22 Cities Where You Can Live Car-Free

View From Below, Many People Walking Along a Crosswalk in a City Downtown, Slight Blur

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View From Below, Many People Walking Along a Crosswalk in a City Downtown, Slight Blur
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Take These Cities for a Spin

There are a lot of benefits to owning a car, not the least of which is being able to travel whenever and wherever you want. But that freedom ain't free, according to AAA. It estimates that the average cost of owning a car is between $8,307 and $11,054 a year, depending on how much you drive. One way to minimize that cost is to ditch the car and take public transit or a rideshare service, bike, or walk instead. These cities make it easier for their residents to drive less and save more.


Related: 20 Bike-Friendly Cities for a Vacation

Crowd of People Walking Along a Crosswalk in Downtown Manhattan, Street Is Filled with Yellow Cabs, Trees and Plants Line Both Sides of the Street
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Historic Architecture in Downtown Washington, D.C., People Walking in a Park Area
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Washington, D.C.

The nation's capital may be relatively compact compared with some of the sprawling cities on this list, but it rivals them with its sizable rapid-transit system, the Metro, which stretches into Virginia and Maryland. (It's the third busiest in the nation when it comes to heavy heavy rail, only behind New York City and Chicago in terms of ridership.) Washington is ranked No. 5 on Walk Score's list of most-walkable cities, and it scores highly for public transit access as well. Walkable neighborhoods include U Street and Dupont Circle.


Related: 24 Free or Cheap Things to Do in Washington, D.C.

Young People Walking Along Sidewalk in Back Bay Neighborhood, Boston, One Woman Is Looking At the Camera, Historic Buildings and Trees
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Boston, Massachusetts

Boston's tangle of streets make driving rather difficult, but its public transit system, which includes subway, bus, and commuter rail, links a metropolitan area that extends from New Hampshire to Rhode Island. The city is also highly walkable and bike-friendly, ranked No. 3 in the U.S. according to Walk Score. Among Boston's most walkable areas are Chinatown, Bay Village, and Beacon Hill.

People Walking Along the Wide Sidewalk of Downtown Chicago, At the Corner of an Intersection, Cars Are Moving Along the Left, High Rise Buildings Surround and in the Distance
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Chicago, Illinois

Chicago's mass-transit system is the second-busiest in the nation, and the Chicago Transit Authority's network of elevated rapid-transit lines (its beloved "L"), commuter rail, and bus system can take you throughout the city and as far as the state lines. The city is both bikeable and walkable, as well, with Walk Score identifying the West Loop, Near North Side, and East Ukrainian Village as the most pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.

People Walking Along Crosswalk in Downtown Philadelphia, Road on the Left, Crosswalk on the Right with Park Behind It, Tall Buildings Line the Road
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Like other East Coast cities, Philadelphia has a relatively low rate of vehicle ownership and an established, extensive public transit network. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, provides public transit ranging from commuter rails and trolleys to buses and subways within the city, but Philadelphia is also one of the most pedestrian-friendly cities in the country. The most walkable neighborhoods include Avenue of the Arts South, Center City West, and Rittenhouse Square.

People Walk Along Sidewalk of 15th Street in the Financial District in Downtown Denver, Road in the Foreground, Historic Buildings and a Parking Lot, Tall Modern Buildings in the Background
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Denver, Colorado

Visitors and residents can get around the Mile High City easily and inexpensively by using the Regional Transportation District's (RTA) light rail and bus lines, including a line from downtown to Denver International Airport. Denver also has some of the best infrastructure for bicyclists in the country between its flat terrain and dedicated bike lanes. The most walkable neighborhoods here are Capitol Hill, Five Points, and, of course, downtown.

People Walking on the Stone Arch Bridge to Cross the Mississippi River in Downtown Minneapolis, in the Foreground, High Rise Buildings in the Background
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Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis has public transportation options, including bus, light rail, and commuter rail, but the city really shines when it comes to walkability and bikeability scores, according to Walk Score. A University of Minnesota study found that more than 400,000 residents in the metropolitan area bike or walk to work each day. Their routines are aided by the relatively flat terrain, which makes both walking and biking a breeze. If you plan on walking, try living in Lowry Hill East, Lyn-Lake, or Downtown West.

A Young Woman with a Dog Walking Along the Brick Paved Street At Fell's Point, Baltimore, Historic Buildings Line the Road
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Numerous People Along the Red Brick Road of the Shopping District of Boulder, Colorado, Trees Surround the Colorful and Quaint Shops
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Boulder, Colorado

This scenic and eminently livable university town boasts a walkable core and solid bus service for a city of its size, but where Boulder really shines is in bikeability. It ranked as America's No. 7 best bicycling city in an analysis by People for Bikes and earns an 86/100 for bikeability from Walk Score, with more than 9% of commuters going by bike. Boulder's best areas to live without a car include Whittier, Gloss-Grove, and University Hill.

People Walk Along Palm Tree-Lined Sidewalk Across the Street of Art Deco Buildings on Ocean Drive, Miami During Sunset
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Miami, Florida

Miami ranks seventh among Walk Score's ranking of the most walkable U.S. cities, which may explain in part why almost a fifth of households get by without a car, according to 2015 and 2016 data. Its public transit includes commuter rail, buses, and the free Metromover servicing downtown. Miami's most walkable neighborhoods include Little Havana and Wynwood-Edgewater.


Related: 30 Free or Cheap Things to Do in Miami

Historic Buildings in the Old Town District of Fort Collins, Colorado, Sidewalk with Seating in the Foreground
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Fort Collins, Colorado

This city doesn't rank highly for walkability, but it's exceptional among non-coastal cities for its bike-friendliness. It ranked among the top 15 best bicycle cities in the nation, with multi-use paths and over and underpasses across major intersections. Roughly 5% of commuters to bicycle to work, and slightly less than 5% of households make do without a car, according to a 2015-2016 survey. The most walkable neighborhoods here are Old Town, University Park, and downtown.

A Young Man Walks Across the Roberto Clemente Bridge in Pittsburgh, During His Morning Commute, Light Yellow Bridge with Skyline in the Background
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh doesn't enjoy quite as high a walkability score as that other Pennsylvania metropolis, Philadelphia. Its public transit system of bus lines and light rail is somewhat more limited as well. But the city has some very compact residential areas, such as the Central Oakland and Friendship neighborhoods, and average commute times for public transit riders is nearly on par with driving, according to one study.

Hilly Street in Downtown San Francisco, Cars Line the Road with Very Tall Buildings, a Cable Car in the Center, the Golden Gate Bridge in the Distance
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San Francisco, California

San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART), bus lines, and commuter rail add up to some of the best public transit in the country. Despite the hilly terrain, San Francisco is easily navigable by foot. Among the most walkable neighborhoods are Union Square, Lower Nob Hill, and Chinatown, according to Walk Score, which ranks San Francisco as the nation's most-walkable city.


Related: 20 Free and Cheap Things to Do in San Francisco

Lake Merritt and Buildings of Oakland, California, Lake in the Foreground with Park and Buildings in the Distance
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Oakland, California

Like its sister city San Francisco, Oakland shares the same BART system, allowing residents to travel throughout the Bay Area and connect to commuter rail that extends to Sacramento and Southern California. It's also highly walkable, according to Walk Score, though its overall public transit rank isn't quite as high.

Many People Waiting to Cross SW Naito Parkway Near the Waterfront At the Portland Saturday Market, Portland, Oregon
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Portland, Oregon

Portland's TriMet serves the metropolitan area with bus, light rail, and commuter rail, but what really sets Portland apart is how bikeable it is. More than 6% of Portlanders commute on two wheels, the highest rate of any city, according to BikeAdviser's analysis of 2020 census data. The most walkable areas are downtown, the Pearl District, and Old Town Chinatown.

Focus on People Walking Along a Crosswalk in Downtown Seattle, Buildings and Street in the Background
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Seattle, Washington

The Pacific Northwest's largest city has a rapid transit line called Link Light Rail connecting the airport to the University of Washington campus, while the rest of the metropolitan area is covered by three separate bus lines and two commuter rails. The hilly terrain doesn't deter the city's many bike commuters, and one of their most unique transit amenities is the ferry system, which connects the downtown to communities on the other side of Puget Sound.

Aerial of the Pike Area in Long Beach, California, Boats in the Harbor and Cityscape
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Long Beach, California

Southern California and the Los Angeles metropolitan area aren't renowned for their walkability and public transit, but Long Beach bucks the trend. It's the 10th most walkable big city in the U.S., according to Walk Score. Ten percent of households manage without a car, and Long Beach Transit connects to neighboring transit networks throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The most walkable areas include downtown, Saint Mary, and Franklin School.

The Bus in Chinatown on King Street, Honolulu, People Walking Along the Sidewalk
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Honolulu, Hawaii

One can get pretty much anywhere you'd need to go without a private vehicle in Hawaii's biggest city, which may be part of the reason why 17% of households don't own one. Oahu's limited geography, combined with more than 100 TheBus routes, make it easy to reach different neighborhoods and most major towns across the island. The most walkable neighborhoods are downtown, Waikiki, Ala Moana, and Kaka'ako.

St. Paul, Minnesota Skyline Along the Mississippi River During Evening, Colorful Lights
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St. Paul, Minnesota

Minnesota's capital, St. Paul, makes the list thanks to its wealth of protected bike lanes and superior bike safety statistics. From 2014 to 2018, there were just 0.36 bicycle fatalities per 100,000 residents, which is why SmartAsset awarded this Midwestern capital the No. 10 spot for most bike-friendly U.S. city. St. Paul does fall short when it comes to walkability, though the downtown and South Frogtown areas score in the 80s and 90s on Walk Score.

UC Davis Arboretum on Lake Spafford, Davis, California, During Autumn, Duck on the Lake in the Foreground with Colorful Trees in the Background
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Davis, California

Home to the University of California, Davis, this college town is dominated by bikes — so much so that some have compared it to the Netherlands. Thank forward-thinking city planning in the 1970s and '80s, which had Davis built around bikes, not cars. That infrastructure, combined with the town's flat terrain, transformed this small Yolo County municipality into the "Bicycle Capital of the World," meaning that living car-free is simple here. Today, more than 98% of the main streets in Davis have some sort of bicycle provision, and People for Bikes rated this town as the second most bike-friendly city in North America.

Cityscape of Berkeley, California As Viewed From a Campanile on the Hill During Dawn
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Berkeley, California

Another California university town, Berkeley features a robust bike network, which propels it to People for Bikes' No. 2 spot for bikeable mid-size North American cities. To put Berkely's infrastructure into prospective, the city received a 72/100 for its network score, while the average North American city scores 25. Like San Francisco, Oakland, and other Bay Area cities, Berkeley also benefits from BART, which connects the college town to Daly City, Millbrae, and the San Francisco International Airport.

Skyline of Jersey City, New Jersey, with Goldman Sachs Tower, Blue Sky, and Clouds Reflected Reflected in Water of Hudson River
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Jersey City, New Jersey

Jersey City scores higher on walkability and public transportation than better-known East Coast metropolises such as Chicago and Philadelphia. Nearly 50% of the city's commuters take public transit to get to work, relying on a system of subways, buses light rails, and rentable bikes. The city also has a Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related injuries and deaths by 2026.