With nearly 82% of Americans planning to take a trip this summer, personal finance website WalletHub released its report on the best summer travel destinations in 2024, along with expert commentary.
To help travelers plan the perfect summer getaway, WalletHub compared 100 metro areas on 41 key indicators of affordable and fun vacations. The data set ranges from the cost of the cheapest flight to the number of attractions to the average price of a meal for two people.
Top 20 Summer Travel Destinations
Atlanta, Georgia was number one on the list, leading the way in terms of summer spots. Washington, DC, followed by Orlando, FL, comes in second; Honolulu, Hi; Tampa, Florida; Austin, TX; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Chicago, IL; El Paso, Texas and, rounding out the top 10, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Numbers 11 through 20 were: Salt Lake City, Utah, at number 11, followed by New York, NY; Richmond, Virginia; Miami, Florida; Springfield, Missouri; Knoxville, Tenn.; Tulsa, okay; Oklahoma, okay; San Antonio, Texas and, at number 20, Los Angeles, California.
The best against the worst
The average flight to a popular summer destination costs $377, takes three hours and 59 minutes, and has 0.4 connections.
The Los Angeles metropolitan area is the most attractive destination on the West Coast and the Washington, DC metropolitan area is the most attractive destination on the East Coast.
Florida and Texas are home to the most popular summer destinations in the United States, each with at least two metropolitan areas in the top 15. In contrast, California has some of the largest, most unpopular summer destinations , with the Santa Rosa-Petaluma metropolitan area. at number 99 and, last on the list, the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura metro area at number 100.
The San Antonio metro area has the lowest nightly rate for a three-star hotel room, 5.2 times cheaper than Oxnard, the metro area with the highest rate.
To view the full report, visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-summer-travel-destinations/3792
“When choosing a summer travel destination, it's easy to focus only on the types of activities you want to do or certain cities you've always wanted to visit. However, choosing a destination that is not only fun but also affordable is important when the costs of travel, restaurants and activities have increased so much in recent years. It can also allow you to take a longer, more relaxing trip,” said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. “Metro Atlanta is the best summer travel destination, in part because the cheapest flights from major cities require no connections and can cost as little as $278. Additionally, Atlanta has a great diversity when it comes to attractions. The city has many amusement parks, shopping centers, ice cream parlors and swimming pools, so there are plenty of places to have fun and cool off.
Expert commentary
Bridget Niland, PhD, JD, Niagara University
Dean, College of Hospitality, Sports and Tourism Management
What is your forecast for the 2024 summer travel season (percentage of Americans traveling; most popular destinations, busiest travel periods)?
Research and reports on upcoming travel trends predict that summer 2024 will be another good season for domestic travel. This forecast, which demonstrates the unwavering resilience of the travel industry, remains strong despite persistent inflation and price volatility for transportation, accommodation, dining and entertainment spending. Travelers saw some relief from rising transport prices in the first quarter of this year, but April brought a nearly 25 percent increase in flight costs. The percentage of Americans traveling this summer is expected to be between 82 and 93 percent. Those of us traveling to U.S. beaches and coastal destinations should expect the airline to remain strong in the U.S. through July. Youth travel and amateur sports participation will also remain high this summer. According to the Sports Events Tourism Association, Americans took more than 200 million sports trips in 2023, with youth sporting events being the largest segment of this market. Sixty percent of cities cited sport and leisure as the biggest generator of overnight stays.
Do you think the federal government should stop airlines from overbooking flights?
The federal government has made some changes to consumer-friendly rules for air travelers, but it has yet to solve the problem of airline overbooking. The new rules make it easier for travelers to understand when an airline must issue a refund and impose new parameters on the processing and timing of refunds. By pursuing these rule changes, the government could be seen as addressing the negative ramifications of long-standing airline practices, including overbooking. Airlines justify the practice of overbooking as necessary to keep flights affordable. Perhaps the government's new reimbursement regulations are the right approach to taking care of consumers, but without regulating the practices that keep air travel within reach of most Americans.
What advice would you give to people wanting to travel on a budget?
As the dean of a college of hospitality, sports and tourism, we like to prepare students to manage all facets of the traveler experience, but there are some elements you can master to keep costs affordable. Your food and drinks are still significant expenses, which can quickly escalate. Finding inclusive accommodation can alleviate non-stop credit charges when you're away from home, but be sure to read the fine print to make sure you have enough options to make travel a treat and not a chore . Food and beverage costs are a key factor in the popularity of short-term rental locations. However, travelers should be careful before booking these alternative hotel accommodations, as cities and towns around the world add taxes and other fees to these rental arrangements. Buying and preparing your own food while on vacation will reduce your costs, but again, be sure to weigh the idea of cooking and cleaning with your desire or need for some real relaxation time.
