In this article, we shall discuss 25 cheap places to travel in the U.S. with beaches. To skip our detailed analysis of the global tourism industry in 2024, go directly and see 10 Cheap Places to Travel in the U.S. with Beaches.
The 2024 Travel Boom: Key Insights
According to data by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the global economic impact of the tourism industry continues to gain significant ground as it is expected to reach a record $11.9 trillion by the end of 2024, trumping its previous record of $10 trillion in 2019. Within the next ten years, the global travel industry is estimated to become a $16 trillion industry, comprising more than 11.4% of the global GDP. Furthermore, as of 2024, more than 10% of all employment opportunity pertains to the travel sector, with this number slated to rise to 12.2% by 2034, especially in many of the cheap places to travel in the U.S. with beaches.
One of the most surprising insights from the WTTC figures is that travel's record rebound in 2023 was not supplemented by the massive Chinese and American markets which are still recovering from the headwinds of the COVID-19 pandemic. US inbound international travel spending, even to cheap places to travel in the U.S. with beaches, has remained more than 25% below pre-pandemic levels. In China, this problem is a lot more severe, with tourist spending lagging by more than 60%. As the US dollar has strengthened, trips to the United States are steadily becoming highly unaffordable for consumers who hail from countries struggling with inflation. This problem is further exacerbated by ongoing visa postponements in China and the United States. However, the potential within these markets is an enormous source of optimism for investors and major players in the industry like
NASDAQ:MAR), which are eying record-breaking numbers in 2024. You can read more on companies dominating the travel space in our article 12 Best Travel Stocks to Buy Right Now.
The economics of travel headlining the WTTC's '2024 Economic Impact Research' report can be segmented into three primary types of travel transactions. Foremost of these is direct travel spending, which as the name suggests, includes all expenses most obviously associated with the act of travelling like hotel expenditure, tours, transportation, and all public investment in travel services of these kind. Next, indirect travel spending comprises the ripple effect of expenses in services pertaining to direct travel spending, like sheets and towels which hotels tend to acquire from local vendors, or ingredients purchased in bulk amounts for breakfast and dinner buffets. Finally, there is induced spending, which refers to the trickle-down effect of hospitality and travel service employees using their pay to stimulate their local economies. The report highlights that 142 of the 185 surveyed countries are projected to surpass 2019 figures in 2024, with nearly all countries posting substantial year-over-year growth. Furthermore, a report by Bloomberg ascertains that increased capital is being divested into domestic travel, especially to some of the best affordable beach vacations, rather than international trips, with the former accounting for a record $5.4 trillion in 2024 - an 11% surge relative to 2019 levels.
Adapting to Seasonality: An Overview
As demand for tourism continues to make marginal headway during the industry's post-pandemic recovery phase, leisure travel, especially to cheap places to travel in the U.S. with beaches, has made its resurgence much faster than business traffic in many regions across the world, with a CAGR of 6.6% compared to a meagre 3.3% for business travel. The clear divergence between the two categories has substantially influenced the nature and volume of monthly tourist demand, according to insights by McKinsey. One reason postulated for this trend is that leisure travel is far more contingent on climate, with spikes and dips corresponding closely with the Northern Hemisphere's summer and winter cycles, respectively. As a result, numerous travel companies like Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (
NYSE:HGV), Booking Holdings Inc. (
NASDAQ:BKNG) and Marriot International Inc. (
NASDAQ:MAR) have had to account for seasonal profitability swings, in addition to increased pressure on operations and staffing during demand highs.
Seasonality is most pronounced in Europe, where leisure travel is especially prevalent in the summer cycle. North American tourists can always opt for short flights to some of the cheap places to travel in the U.S. with beaches, which in turn, tends to spread leisure travel more evenly across the calendar. Despite small fluctuations in intensity and post-pandemic recovery timelines, seasonality is an essential precondition to leisure travel in many of the most popular beach destinations in the world. To combat this problem, major airline companies have responded by adapting their schedules to offer more routes at discounted prices during peak cycles in a bid to capitalize on the tailwinds. For instance, in 2019 in Europe, airlines resorted to reserving 50% more seats for August than February. Major travel companies like Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (
NYSE:HGV), Booking Holdings Inc. (
NASDAQ:BKNG) and Marriot International Inc. (
NASDAQ:MAR) are becoming increasingly proficient in identifying and capitalizing on pockets of demand which further bolsters and supplements their growth and profitability. To read more on the seasonality of the travel market, check out our coverage of the 25 Best Cheap Summer Vacation Destinations in the US.
However, this inevitably leads to certain complications, especially in some of the most popular beach destinations in the world where seasonality is more pronounced. In many such regions, travel companies tend to generate a disproportionate amount of their revenue during the busier summer cycles. For instance, in Europe in 2019, the five most prominent air travel companies generated more than 30% of their annual revenues and 65% of their annual operating profits during the third quarter of the year. Inevitably, in times where these companies were unable to provide enough seats during these demand peaks, they suffered enormous losses, putting substantial pressure on operations and the workforce, leading to a ruthless cycle of flight delays and other operational inefficiencies. Although seasonality is most pronounced in airline and hospitality performance, other travel sectors like transportation also suffer enormous setbacks in most cheap places to travel in the U.S. with beaches.
7 Countries with the Longest Coastlines in the World
Our Methodology
In order to compile our list of 25 cheap places to travel in the U.S. with beaches, we decided to undertake a consensus-based approach using a diverse variety of credible sources, including but not limited to travel blogs, news reports, and Reddit threads in order to determine some of the most popular beach destinations in the United States. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). We then shortlisted more than 50 destinations which appeared most frequently during our research. Subsequently, we used three primary metrics to determine the base-level average cost of travel per person per day at each destination: average accommodation prices for one night at a mid-range hotel during the summer cycle, food and dining costs in mid-range restaurants, and transportation expenses. We used data from Trivago and Booking.com to get the July 2023 prices of five mid-range hotels at each destination. We then calculated the mean to arrive at the average overnight accommodation price in each city. To calculate the average food and dining expenditure in each state, we used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And finally, to calculate average transportation costs, we used statistical data from the US. Department of Transportation. After we had compiled data on all three metrics, we averaged out our findings to obtain the average cost of travel per person per day in each city. We then ranked the cities based on the average costs per person per day, from highest to lowest.
By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional looking for the best stocks to buy you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.
25 Cheap Places to Travel in the U.S. with Beaches
25. Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $271
Located in New Hampshire, Hampton Beach is one of the best cheap beach destinations in the United States. Some of the most affordable activities at the beach include surfing, playing sports, and fishing. It is also home to many small cottages, local restaurants, and arcades.
24. Folly Beach, South Carolina
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $253
Even though Charleston in South Carolina is an expensive city, the Folly Beach is known to be one of the cheapest places to travel in the U.S. with beaches as the accommodation rates and meals are extremely low-priced. One can partake in various activities at Folly Beach, while being conscious about the budget.
23. Delray Beach, Florida
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $250
Offering a wide range of water activities, including surfing and snorkeling, Delray Beach is one of the most affordable and popular beach destinations in the United States. The beach has around 40 parks and facilities that are open to tourists and offer activities at extremely affordable rates.
22. Sleeping Bear Lakeshore, Michigan
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $248
Widely known as one of the most beautiful places in the United States, Sleeping Bear Lakeshore includes pristine beaches, dense forests, and picturesque lake views. One can also find a wide range of hotels, resorts, and restaurants at an affordable price.
21. Pismo Beach, California
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $237
Apart from being extremely budget-friendly, Pismo Beach provides its visitors with some of the most exciting outdoor activities in California. Golfing, horseback riding, surfing, bodyboarding, and fishing are some of the most popular activities at the beach. It is also home to some of the best wineries.
20. St. Augustine, Florida
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $235
St. Augustine, one of the oldest cities in the United States, is home to old architectural buildings that are built in Spanish-style. The city also has a white pristine beach, the City Beach. The cheapest time to visit the city is between March and May to get budget deals on accommodation, making St. Augustine one of the most cheap places to travel in the U.S. with beaches.
19. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $229
Offering a wide range of free or low-priced activities, Fort Lauderdale is one of the most affordable beach destinations in the United States. One can attend parties or mermaid shows at an extremely low price or go birdwatching for free.
18. North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $228
Surfing, hiking, scuba diving, snorkeling, and dolphin tours are some of the most popular activities at North Shore. The cheapest time to visit the North Shore is during the winter to get affordable flights and accommodation deals.
17. Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $222
The cheapest time to visit the Old Orchard Beach in Maine is during September. It is also home to one of the last oceanfront amusement parks, the Palace Playland. One can partake in hiking, fishing, or golfing while visiting the beach.
16. Clearwater Beach, Florida
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $218
One of the most popular beach destinations in the United States, Clearwater Beach is home to many affordable hotels, restaurants, and attractions. The best time to visit the beach is during September, since the hotel prices are known to be extremely low during the month.
15. Tybee Island, Georgia
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $215
Located in Georgia, Tybee Island consists of five different beaches, catering to all kinds of tourists. Each beach offers a variety of activities and attractions to its visitors. Jet skiing, kayaking, or canoeing are some of the ways to get to the different beaches. It is one of the most inexpensive cities in the United States and hence, makes our list of the 25 cheap places to travel in the U.S. with beaches.
14. Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $214
Located in North Carolina, Wrightsville Beach is one of the most relaxed beaches in the United States. The inexpensive restaurants and bars make it an extremely affordable destination. The beach is known for its water sports, including paddleboarding, kayaking, and windsurfing.
13. Pensacola, Florida
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $212
The best time to visit Pensacola in Florida is between April and October due to pleasant weather and affordable deals. There are numerous affordable hotels and restaurants along the beach, making Pensacola one of the most affordable beach vacation spots.
12. Galveston, Texas
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $212
Galveston is one of the most budget-friendly beaches in the United States. Since the island is easily accessible on foot or bike, the transportation costs are extremely low. The island is also home to various free or cheap attractions and activities including Galveston ferry and Seawolf Park.
11. Nags Head, North Carolina
Average Cost Per Person Per Day: $210
In the Outer banks of North Carolina, Nags Head is one of the most beautiful and affordable beach destinations in the United States. Nags Head offers various budget-friendly accommodation options to its visitors, including hotels and motels. Nags Head is number eleven on our list of the 25 cheap places to travel in the U.S. with beaches.