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Cheapest cities for summer travel in 2023

Best U.S. cities for your budget vacay

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By Susan Meyer Info icon
Updated September 8, 2023
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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

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Ross Martin

Insurance Writer

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  • 4+ years in the Insurance Industry

Ross joined The Zebra as a writer and researcher in 2019. He specializes in writing insurance content to help shoppers make informed decisions.

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Table of contents:

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!

#1: Houston, Texas

Houston takes the top spot as the cheapest summer travel destination for 2023. Airfare from the Midwest averages $329 and you can find a hotel for around $145. Texas also has the cheapest gas in the country, so you won't blow your budget when renting a car. Enjoy a meal at an inexpensive restaurant averaging just over $17 and choose from several diverse cultural fusion options, like Tex-Mex and Viet-Cajun cuisine.

  • Airfare: $329
  • Average hotel rate: $145
  • Gas price per gallon: $3.077
  • Average price of meal: $17.32

Travel budget tip

Grab a Houston CityPASS to save on admission to the city's biggest attractions, like the Space Center, Houston Zoo and the Downtown Aquarium.

#2: Atlanta, Georgia

Looking for an affordable urban oasis vacation? Check out Atlanta, which ranks in the top three in two categories: hotel rates and meals. In fact, the average hotel cost is just $119 per night and a meal costs around $15. Gas and airfare are a little more costly, but shouldn't break the bank, making Atlanta a particularly budget-friendly vacation spot. 

  • Airfare: $359
  • Average hotel rate: $119
  • Gas price per gallon: $3.263
  • Average price of meal: $15.00

Travel budget tip

Skipping the rental car? You can save big in Atlanta by purchasing an unlimited MARTA pass so you can ride by rail, bus or street car as much as you want.

#3: Memphis, Tennessee

Love bluegrass, rock n' roll and soul? Memphis is a music lover's haven and it won't break the bank to take a trip there. Tennessee's gas prices are low, so you can inexpensively drive there or rent a car — and explore attractions outside the city, like Graceland. You can also dine out frequently thanks to an average meal price of just $16. 

  • Airfare: $345
  • Average hotel rate: $160
  • Gas price per gallon: $3.141
  • Average price of meal: $16

Travel budget tip

Head to the Mississippi riverfront at night for a free LED lights show that electrifies the city's iconic bridges.

#4: Louisville, Kentucky

Low hotel prices of just $133 per night may make you want to stay a few extra days in Louisville. Plus, you can splurge on eating out with the average meal costing just $16. Gas and airfare prices are moderate, but once you're there, you have plenty of ways to save.

  • Airfare: $345
  • Average hotel rate: $133
  • Gas price per gallon: $3.293
  • Average price of meal: $16

Travel budget tip

Louisville is home to one of the nation's largest historic preservation districts featuring Victorian architecture. Download the free "GPSmyCity" app to take a self-guided walking tour and see some amazing mansions.

#5: Birmingham, Alabama

As a city founded on iron works and expanded as one of the nation's centers of the Civil Rights movement, there is plenty to do and see in Alabama. Airfare may be above average if you're coming from across the country. But gas is inexpensive and meals average $16 in Magic City.

  • Airfare: $400
  • Average hotel rate: Not available
  • Gas price per gallon: $3.091
  • Average price of meal: $16

Travel budget tip

Check out The Vulcan Park and Museum atop Red Mountain. Admission is just $6 (which drops to $5 during the evening) and you can see the world's largest iron cast statue, which depicts Vulcan, the Roman metal smithing god.

#6: San Antonio, Texas

One of the fastest growing cities in the nation, San Antonio has the cheapest nightly hotel rate out of all the cities we surveyed. Paired with cheap gas in Texas and meals around $18, it can be an extremely budget-friendly trip. Just plan to spend a little extra on flights, which cost $430 coming in from Omaha.

  • Airfare: $430
  • Average hotel rate: $107
  • Gas price per gallon: $3.077
  • Average price of meal: $18

Travel budget tip

Check out the San Antonio River Walk, which contains 15 scenic miles of stone paths that connect a variety of shops and restaurants.

#7: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City is another destination with inexpensive hotels and gas. And with 200 days of sunshine each year, chances are you'll be able to enjoy your entire trip without getting rained on. When planning, you can either find an average hotel at a nightly rate around $131 or spend a bit more for splurge accommodations. At $19, meals are a little pricier than other cities on our top 10 list, but the barbecue is worth it. Airfare prices are still below average.

  • Airfare: $353
  • Average hotel rate: $131
  • Gas price per gallon: $3.166
  • Average price of meal: $19

Travel budget tip

Check out the city's Scissortail Park. Kids can enjoy the playground and splash pad, and visitors of all ages can enjoy the farmer's market or rent a boat to take a turn around the lake. 

#8: New Orleans, Louisiana

You may need to increase your food budget in New Orleans, but dining on beignets and po-boy sandwiches is worth the cost. Plus, you can save money on hotels in the Big Easy, which average around $144. Summer airfare is among the cheapest on our list, averaging $343 roundtrip. 

  • Airfare: $343
  • Average hotel rate: $144
  • Gas price per gallon: $3.082
  • Average price of meal: $19.75

Travel budget tip

Stretch your legs while you wander New Orleans' Historic Garden District. These homes have preserved the city's unique architecture, which blends Spanish, French, and Caribbean styles.

#9: Baltimore, Maryland

Take a trip to Baltimore and you'll find your biggest savings in the form of hotels, averaging $121 per night, and meals, averaging under $15 each. When traveling in summer, save some of that food budget for Maryland blue crabs. Airfare is high if you have to fly to get there, and gas prices in Maryland average around $3.44.

  • Airfare: $417
  • Average hotel rate: $121
  • Gas price per gallon: $3.440
  • Average price of meal: $14.50

Travel budget tip

Baltimore's Inner Harbor is well known for its National Aquarium and Science Center. But you can skip the admission prices and simply walk along the beautiful waterfront.

#10: Denver, Colorado

Enjoy cheap airfare rates to Denver, which can help you get a dramatic change of scenery even if you're coming from far away. Hotel prices are average, at about $193 per night. If you plan to drive while you're in Colorado, budget a little more for gas, which costs about $3.343 in the state. Meals, on the other hand, average $16 so you may be able to splurge on some fancier meals like bison tacos.

  • Airfare: $227
  • Average hotel rate: $193
  • Gas price per gallon: $3.343
  • Average price of meal: $16

Travel budget tip

Take advantage of the breathtaking views by spending time at Rocky Mountain National Park. You'll need to purchase your timed ticket in advance, but it's worth it for either hiking or taking a scenic drive through the snow-capped mountains.

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.

Sources

  1. Cheaphotels - Average hotel rate

  2. AAA - Average gas prices

  3. Average cost of a meal

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