craft brewing revolution as it was here where Sierra Nevada got its start.

The home of the Tar Heels and also gaining quite a reputation as a foodie hotspot, Chapel Hill boasts a high quality of life for visitors, students and locals alike. Take in a tour of the stately campus of UNC before heading to Franklin Street to try fantastic fare from across the world, which you'll surely find a step above your typical college town cuisine.

Lawrence certainly grabs the limelight, but cross-state rival Manhattan can make a case that it's just as great of a place to go to school, visit or live. "The Little Apple" is home to Kansas State University and its lively student population but sits within striking distance of the gorgeous Flint Hills. You needn't leave town though to have a good time, as Manhattan owns a multitude of markets, arts venues and social venues that will keep you entertained for days.

Like many things in the Mountain State, Morgantown-the home of West Virginia University-is perpetually underrated. Visit to be let in on the secret that includes a historic downtown, the gorgeous landscapes of Coopers Rock State Forest and one of the liveliest nightlife scenes East of the Mississippi.

Pride for the Nittany Lions flows through every nook and cranny of Happy Valley, the nickname for the gorgeous region that surrounds State College. Here, you will find the second-largest college football stadium in the nation and a collection of solid museums, arts venues and a vibrant nightlife that punches well above its weight class.

Home to the Buckeye State's oldest institution of higher learning in Ohio University, Athens is home to a charming downtown-complete with brick streets-and owns a scenic setting along the Hocking River. Visit during the Halloween Block Party to see the locals in the highest of spirits.

The home of Florida State and Florida A&M universities in addition to being the state capital, Tallahassee's downtown features blocks of historic buildings and some of the best nightlife in northern Florida. Visit the gallery inside the upper reaches of the New Capitol building for great views of the town.

The home of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville owns all the amenities of a small city but still retains the charm of a typical college town half its size. Admire the famous Sunsphere tower, head to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame or take a riverboat cruise of the Tennessee River. Then, watch the Vols play football or the Lady Vols shoot hoops.

Food, music and football are the hallmarks of this quintessential college town home to the University of Oklahoma. From excellent concert venues (seemingly everyone from A-listers to up-and-coming talent make a stop here) to a bevy of quality restaurants, bars and galleries, Norman never lets you down.

The home of the Oregon State Beavers, Corvallis is an eclectic college town home to over 60 miles of bike and walking paths, a varied arts scene and a multitude of wineries on its doorstep.

The resurgence of Clemson football over the last decade has helped shine a light on this pretty small town in the western part of South Carolina. Here, you can be on the water of Lake Hartwell in the morning, hike the foothills and valleys of the Blue Ridge mountains during the afternoon and the next day wake up and root on the Tigers at Death Valley.

Most notably home to the main campus of the University of Massachusetts and Amherst University, Amherst boasts a solid arts scene complete with top-end museums in addition to lively nightlife locations dotted around town.

Being Vermont's biggest city, Burlington may not look the part of your typical college town, but there's no doubt that much of its vibrance is directly connected to the local schools. The University of Vermont, Champlain College and Burlington College call the city home, with their students helping to keep the arts and social scenes lively as they study beside lovely Lake Champlain.

Alabama's other great college town, Auburn-and its neighbor Opelika-provide a fine backdrop to spend four years or four days. Enjoy an old-fashioned glass of lemonade at Toomer's Drugs before heading out for a night on the town taking in a concert or hanging with the college kids. Time your trip to coincide with the Tigers playing football at home for a travel experience you won't soon forget.

The proud home of Purdue, West Lafayette and neighboring Lafayette offer up quintessential Midwest charm in spades and you'll be surrounded by smiling faces no matter where you go. Peruse antiques and art galleries downtown before settling in for lunch at Triple XXX-the state's oldest drive-in restaurant.

Located between San Francisco and Sacramento, Davis offers up a dizzying range of art galleries and eclectic restaurants that will make your visit here an unforgettable one. The town is extremely walkable too, making a stroll over to its famous farmer's market in order to rub shoulders with foodie locals and students at UC Davis a breeze.

You could make a case that Austin has outgrown the "college town" label, but the truth is that the city would not be trending the way it is today without the University of Texas. Take in one of the nation's best live music scenes before bouncing between foodie hotspots and watching the 'Horns hook an opponent at home.

The home of BYU, Provo provides students and visitors alike with an opportunity to explore all the cultural wonders of the Wasatch Front. The forward-thinking town is also home to a wide range of artistic and culinary experiences for travelers and students alike.

Famous all over the world for the eponymous movie and television series, Fargo is also home to the North Dakota State University and a lively population of students and residents who like living a little "north of normal". Enjoy the arts offerings downtown before rooting on the Bison with the locals.

This selection won't put to bed the Bedlam Rivalry, but the truth is that both Norman and Stillwater make the grade as great college towns. Synonymous with friendly faces, stellar music and the gorgeous campus of Oklahoma State, Stillwater will surprise you in the best way possible.

You didn't think we'd forget about Boulder, did you? Arguably the standard for which all college towns are judged, the home of the University of Colorado Buffaloes offers up education in Rocky Mountain highs. Explore the stunning natural scenery before hanging with the students downtown.

Leafy, green, and home to a social calendar that is loaded all year long, Syracuse is one of the most underrated towns on the list. In addition to being home to a diverse range of diversions, the students of Syracuse and visitors alike benefit from being a short hop from the Finger Lakes.

Home of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Bowling Green boasts a bubbly downtown and scores of cafes and restaurants worth a pitstop. Make sure that in between rooting for the local teams you call in at the National Corvette Museum, an attraction dedicated to the locally-made but world-famous car the Corvette.

How would you like to take classes in paradise? Well, that's what the students at the University of Hawaii-Hilo get to do and a visit to this charming small town on the northeastern coast of the Big Island lets you get a feel for what living that dream feels like. Explore the local waterfalls and rainforests by day, take to the art-centric galleries and shops in Hilo's hip downtown district by night.