You might need to save for years to afford bucket-list trips to exotic locations, but a sunny beach vacation doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The US is full of great cheap beach vacations and there are plenty more nearby in the Caribbean.
10 of the best cheap beach vacations
Considering flight and hotel rates, plus cost-of-living analysis to ensure your vacation budget stretches throughout your trip, here are some of the top affordable beach vacations to visit this summer.
1. Jacksonville, North Carolina
Tucked just behind the Atlantic Ocean along New River, Jacksonville in North Carolina is less than an hour from several popular Carolina beaches. Topsail Beach is my personal favorite and is only 45 minutes from Jacksonville, but you can reach great beaches even quicker if you’re itching for sand and sea as fast as possible.
An affordable beach vacation for families, Jacksonville is home to plenty of activities for kids, including bowling, roller skating, arcades, and indoor play centers. There’s even a children’s museum here.
Adults may be more interested in axe throwing, the nearby Camp Lejeune Memorial Gardens and Freedom Fountain or local pubs, where costs are about 25% less than the national average. Your vacation dollars will stretch far here, maximizing family budgets. You can find stays in Jacksonville for as low as $109.18, making it an ideal cheap beach vacation.
2. Palm Bay, Florida
Palm Bay, Florida is almost always sunny and warm, making it ideal for cheap beach vacations, even in winter. It also happens to be just over an hour from Walt Disney World and under an hour from Cape Canaveral, giving Disney and NASA fans splurge opportunities for memory-making day trips. Palm Bay itself is known for its many parks and gardens, ideal for free outdoor activities like cycling, jogging and walking.
The cost of living here is far below the national average, especially when it comes to eating out, which is perfect for vacationing in style without breaking the bank. Even waterfront dining at local favorites like Lazy Turtle RiverFront which offers fresh seafood with a view for less than you’d expect. Palm Bay is sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by Merritt Island, offering instant access to the Indian River (actually a lagoon), and many top ocean beaches are close by. You can find stays in Palm Bay for around $125.37.
3. Hot Springs, South Dakota
For a unique beach experience, check out Hot Springs, South Dakota. While Arkansas may be home to the more famous Hot Springs, South Dakota’s Hot Springs overflows with water activities (including sandy beaches) and is nestled among multiple national parks, forests and grasslands. The otherworldly Badlands National Park is just over an hour away, while Wind Cave National Park and Custer State Park are much closer, as are plenty more natural wonders.
Within Hot Springs, the Mammoth Site is a top draw, with adult tickets costing around $14. Here you’ll find an active palaeontology dig that has unearthed more than 60 Ice Age mammoths, along with dozens of other species from the period. At Angostura State Recreation Area, you’ll find the sandy beaches and spectacular views you came for, plus plenty of water activities from swimming and fishing to boating and kayaking. You can find stays in Hot Springs for around $126.30.
4. Gardena, California
For proximity to top California beaches without top dollar prices, you won’t do much better than Gardena, California. Under 20 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport, Gardena is roughly the same distance from Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Long Beach, giving you plenty of options for switching up the scenery during your affordable beach vacation.
If you’re up for driving further, you can even reach Huntingdon Beach and Balboa (plus everything along the way) in about 45 minutes. Popular Gardena activities include visiting nearby hotspots like Hollywood, but Gardena itself is home to several inexpensive eateries, as well as the Eureka Brewing Company for affordable eats in town. This one is really for the ultimate beach lover, though, as local activity options run slimmer. Slumbering a bit back from the shoreline means you can find stays in Gardena for around $130.28.
5. Sunrise, Florida
Miami Beach will never be found on a list of cheap beach vacations, but you can still take advantage of the region on a budget by staying in nearby Sunrise, Florida. Under an hour away from Miami Beach, you can easily drop in for a day of shopping, gawking and sunning in South Beach, and experience the city’s famous nightlife if that’s on your to-do list.
For quicker beach access, head to neighboring Fort Lauderdale to reach plenty of South Florida stunners in half the driving time. The cost of living here is considerably less than in either Miami or Fort Lauderdale, so you’ll save enough to consider a splurge at the massive outlet mall or on tickets to an event at Amerant Bank Arena, the largest indoor arena in Florida. You can find stays in Sunrise for around $127.53.
6. Grayling, Michigan
Almost entirely surrounded by the Great Lakes, Michigan is home to lakefront living at its finest. Grayling is about an hour from the closest access to point to these gargantuan waters – and you can certainly take an easy jaunt out to visit them – but it’s also only 15 minutes from Higgins Lake. This lake is surrounded by two state parks and includes swimming beaches with sandy shorelines, plus plenty of additional water activities. Within Grayling you’ll find quaint local businesses like bakeries and breweries, as well as AuSable Artisan Village, which is home to a performing arts center, gallery and studios, art classes and shopping. You can find stays in Grayling for around $122.21.
7. Port Lavaca, Texas
Port Lavaca, Texas, connects to the Gulf of Mexico through a small series of bays off Texas’s southern shoreline, and the result is a saltwater fishing paradise that includes a marina, several piers and, of course, beaches. There are a handful of enjoyable beaches within Port Lavaca alone, but you’ll also be under an hour from many regional favorites, like Rockport Beach, as well as unique offerings like the beach at Matagorda Bay Nature Park. Besides fishing, you’ll also find a tourable lighthouse, a small local history museum, and numerous affordable seafood restaurants directly in town. You can find stays in Port Lavaca for around $128.71, making it an ideal cheap beach vacation.
8. Slidell, Louisiana
Only 30 minutes from the action of vibrant New Orleans, Northshore Beach in Slidell, Louisiana, is perfect for budget-conscious adults looking for a beach vacation with plenty of 21+ activities nearby. The year-round roster of festivals and parades in New Orleans bring non-stop entertainment – often alcohol-forward (though not required) – while Northshore Beach offers a serene expanse of sand and sun just across Lake Pontchartrain.
Despite its proximity to so much raucous fun, it’s far quieter here. The beach has free daily access and Slidell is also home to the state’s Louisiana Welcome Center. You can find stays in Slidell for around $124.15, and the cost of living in this region is just below the national average, so daily expenses will remain on the lower side.
9. Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Having the Caribbean Sea so close to the US means tropical vacations can be more affordable than they may seem. Sure, it’s going to cost more than driving to a nearby lake or coastline, but if you have a little extra cash in the vacation fund it can go a long way in Caribbean countries like the Dominican Republic.
Punta Cana is renowned for its beaches and bustling party vibe, but it’s not the only city in DR. Head northwest to Puerto Plata instead, where nearly 80 miles of picture-perfect beaches include the country’s top beach, Playa Dorada (Golden Beach). Puerto Plata was the original destination in DR and that means there’s more history and local culture here than there is in newer, resort-heavy Punta Cana. It also means the rates are far lower with stays in Puerto Plata for as little as $220.95.
10. Panama City, Panama
Panama City, Panama, is another international destination with a cost of living low enough to balance the flight costs. While there’s luxury to be found, as the city’s economy is significantly boosted by the bounty of the Panama Canal, you can still dine and shop well here for far less than in most US cities. In fact, you won’t really find any big cities in the US to be affordable vacations at all, especially if they’re on a coastline with beautiful beaches.
Panama City, on the other hand, offers all the amenities of an urban getaway alongside charming beaches within the city limits. If you rent a car, you’ll also have access to many other breathtaking shorelines around the country. You can find stays in Panama City for around $147.08.
More ways to save on your cheap summer vacations
Choosing one of these cheap beach vacations as an alternative to more popular locations nearby will help you save without sacrificing on fun. But there are even more ways to stretch your dollars. If you’re still not sure where to go, try out KAYAK Explore or check out KAYAK’s summer travel inspiration collection.
Finally, before locking in your reservation, find out how to determine the best time to book a hotel to make sure you’re getting the lowest price available.
