Wanna get away but don’t have wheels or time? With ride-hailing services, bike rentals, and public transit, it’s easier than ever to explore a new city without your own car. And if you plan carefully, you can pack a lot into a 48-hour itinerary.
But which cities help you get around most easily while keeping you entertained and safe from COVID-19’s Delta variant?
LawnStarter ranked 2021’s Best Cities for Carless Weekend Trips to help travelers plan a mini vacation without worrying about where to park their car — or how much that would cost.
We compared the 150 biggest U.S. cities on the availability of leisure options, biking-friendliness, and COVID-19 vaccination rates, among others.
Check out our ranking below, followed by some highlights and lowlights. And remember: It’s a weekend visit, so pack light — and leave your car keys at home.
The Golden City ranks No. 1 in our ranking of the Best Cities for Carless Weekend Trips. Earning a perfect score of 100 points, San Francisco sweeps not just every category but every single metric, too.
The pros:
Visitors aren’t likely to run out of things to do in the Golden City.
With a strong eye toward sustainability, San Francisco outpaces every other city when it comes to navigating its streets without a car.
The cons: None — unless you get cold easily (summers in San Francisco can feel like winters to cold-natured folks).
Follow the Sun
For the best, car-free time, head to the Pacific Coast. Besides San Francisco, four other California cities land in the top 10 of our ranking, including Oakland at No. 3, San Jose at No. 6, Fremont at No. 8, and Santa Rosa in 10th place.
Pacific Northwest cities — Seattle and Portland — claim spots 2 and 4, respectively, thanks to strong performances in every category. Madison, Wisconsin (No. 5), Minneapolis (No. 7), and Boston (No. 9) make up the other three.
What do all these cities have in common? They all are the closest to reaching COVID-19 herd immunity (at the time of writing). Clearly, getting vaccinated comes with the biggest perk: freedom.
When Things Go South
While the Pacific Coast corners the top of our ranking, the South — with the exception of Wichita, Kansas, at No. 141 — dominates the bottom.
Finishing in some of the last places are Little Rock, Arkansas, at No. 142, Jacksonville, Florida, at No. 144, Memphis at No. 146, and Mobile, Alabama, dead last.
The region might be known for its warm hospitality, but its lagging performance in the Getting Around category spells out a clear message: Don’t come here without your car.
Ask The Experts
The best travel advice comes from those who’ve been there, done that. So we turned to a panel of experienced weekend travel warriors. See what wisdom they had to share below.
What are the best ways to explore a city on foot (or other means besides driving)?
How do you expect the spread of COVID-19’s Delta variant will affect travel the rest of the summer, if at all?
What are your top three tips for staying safe during a “carless weekend getaway”?
What are the three most essential things to pack for a weekend trip?
How can local leaders make their cities more attractive to visitors who prefer to get around without a car?
Tomoko Udo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy, Management, and Behavior, Co-Associate Director, Center for Collaborative HIV Research in Policy and Practice, School of Public Health
Matthew Stone
Professor, Recreation, Hospitality & Parks Management
Jason Draper, Ph.D., CHE
Associate Professor
Sally Childs
Professor Recreation Studies and Exercise Science
Wayne E. Williams
Professor
Mike Hampton, Ed.D.
Professor
Tomoko Udo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy, Management, and Behavior, Co-Associate Director, Center for Collaborative HIV Research in Policy and Practice, School of Public Health
University at Albany
Tomoko Udo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy, Management, and Behavior, Co-Associate Director, Center for Collaborative HIV Research in Policy and Practice, School of Public Health
University at Albany
What are the best ways to explore a city on foot (or other means besides driving)?
The federal mandate on masking in the indoor part of public transportation is still effective, so you should keep that in mind if you plan to travel on public transportation.
How do you expect the spread of COVID-19’s Delta variant will affect travel the rest of the summer, if at all?
The available science says vaccines are effective in preventing from getting seriously ill, including from the Delta variant, and in reducing risk of spread even if a vaccinated person contracts the virus. So, the first thing you should do is to get vaccinated if you have not done so.
We are certainly seeing surges in COVID-19 cases, particularly among those who are not vaccinated. If this trend continues, some states/municipalities may reinstate some of the COVID-19 safety measures, such as mandating masks, capacity limitation, and business hours restriction, which may affect your travel plan.
What are your top three tips for staying safe during a “carless weekend getaway”?
1. Enjoy the warm/hot summer weather with some outdoor activities!
2. Avoid crowded spaces as much as possible, particularly if you are not vaccinated
3. If you are going to a crowded space, even in outdoor settings, you may want to think about wearing a mask, especially if you travel with children under 12 (who cannot be vaccinated yet) or immune compromised person(s).
What are the three most essential things to pack for a weekend trip?
Not sure from the COVID-19 perspective, but you probably want to pack a rain coat if you travel to east coast, and heat-ready clothes or many clothes for change if you travel to west coast.
How can local leaders make their cities more attractive to visitors who prefer to get around without a car?
Making pedestrian- or bicycle-friendly streets, such as complete streets, is always a great way to attract business from both local residents and tourists.
Matthew Stone
Professor, Recreation, Hospitality & Parks Management
California State University, Chico
Matthew Stone
Professor, Recreation, Hospitality & Parks Management
California State University, Chico
What are the best ways to explore a city on foot (or other means besides driving)?
It’s easier than ever to ride a bus. Google Maps makes it easy to take local busses–showing you exactly where to pick up a local bus. Taking a bus (or subway) instead of a ride share can save you enough money to pay for dinner. Be sure you have the right currency or change to take public transit before you leave your accommodation.
Use the city bus as a tour bus to explore. Rick Steves uses this trick in Europe and you can use it in the USA. For example, a bus from downtown to Green Lake in Seattle will take you through many different neighborhoods with great local restaurants and shops, as well as glimpses of the Space Needle and Lake Union.
Park for less. If you aren’t planning to use your car while in a city, don’t park in the hotel garage. Check a website like Spot Hero for cheaper parking nearby. Keep in mind you may not have in-and-out privileges for your car like you would at the hotel. In cities like San Francisco, you can book a parking spot at a BART Station in the suburbs and then take the BART (subway) into the city. You can save at least $40 a day.
What are your top three tips for staying safe during a “carless weekend getaway”?
Before you start exploring, look at a map (printed or online) to get a general overview of the city. Ask your hotel staff or other locals about what areas of the city they do not recommend walking in. While nobody can guarantee your personal safety, they will be able to give you an insider perspective on places where you may not be safe or feel safe.
Before you take a walk using directions provided by an app, ask a local to see if they think it is a safe route to walk along.
Trust your instinct while walking. Even if a mapping app tells you to walk a certain way, turn around as soon as you feel unsafe. Sometimes it is best to pay for a taxi or a ride share.
Jason Draper, Ph.D., CHE
Associate Professor
University of Houston, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management
Jason Draper, Ph.D., CHE
Associate Professor
University of Houston, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management
What are the best ways to explore a city on foot (or other means besides driving)?
Since there is still a federal requirement that all riders wear a face mask, public transportation (e.g., buses, rail systems) provide possible transportation for weekend trips. However, for those who may not feel comfortable yet and willing to get some exercise, many cities have bicycle rental/share programs and/or local businesses who rent bicycles by the hour or longer timeframes.
To minimize the need for transportation, weekend travelers can also find attraction clusters (e.g., museum districts) so they can maximize their time visiting attractions rather than traveling between them.
How do you expect the spread of COVID-19’s Delta variant will affect travel the rest of the summer, if at all?
I think the effects of the Delta variant will fluctuate as the summer progresses. However, I think many destinations have been resilient and adapted to the challenges of the pandemic and will continue to do so and provide opportunities for travelers.
An example is the many destinations that began focusing more locally and regionally with their marketing, which is ideal for weekend trips. The tourism industry is resilient, including destination marketing organizations/convention and visitor bureaus who market tourism destinations.
What are your top three tips for staying safe during a “carless weekend getaway”?
First, follow national and local protocols to keep yourself and other travelers and locals as safe as possible.
Second, plan ahead and understand the destination’s protocols so there are no or minimal surprises to enjoy the weekend as much as possible.
Third, overlapping with planning ahead…understand the geography of the destination and routes to get between attractions and facilities (e.g., accommodations).
What are the three most essential things to pack for a weekend trip?
First, be sure to wear comfortable and functional shoes considering the plan for carless transportation.
Second, multifunctional clothing, such as a pair of hiking pants/shorts with pant legs that can be removed and replaced by a zipper feature. Such clothing helps pack lightly and provides options (e.g., shorts during the day while exploring attractions and pants to go to dinner).
Third, minimal technology that will allow an enjoyable weekend. With everything smartphones offer, I think weekend travelers can do without other technology and still be able to communicate (e.g., email if necessary), get directions (e.g., GPS apps), pay for meals and attractions (e.g., mobile payment apps), and almost any other functions additional technology might provide.
Minimal technology can help keep bags for traveling to and within a destination lightweight, yet allow all conveniences of other technology/devices.
How can local leaders make their cities more attractive to visitors who prefer to get around without a car?
First, offer apps that provide accurate and reliable maps and directions for tourists to get around the destination. Destinations can also provide an easy to find and thorough list of alternative transportation options, including how to reserve, cost, and other necessary details about such transportation alternatives. This will help provide travelers with more time to enjoy the destination’s attractions.
Sally Childs
Professor Recreation Studies and Exercise Science
Lake Superior State University
Sally Childs
Professor Recreation Studies and Exercise Science
Lake Superior State University
What are the best ways to explore a city on foot (or other means besides driving)?
I’m silly enough to think that the goal of a vacation is to enjoy the new experience and to reduce or eliminate stress!! Therefore the goal is to maximize physical and emotional comfort while exploring these cities and being stimulated by new experiences.
Physical comfort Dress for comfort!! Start from the bottom up. Everyone needs good comfortable shoes that will protect their feet. Shorts/pants/skirts with deep pockets are really an asset. Tops need to conform to the preference of the individual (I prefer my clothes to be “roomy”) but will also offer the appropriate protection. Layers are always a useful consideration.
A compliment to attaining physical comfort is the ability to carry things but to remain “hands free”. This may result in using a small “day pack”. Once again, I much prefer a pack w/ shoulder straps and many pockets, to a string bag. Carrying a pack permits you to carry extras like snacks, water, hand wipes, recent purchases, maps, phone, and those extra layers that you may need to shed now or add later. You can also stow rain gear in your pack.
Emotional comfort Follow the 6 “P’s” principle; (terms modified slightly here to be more palatable for public consumption): Prior Planning Prevents Pouty Pooped People!! Find out ahead of time what everyone in the group hopes to see/experience. Be sure that everyone realizes how much time is actually available for this Grand Adventure. Other factors that will certainly impact this junket will be:
Where you are staying relative to where everyone wants to go!!
What is the overall budget? (Are day passes available that allow unlimited travel on the city metro?)
Are any attractive “enhanced travel” options available (Metro systems/ bike rentals, city bus tours with on and off options) to expedite transitions from one destination to another?
Obtain a good map of the city BEFORE you get there and use it to plan your stay. Most cities have such a map available. It’s likely that maps may be available to download from the internet. It would also be very useful to obtain the map of metro stations, etc. Use these maps to plan your day(s). Seek proximal sites to maximize the amount of time that your group can devote to “being there”.
Time is a resource to be used as a compliment to your adventure, NOT a threat to your existence!! Don’t try to see everything. Save some mysteries for next time!! Be sure to enjoy the whole journey, don’t become “trapped” into focusing on the various destinations. Take time to sit and reflect, then regroup and re-engage. Be receptive to modifying your plans. Celebrate your day with a relaxed evening event (a fun sitdown meal??) Remember…you’re doing this because you want to have FUN!!!
How do you expect the spread of COVID-19’s Delta variant will affect travel the rest of the summer, if at all?
Perhaps the answer depends on whether the traveler believes in the efficacy of the vaccination. People are demonstrating that they are eager to travel and they are returning to mass transit opportunities (booking passage on airlines) in record numbers compared to the past 12 months. However, I believe that people may choose to avoid cities (or regions) that have a high incidence of the Delta virus.
What are your top three tips for staying safe during a “carless weekend getaway”?
I absolutely believe in the science of the COVID vaccination. Therefore I believe in the efficacy of the vaccine. If I could receive a one or 2 shot vaccine that reduced my likelihood of “catching” cancer by 95%, or would diminish the severity of the cancer, should I “catch it”, I would do anything necessary to avail myself of that vaccine. Unfortunately, we don’t have a vaccine against all cancer…, but we do have the COVID vaccine.
So, my first tip would be to encourage all eligible people to get their vaccination prior to traveling.
My second tip would be to encourage people to avoid travel to regions with a high incidence of COVID and it’s variants.
My 3rd tip would be to retain the practice of the CDC established COVID protocols if traveling with people who are too young, or who have pre-existing conditions, and therefore have not received the COVID vaccination. This would include making a strong effort to avoid large crowds and tightly crowded areas.
What are the three most essential things to pack for a weekend trip?
#1: a great attitude and lots of patience.
#2: evidence of prior planning, such as previously obtained tickets, reservations, maps, and a detailed plan for which sites/experiences you intend to pursue and an itinerary for how/where and when you intend to engage in these various activities.
#3: Money, both in the form of cash and credit/debit cards.
Wayne E. Williams
Professor
Appalachian State University
Wayne E. Williams
Professor
Appalachian State University
What are the best ways to explore a city on foot (or other means besides driving)?
Start with the downtown, the older the better. Three of my favorite cities are Quebec, Santa Fe and New Orleans. Each has a historic district with a distinctive architecture, museums, great restaurants, and street entertainment. A world of activities are within easy walking distance. Most cities have an accessible center that makes walking tours fun.
I’m old enough that I prefer a map to Google Maps on my smart phone. A map of the city allows one to see the big picture and design a route that includes attraction to visit with conveniantly located restaurants and bars.
How do you expect the spread of COVID-19’s Delta variant will affect travel the rest of the summer, if at all?
It’s hard to tell. People seem to be eager to travel, but that could be dampened if COVID-19 has a resurgence.
What are your top three tips for staying safe during a “carless weekend getaway”?
If by “safe” you mean avoiding the virus, the things to do are to mask up when it seems appropriate, use hand sanitizer, and wash your hands regularly. As for urban safety in general, stick to well lighted, heavily visited areas, be aware of those around you, and pack your valuables in a front pocket.
What are the three most essential things to pack for a weekend trip?
A camera of some sort, good walking/hiking shoes, and I’m going to add the combination of a hat and good sunglasses.
How can local leaders make their cities more attractive to visitors who prefer to get around without a car?
Local leaders can offer websites, apps, and printed matter with suggested walking and/or biking routes. They could also add a code that would entitle visitors to discounts along the way with participating businesses. Bike sharing programs have been very successful in many cities, but the verdict’s still out on the safety of loaner scooters.
Mike Hampton, Ed.D.
Professor
Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Florida International University
Mike Hampton, Ed.D.
Professor
Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Florida International University
What are the best ways to explore a city on foot (or other means besides driving)?
In South Florida there are many options for exploring the metropolitan area without having to have a car. The region has Tri-Rail, Metro-Rail and Metro-Mover that provide a network of train connections along the east coast from West Palm Beach to South Miami. Buses and shuttles provide convenient access to area beaches, attractions, shopping malls, historic districts and municipal downtown centers.
Throughout the area there are bike rental stations and shops that offer a variety of cycling options for adults and kids to explore using bike lanes, bike paths, boardwalks and greenways; plus walking and cycling is available via the elevated levee along the edge of the Everglades. Scooter and scootcoupe rentals are also available.
Water taxi operations transport passengers among a wide range of intracoastal marina stops in fort Lauderdale and Miami. Sightseeing boats run up and down the intracoastal waterway featuring celebrity home viewing, unique skyline scenes and marine life observation. Deep Sea fishing excursions leave from marinas throughout South Florida.
Segway rentals and tours make getting around fun in Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach. Many cities throughout South Florida have regularly-scheduled trolleys that circuit through the primary leisure and business locations, enabling visitors (and residents) to visit and discover the unique attributes of each at their own pace.
Communities like Delray Beach and Wynwood provide large outdoor walking areas that are highlighted with art exhibits, shops, cafes, craft breweries and entertainment. And, there are numerous tour operators that provide an extensive array of choices for visitors to see and experience the exciting sites – Air boat and swamp buggy tours are an example.
How do you expect the spread of COVID-19’s Delta variant will affect travel the rest of the summer, if at all?
The recent Destination Analysts traveler sentiment index shows growing concern for travel as a result of the surging Delta variant of COVID; so the expectation is that many people will opt to stay local and avoid visiting “hot spot” areas. The prevailing advice for everyone is to maintain safe practices – get vaccinated, avoid large crowds, wash (and sanitize) hands often, and wear a mask when in public.
As long as these precautions are taken, the general population should be able to enjoy participating in cultural, recreational and entertainment activities.
What are your top three tips for staying safe during a “carless weekend getaway”?
As mentioned above, get vaccinated, wash (and sanitize) hands often, and wear a mask when in public.
What are the three most essential things to pack for a weekend trip?
A hat/cap/head covering, sunscreen and a mask!
How can local leaders make their cities more attractive to visitors who prefer to get around without a car?
Better public transportation – conveniently located, clean, safe, and frequently scheduled. Better infrastructure to support walking and cycling access – more designated bike lanes, connected bike paths, and extended greenways.
Methodology
We ranked the 150 largest U.S. cities from best (No. 1) to worst (No. 150) based on their overall scores (out of 100 possible points), averaged across all the weighted metrics listed below.
Gap in Current Vaccination Rate (as of July 19, 2021) vs. Herd Immunity (70%)
3
2%
39%
Min. Value
Gap in June 9, 2021* Vaccination Rate vs. Herd Immunity (70%)
2
8%
43%
Min. Value
Showing 1 to 9 of 9 entries
*Vaccination rates were collected on June 9, 2021 for LawnStarter’s “Best Cities for Your Summer Vaxcation” study, which was used as a metric in this study, the Best Cities for Carless Weekend Trips. Vaccination rates were collected again on July 19 for comparison.
Sources: LawnStarter and The New York Times
Why This Study Matters
As more Americans get vaccinated and cities open up, travel has surged.
For those of us finding ourselves constantly on crunch time, a weekend jaunt may be just what we need. And the less time we have to spend driving around means more quality time with ourselves or with family and friends.
So go on, let your hair down this weekend, and cross one destination — or even two — off your bucket list. And no matter where you get away, be safe. Pack face masks, and enjoy the great outdoors, which is safer than crowded indoor venues.
Main Photo Credit: Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock
Richie Bernardo is a managing editor who previously wrote about personal finance and immigration. Philippine-born, Kansas City-bred, and barbecue-fed, Richie enjoys baking, deal hunting, and binging “Ancient Aliens.”
