Uncovering the 15 Most Walkable Cities in the US

One of the best ways to get to know a city is by exploring it on foot. Nothing captures the essence of an area quite like strolling along the wide sidewalks of a neighborhood or the cobblestones of a historic district. Even those who have called a city home for years can find joy in walking its streets to get to work, dinner, and unique shops. 

Our list of the 15 most walkable cities in the U.S. comes from data that was released by Walk Score. To determine a city’s walkability, Walk Score analyzes the routes that people can walk to grocery stores, parks, restaurants, schools and shops. Walkability is measured on a 100-point scale, and areas with a high walk score indicate places where residents can run errands on foot.

San Francisco ranks as the most walkable city in the U.S. The city is filled with high-density neighborhoods where commuting on foot is more convenient than sitting in stand-still traffic. Areas like Chinatown, Union Square and Polk Gulch are known for their easily accessible grocery stores, restaurants and coffee shops. The Golden City’s commitment to being a pedestrian-friendly paradise is reflected in the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) Pedestrian Program, aimed at building safer streets. Crosswalks, pedestrian zones, red visibility curbs and wide sidewalks are all weaved into the city’s infrastructure.

New York City’s gridded streets and extensive public transportation system are some of the many reasons why it ranks as the second most walkable city in the U.S. Restaurants, art galleries and high-end clothing stores are crammed into every block in Manhattan’s jungle of skyscrapers, promoting a pedestrian-friendly lifestyle for its residents. Other New York City boroughs, like Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island are their own individual havens of walkability with their wide sidewalks and corner bodegas.

Jersey City is an incredibly walkable urban area. Its waterfront walkways along the Hudson River and numerous green spaces on the West Side promote recreational strolls. For daily routines and commutes, the city’s streets and bike paths are pedestrian-friendly and take people past eclectic shops and restaurants downtown.

As one of the country’s older cities, Boston was designed for pedestrians. The narrow, cobblestone streets and brick sidewalks of its historic districts make for a beautiful stroll. Walkable neighborhoods include North End, Beacon Hill and Bay Village, with their quaint restaurants and historic sites. There’s also the Freedom Trail: a 2.5-mile path that takes pedestrians past 16 of Boston’s historic sites. 

Known for its skyscrapers and modern architecture, Chicago’s downtown area is a walking paradise. There are trendy eateries, as well as tourist attractions like art galleries, museums, and The Bean. In addition to its urban areas, the Windy City has numerous waterfront parks and natural green spaces along its 26-mile Lake Michigan shoreline that promote recreational walks. These spaces can even be accessed from the city through pedestrian bridges that cross over U.S. Route 41.

Washington, D.C. is more than just a center for politics, it’s a cultural hot spot for museums, historic landmarks and restaurants with cuisine from across the world. The best part is that if you live in Washington, D.C., it’s all walkable. The National Mall is well-known for its amenities, and there are neighborhoods like Dupont Circle, Mount Vernon Square and Georgetown that have pedestrian-centered infrastructure. The gridded streets are named with letters and numbers, making it easy to navigate. Bike trails and walking paths along the Potomac River are great for weekend adventures.

Miami’s palm tree-covered beaches are known across the country, but its walkable city lifestyle is also worth talking about. You can explore all of downtown Miami on foot, walking straight from the sand to the sidewalks. Upscale restaurants and high-end retail stores line the streets. Residential neighborhoods like Coconut Grove and Brickell have amenities on every corner, making it easy for residents to walk to what they need.

As the largest metro area in the Garden State, Newark, New Jersey, has a network of streets and neighborhoods that connect for a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. In downtown neighborhoods like University Heights and the city’s Central Business District, the tall, brick buildings are side by side with pedestrian pathways and bike paths. Residents can live, work and play in the same place without ever having to hop in a car. With the city’s Transit Village status, Newark receives funding for maintaining safe and convenient pedestrian infrastructure.

Just across the bay from San Francisco, Oakland, California, has its own walkable neighborhoods. Colorful street murals and public art decorate the area, giving passerby something to look at as they walk to grocery stores and necessity shops within the city’s downtown area. Oakland also features plenty of greenery, with mature trees and natural spaces that offer recreation. Neighborhoods like Emeryville and Peralta are right along the waterfront and provide access to trails for recreational walks. In the Cleveland Heights and Lakeside areas, you can take a stroll along Lake Merritt for some peace and quiet.

Philadelphia is a historic city with a pedestrian-friendly landscape. As one of America’s first planned cities, it has a compact grid system that’s easy to navigate. Wide sidewalks and crosswalks encourage foot traffic to historic landmarks like Independence Hall and the city’s more modern commercial spaces. Some areas like Rittenhouse Square, Center City East and Washington Square West feature cobblestone paths for pedestrian-only crossings.

Seattle is considered very car centric, where it’s normal for residents to drive around in a vehicle. However, residential neighborhoods like Queen Anne and Capitol Hill have shops, restaurants and grocery stores all within walking distance of the homes. There are also parks everywhere, with most residents only 10 minutes away from the closest one. Easy access to amenities and green space makes Seattle a noteworthy and pedestrian-friendly place.

Downtown Long Beach, California, is flush with local restaurants and name-brand shops, plus there is a green space promenade for traveling in between them. Nearby residential neighborhoods like East Village and Alamitos Beach have access to both downtown amenities and the water. Residents can easily walk or bike from the sand to the sidewalks. Multiple parks throughout the city and trails along the Los Angeles River encourage recreational walks.

Minneapolis balances urban living with natural landscapes, providing a walkable lifestyle for its residents. Within its downtown district, neighborhoods like Uptown and North Loop have a mix of shopping and dining alongside multi-family housing properties. The Skyway System is an enclosed pathway of second-level bridges that spans over 80 blocks, keeping pedestrians warm so they can continue walking to corporate offices, restaurants and entertainment venues in the cold winter months. Neighborhoods like Kenwood and Bryn Mawr feature access to several lakes and green spaces, encouraging nature walks and hiking along the trails. Every neighborhood along the Mississippi River has access to trails and parks following the waterfront.

Right outside the nation’s Capital, Arlington, Virginia, has sprawling and pedestrian-friendly streets. There are some areas where grocery stores, convenience stores and local restaurants are a quick walk down the street from people’s homes. Arlington is very dog-friendly, and neighborhoods like Clarendon, Courthouse, Pentagon City and Ballston have streets where heavy foot traffic and the commercial spaces promote a live-work-play lifestyle.

While Los Angeles as a city is primarily car-centric, several of its neighborhoods are pedestrian-friendly. Famous areas like Hollywood and Santa Monica are known for being touristy, where people can walk along the streets and find attractions left and right. Downtown LA is considered an entertainment hub where you can walk to concerts, fine dining and museums.

Living in an area with a good Walk Score provides a number of benefits, which include a positive impact on your health and the environment. Property values also tend to trend higher in neighborhoods with good walkability.

• Lower Obesity: An MDPI study indicates that cities with more access to amenities within walking distance may lower the rates of adult obesity by 1.9%. 
• The American Journal of Preventive Medicine reports that doubling the number of people who walk to work in a neighborhood reduces an individual's risk of obesity by almost 10%. 
• According to a study from the American Journal of Public Health, moving to an area with a Walk Score that’s 10 points higher leads to an additional 16 minutes of walking per week.

Traveling by foot is one way to contribute to a sustainable future, and moving to a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood makes it easier. The benefits include a reduction in the use of fossil fuels, which also reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. 

A study by CEOs for Cities indicates that homes in areas with above-average walkability command higher values. Within a typical metropolitan area, the price premium ranges from $4,000 to $34,000 when compared with homes that offer average walkability. 

The values of commercial properties also benefit, with a University of Arizona study indicating a 9% increase in retail property value for every 10-point increase in an area’s Walk Score. 

What is the most walkable city in the United States? San Francisco has the highest Walk Score of all cities in America at 88.7.

Is Chicago the most walkable city? With a Walk Score of 77.2, Chicago, Illinois, ranks No.5 for Most Walkable City in the U.S. It is beaten out by Boston, Jersey City, New York and San Francisco.

Where do people walk the most in the U.S.? Due to its high walkability, people walk the most in San Francisco, California. On average, residents of San Francisco walk 3.25 miles a day, which is roughly 6,496 steps.

What is the least walkable city in the U.S.? Chesapeake, Virginia, has the lowest Walk Score recorded at 21.3. Most errands require a car for residents, and the area also has limited public transportation and bike lanes.