The 10 cheapest cities for summer vacation
Travel costs have increased significantly this year, which is largely attributed to pent-up demand following the pandemic. Increased inflation also plays a role, as prices across the board have risen.
But travelers who want to stay stateside this summer have many opportunities to create an unforgettable trip with good memories rather than an over-the-top credit card balance.
In order to find the cheapest travel destinations, The Zebra analyzed the 50 most populous cities in the U.S. using four travel-related data points:
- Airfare: Based on the costs from Omaha, Nebraska (a larger midwestern city that isn't a destination on our list) to each city destination for the second week in July using Google Flights
- Average hotel rate**:** As of October 2022[1]
- Gas price per gallon**:** By state as of May 2023[2]
- Average price of meal**:** For two people at an inexpensive restaurant[3]
Ready to get inspired for your next summer trip? We've got you covered with 10 cities that will leave you wondering which one to pick!
Methodology
The Zebra pulled four data points to analyze the top 50 MSAs (by population) in the U.S. related to budget-friendly summer travel destinations:
- **Airfare (**Google Flights)
- Average hotel rate (Cheap Hotels)
- Gas price per gallon (AAA)
- Average price of meal (Numbeo)
MSA data was used where applicable, and we sometimes substituted city or state data as necessary.