- Some of the most affordable travel destinations are smaller cities.
- Cities in the Midwest and the South topped the list.
- While airfare prices are down, costs for meals are up.
What do Toledo, Ohio, and Wilmington, Delaware, and Allentown, Pennsylvania, have in common?
While they might not be the most glamorous cities in America, a new analysis found them the most affordable places to visit for an end-of-summer, before-school-starts family trip.
“While June through August still mark the peak U.S. travel season, late-summer trips are increasingly popular as travelers seek smaller crowds, cooler weather, and better prices,” according to Dunhill Travel Deals. “In 2025, lower travel costs are making quick, affordable vacations more attainable for many American households.”
Dunhill used U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics data and other sources to look at what it costs to take a four-day trip for a family of four in 100 cities across the country. The analysis considered airfare, lodging, meals and rental cars, and ranked destinations based on overall affordability.
What the analysis found
Some key takeaways:
- With prices stabilizing and crowds thinning out, August and early September offer families a smart window for affordable getaways before the school year begins.
- Flights are down more than 11% from pre-pandemic levels, making air travel more budget-friendly. But restaurant prices have climbed more than 31% since 2020, continuing to put pressure on dining budgets.
- Cities like Toledo, Peoria, Jacksonville and El Paso, TX combine lower travel costs with family-friendly attractions, walkable downtowns and fewer crowds.
- Destinations like New York, San Francisco, and Boston cost families nearly $6,000 for a four-night stay. Honolulu is the most expensive overall, topping $7,000.
- Families willing to look beyond the typical tourist spots may find surprisingly affordable cities that still offer memorable experiences — without the high price tag.
Where to go?
Some of the best travel values can be found in the Midwest where cities offer a mix of activities and attractions, including museums, parks and Great Lakes shorelines, amid smaller crowds and less traffic.
Cities in the South combine affordability, warm weather, walkable downtowns and regional culture. There’s a mix of beaches, historic sites, food scenes and family-oriented attractions. “While they might not get as much attention as more high-profile Southern cities like New Orleans or Charleston, they still deliver a worthwhile experience at a much lower price point,” per Dunhill.
Outside of the Midwest and South, a couple of cities in the northeast an hour’s drive from Philadelphia give families access to a major metro area without the higher lodging and dining costs that often come with staying in the city itself. But the cities are worth a visit in their own right, and can be appealing for a short family trip.
What are the most affordable cities?
Here’s Dunhill’s top 10 most affordable cities (total cost of a four-night stay for a family of four):
- Toledo, Ohio ($2,987)
- Wilmington, Delaware ($3,133)
- Allentown, Pennsylvania ($3,611)
- Peoria, Illinois ($3,727)
- Akron, Ohio ($3,978)
- Fort Wayne, Indiana ($4,053)
- Jacksonville, Florida ($4,180)
- El Paso, Texas ($4,185)
- Raleigh, North Carolina ($4,205)
- Norfolk, Virginia ($4,215)