As the school year comes to a close, parents across the country may be starting to plan fun summer trips for the whole family.
But travel is getting more expensive as airlines raise the price of flights and gas prices top $4 per gallon in many parts of the United States. This summer, you may be faced with choosing between which activities are the most fun, and which are good for your wallet.
Now, WalletHub has answers for the top destination cities in the United States that won’t blow your budget.
“When picking a summer travel destination, it’s easy to focus on the types of activities you want to do or certain cities you’ve always wanted to see. However, choosing a destination that’s not only entertaining but also affordable is important when travel, dining and activity costs have surged so much in recent years. It can also allow you to have a longer, more relaxing trip,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a May 12 report.
Atlanta Takes the Top Spot
Cities across the U.S. were ranked on six criteria by WalletHub: travel costs and hassles, local costs, attractions, weather, activities and safety.
A total of 41 metrics were considered in the ranking from the six categories. Costs were estimated for a trip occurring between July 9 and July 19.
With a score of 69.93 out of 100, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta Metro Area in Georgia took the ranking’s top spot.
What put Atlanta ahead of other cities? Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
“The Atlanta metro area is the best summer travel destination, in part because the shortest flights from major cities don’t require any connections and can cost as little as $317,” WalletHub analysts said.
The airport, a hub for Delta Air Lines, is the busiest airport in the world for passenger traffic, and acts as a major connection point for many flights in and out of the southeastern United States.
“In addition, Atlanta has a lot of diversity when it comes to attractions. The city also ranks very well when it comes to the prevalence of spas and wellness centers, shopping centers, ice cream shops and swimming pools, so there are plenty of places to have fun and cool off,” according to WalletHub.
If you’re hoping for a less kid-focused vacation, Atlanta has one of the latest last-call times in the country, with many bars open until 4 a.m. The city will also host eight World Cup matches this summer, with multiple open container districts planned.
Top 10 Best Places to Visit This Summer
Here are the other top cities in the U.S. for summer travel, per WalletHub:
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C./Maryland/Virginia/West Virginia
Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware/Maryland
Salt Lake City, Utah
Cincinnati, Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana
Richmond, Virginia
Orlando earned the second spot on the list despite high costs at theme parks like Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort, largely because of the abundance of direct flights and affordable restaurants.
“Surprisingly, the lowest nightly rate for a three-star hotel room in Orlando is only $49, which is very reasonable. The metro area has plenty of affordable, high-quality restaurants to choose from, too,” WalletHub said.
Austin, Texas ranked third despite elevated flight costs into the city. There are plenty of affordable restaurants with high Yelp ratings, and many incoming flights are direct.
“Austin offers a mix of culture and outdoor fun, boasting a high number of attractions including the Bullock Texas State History Museum as well as shopping centers, music venues, food festivals and hiking trails,” WalletHub said.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team.