16 Trendy and Budget-Friendly Travel Spots in the U.S.
Whether you’re drawn to the mountains, the sea, bustling cities, or expansive national parks, the United States has almost too many tourist spots to count. If you’re dreaming of a vacation but don’t want to break the bank, this list, inspired by a recent WeThrift study, will help you find a popular and relatively budget-friendly city to go to.
We’ll also share a few tips to help you maximize your travel budget.
Methodology
Using a seed list of the most popular U.S. cities, WeThrift, a website that aims to help shoppers save, analyzed several data points to rank them from most to least affordable. Their data points included flight routes, number of passengers, cost of attractions, cost of a meal, cost of public transport, and more.
The WeThrift team gave each location on their list an affordability score out of eighty points. The higher the score, the more affordable the area.
1: Orlando
Orlando is the most affordable popular vacation destination in the U.S., according to WeThrift. The Disney-based city offers a major airport, inexpensive public transportation, low-cost food, and hotels averaging around $192.86 per night. Though attractions like DisneyWorld and Universal aren’t budget-friendly, everything else is, which is why O-Town scored 47.2 in WeThrift’s study.
2: San Antonio
WeThrift gave San Antonio an affordability score of 46.7. This Texas city offers low-cost attractions, like its River Walk and the Alamo, both of which are free to visit. It also features inexpensive dining options, with meals running around $18 per person.
3: Atlanta
Atlanta scored 45.4 thanks to budget-friendly hotels ($147.84 average) and affordable public transportation ($2.50 average). Though some of the city tours are pricey, Atlanta offers plenty of free and low-cost activities, including Piedmont Park and the World of Coca-Cola museum.
4: Dallas
With 256 flight routes, drinks costing around $4.67, and reasonably-priced hotels ($144.32), Dallas is a pretty budget-friendly vacation destination, as its score of 45.4 demonstrates. While some of the attractions are expensive, many are entirely free, like the Dallas Farmers Market (open seven days a week) and the Dallas Museum of Art.
5: Chicago
From Miracle Mile to Millennium Park, Chicago is full of things to see and do. And, luckily for tourists who have their eyes on it, you can visit Chicago without breaking the bank. The Windy City scored 42.6 on WeThrift’s list thanks to its 246 flight routes, lower-cost attractions, and food running around $20 per person.
6: St. Louis
St. Louis scored 38.7 in WeThrift’s study. Attraction tickets are some of the lowest on this list ($115.34), and accommodation is relatively affordable, averaging $165.23 per night. Home to the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, the Missouri Civil War Museum, and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, St. Louis is a great choice for lovers of American history.
7: Philadelphia
No matter where you are in the country, you can probably find a relatively direct flight to Philadelphia, given its 122 flight routes. The City of Brotherly Love scored 38.7 on WeThrift’s list. Low-cost attractions ($109.51 average) helped bring up its score, although higher accommodation costs ($228.10) aren’t on its side.
8: Los Angeles
Whether you want to soak up the sun, search for celebrities, or partake in a late-night taco or two, Los Angeles is the place to go. LA doesn’t offer the most affordable hotels ($371.96 average per night), but public transportation ($1.75 average) is the lowest in WeThrift’s study, which helped it score 33.3.
9: Las Vegas
Visiting Las Vegas on a budget isn’t the easiest thing, making it all the more reason to win the jackpot. Attraction tickets average $234.93, and public transportation is around $3. Needless to say, Sin City joins Los Angeles in having a WeThrift score of 33.3.
10: Boston
Boston is the last of three cities to score a 33.3. A drink runs around $5.70 in Boston, yet tourists will save money on attraction tickets ($167.64) compared to most of the cities on this list. History lovers will enjoy Boston’s Freedom Trail, which costs nothing to explore, while bibliophiles will love a free tour of the Boston Public Library.
11: Miami
Accommodation is expensive in Miami, especially for tourists traveling during the high season. On top of that, the Magic City has expensive food ($25 average per meal), although travelers can catch a break when using the city’s public transportation ($2.25 average). WeThrift gave Miami a 28.0 score, so we recommend budget travelers stick to Miami’s free public beaches to help save money.
12: Washington, DC
Visiting the nation’s capital is expensive, especially if you stay in the downtown area. Washington, D.C. scored a 26.8 in WeThrift’s study, with expensive attraction tickets driving down its score. The good news? Travelers to Washington, D.C., on a budget can explore many of the city’s most impressive sites without spending any money, like the National Mall and the Smithsonian museums.
13: New York City
New York City is one of the most expensive places to live, so budget travelers need to take care not to break the bank there. WeThrift gave the Big Apple a score of 24.6, with relatively inexpensive public transportation ($2.90) preventing its score from being lower.
14: San Francisco
Visiting San Francisco is challenging on a budget, as shown by WeThrift’s score of 22.0. If you’re tight on money but want to see the Golden Gate Bridge, you might want to opt for hostels or a shared Airbnb to avoid paying the average accommodation price of $269.72 per night.
15: San Diego
For travelers who seek a sunny California vacation, San Diego is a great choice. That is, if you have the money for it. San Diego earned a measly 17.4 in WeThrift’s study, with high drink costs ($5.62) and expensive attraction tickets ($229.67 average) being some of the culprits.
16: Honolulu
Honolulu is the most expensive popular tourist city in the U.S. based on WeThrift’s data, where it scores a 10.7. From the average cost of an attraction ticket costing $274.96 to accommodation averaging $304.43, it takes more than a pretty penny to vacation in The Big Pineapple.
Budget Travel Tips
Price-savvy travelers can maximize their budget to any destination by paying attention to a few things. For starters? Ditch Uber in favor of public transportation when you can. Many cities in the U.S. offer inexpensive public transit options.
Travel Out of Season
Avoid spring break and summer vacation periods if possible, and opt for shoulder season vacations instead. Traveling in September or early March in the U.S. often means you’ll get decent weather at a lower price and with fewer crowds.
Consider Alternative Lodging
Airbnbs and hostels can save you a lot of money when traveling. If you’re traveling with a family, you might also consider renting a timeshare. They often cost less than hotels in the same area, especially if you need to book more than one room to accommodate your group.
Plan Your Packing
Make a list and check it twice when it’s time to pack your bags. It’s easy to overspend on items you forgot, like a rain poncho or bathing suit. Bringing everything you need from home helps ensure your vacation stays within budget.
Make Your Lunch
You don’t have to eat out for every meal to experience local cuisine. It’s usually less expensive to purchase food for breakfast and lunch at the local supermarket. Standing in line at the checkout is also a great time to ask locals for recommendations on activities and other dining locations.
Most and Least Visited States
Data company YouGov compiled the states Americans have visited the most and least. How many of the states on their list have you been to?
Most and Least Visited States by Americans
Travel Without a Passport
If you want to travel abroad but don’t love the thought of going through the passport application process, these are six countries Americans can travel to without a passport.
