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Let us be real.
Vacations are probably the best thing in the world.
Vacations rejuvenate the spirit, bring people together, open people’s eyes to new cultures and provide a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of the real world.
Vacations can help flush the mind, body and soul to give you a relaxing ‘reset.’ The benefits of a much-needed vacation are endless.
Not only do you get a pause from the hustle and bustle of a busy lifestyle, you get a complete intermission from whatever is going on at work, in your school life or tension in the family dynamic.
Whether you are embarking on a solo soul-searching journey or planning a trip for the entire family, we have got a solid list of 101 options for you to ponder. There are vacations every kind of person — for the weary, the restless, the heartbroken, the blissful and the just plain ‘over it.’
Cheap and Easy Vacations
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Let us be even more real now.
Vacations are even better when they are cheap and easy. I mean, who has ten grand to spend on a resort destination in Europe? I totally wish I did but maybe that will come in five years. The key to planning my personal vacations involves sticking to a strict budget and making sure my vacation is as affordable as possible.
When it comes to my vacation ideas, cheap and easy is the key.
I know I am not the only one out there that aims for this when coming up with vacation ideas.
Please tell me I am not the only one who scours far and wide for cheap vacation ideas.
When people choose to go on a last minute trip or ponder cheap vacation ideas, it does not have to be a scary and daunting task. There are so many trips that can fit in a smaller budget and we are here to present as many as we can to you – 101 to be exact.
Image via Flaticon
When people choose to go on a last minute trip or ponder cheap vacation ideas, it does not have to be a scary and daunting task. There are so many trips that can fit in a smaller budget and we are here to present as many as we can to you – 101 to be exact.
Whether it is a small weekend trip to a city in your state or a weeklong all-inclusive trip in the Caribbean, there is something on this list to fit your needs.
This list of cheap vacation ideas aims to bring you inspiration and encouragement so that your next vacation can be the most affordable and fun as possible.
101 Cheap Vacation Ideas
Beaches: CHEAP VACATION IDEAS
Source: Pexels
1. Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas, is a beach gem along the coast of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.
2. San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California offers a city filled with amazing seafood, authentic culture and a beachside glory.
3. Gold Beach, Oregon
Gold Beach, Oregon is an amazing Pacific coast beach that offers small town charm mixed with relaxing coastal tides.
4. Astoria, Oregon
Astoria, Oregon, features a coastal oasis to soak up local seafood, delicious craft beers and endless outdoor adventure.
5. Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington features amazing sounds of water, an eccentric and colorful city and a limitless amount of things to do, see and partake in.
6. Cancun, Mexico
Cancun, Mexico, offers a world of authentic Mexican culture, blue waters and beach vibes galore.
Source: Pexels
7. Belize City, Belize
Belize City in Belize offers incredible white sand beaches mixed with genuine locals and an eclectic mix of activities and relaxation.
8. Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Tamarindo, Costa Rica, offers the best of Costa Rican goodness. Spend days relaxing on the Pacific Ocean beaches, hanging with monkeys and eating the local foods.
9. Limon, Costa Rica
Limon, Costa Rica, offers the best of the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Soak up the white sand beaches and take a visit to local monuments.
10. Panama City, Panama
Panama City, Panama offers a wonderful option for beaching, lounging and spending time outdoors.
11. Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas, offers the perfect beach getaway for families, groups and those looking to fish, bird watch and eat yummy seafood.
12. St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida, offers white sand beaches and one of the most historic and culture-filled cities in the state of Florida.
Source: Pexels
13. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island offers the premium in beaches.
14. Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston features white sand beaches, prime bird watching and ultimate relaxation.
15. Emerald Isle, North Carolina
Emerald Isle offers incredible beaches, wildlife watching and affordable lodging.
16. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach offers the perfect mix of history, hip food and relaxing beaches.
17. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth offers an old and historic port town, endless amounts of food and drink and a wonderful city to explore.
18. Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine, showcases an incredible atmosphere, Atlantic City beaches and amazing seafood.
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19. Havana, Cuba
Havana is a historic city filled with old cars, Cuban dancing and beaches galore.
20. San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan showcases a colorful town, awesome beaches and rich activities to partake in.
21. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California
Pfeiffer Big Sur offers some of the most incredible and nature-filled territories to camp in inside California.
22. Pensacola, Alabama
Soak in the blue waters and enjoy the vibrant and exciting city of Pensacola, Alabama.
23. San Diego, California
This epic beach town is one of the most visited and famous in the entire United States.
24. Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach offers Nascar, beaches and nightlife for the best of us.
Source: Pexels
25. Savannah, Georgia
This beachside town in Georgia is a haven for relaxation and vacation.
26. Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor is a secluded and quiet beach town in the glorious peninsulas in Maine.
27. Atlantic City, New Jersey
This historic and iconic New Jersey beach town is best beach in the state.
28. South Padre Island, Texas
S.P.I. showcases the best beaches in the great state of Texas.
29. Baja California, Mexico
Baja California is the spot to escape California for an epic surfing trip.
30. Monterey, California
Monterey is a beach city located south of San Francisco.
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31. Newport, Oregon
This quiet beach getaway is a perfect escape from the city.
32. Long Beach, Washington
This Washington Beach offers an amazing destination just a few hours from Seattle.
33. Neah Bay, Washington
This charming beach town is the northern most stretch of beach on the West coast.
34. Mobile, Alabama
This charming southern town offers the best in classic food, beautiful beach and Alabama hospitality.
35. Kingston, Jamaica
Jamaica offers an exquisite beach getaway filled with white sands, cold drinks and plenty of recreation.
36. Tulum, Mexico
A historic city full of Mayan ruins, epic views and extraordinary beaches.
Mountains: CHEAP VACATION IDEAS
Source: Pexels
37. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a serene mountain town snuggly located in the middle of the New Mexican desert that offers skiing, art and beauty.
38. Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona is an incredibly charming mountain town surrounded by educational institutions, amazing art and culture and plenty of outdoor recreation.
39. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
The Rocky Mountain Park showcases limitless hiking, camping and outdoors goodness.
40. Boulder, Colorado
Boulder Colorado is the perfect college town in the middle of the mountains.
41. Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is the magic mecca of red rocks and soul in the state of Arizona.
Source: Pexels
42. Durango, Colorado
Durango, Colorado, is the perfect Colorado getaway for camping, fishing, skiing and hiking.
43. Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City showcases amazing mountains, hiking and a rich city of art and culture.
44. Sun Valley, Idaho
The premier ski and mountain destination in the Sawtooth state.
45. Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins showcases incredible mountains in a lovely and exciting college city.
46. Taos, New Mexico
This gorgeous mountain town offers a quiet and peaceful oasis in Taos, New Mexico.
Souce: Pexels
47. Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville showcases incredible forestry and a charming mountain town perfect for exploring and vacationing.
48. Olympia, Washington
The Washington State capitol makes a wonderful visit full of parks, history and outdoor beauty.
49. Everett, Washington
Everett is a wonderful city located near to the mountains as well as the coast.
50. Helena, Montana
Helena offers an extreme variety of winter sports and a historic city atmosphere.
51. Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Steamboat is the perfect winter oasis for skiing or the perfect summer oasis for tubing and rafting.
52. Ouray, Colorado
Ouray offers some of the world’s best ice climbing and a small mountain gem in southwestern Colorado.
Cities: CHEAP VACATION IDEAS
Source: Pexels
53. Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona, offers a desert oasis filled with culture, crystals and red rock mountains to explore and discover.
54. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana, showcases a world of culture, food, music and history year-round.
55. Boise, Idaho
Boise surprisingly offers the trendiest in food, art and music.
56. Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore offers awesome art, culture and food in the heart of Maryland.
57. Bend, Oregon
Soak up the sunshine and hike a few fourteen-ers in this epic city in the middle of Oregon.
58. Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas, is the home of many historic Texas sites with a thriving arts, music and food scene.
59. Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas
Both sides of the city offer incredible art, music and food in indulge in.
60. Dallas, Texas
Dallas is a Texas hub of art, sports and historic events like the Texas state Fair.
61. Phoenix, Arizona
This Arizona city showcases the best fusion of city and nature.
Source: Pexels
62. Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta showcases a colorful city, amazing eats and a plethora of museums and art.
63. Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville offers an incredible city full of music, fun and beauty to soak in.
64. Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles offers over 75 annual festivities, prime casinos and endless opportunities to fall in love.
65. Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is wonderful for outdoor adventure and enjoying craft beer and gourmet eats.
66. Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi offers historic exploration and endless opportunities for soaking in the local environment.
67. Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Grand Rapids offers a set back from the big city of Chicago with just as much fun to be had.
68. Louisville, Kentucky
This popping city offers eccentric nightlife, amazing food and an exciting history.
69. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada is no stranger to most of the world. Its concentration of gambling and being dubbed the ‘city of sin’ is the perfect weekend escape.
70. Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas, offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation fused with an incredible music, art and vibe.
Source: Pexels
71. Hot Springs, South Dakota
This remote and secluded hot spot is located in the charming and tiny town of Hot Springs, South Dakota.
72. Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville offers a perfect escape for sports, city life and art museums.
73. Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville showcases a quirky and colorful college town in the middle of rolling green hills.
74. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia offers an eclectic city trip filled with art, museums, food and affordable lodging.
75. Reno, Nevada
Reno showcases a plethora of shopping, gambling and just the right amount of nature.
76. Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is a blossoming southern metroplex with top-tier technology, life science institutions and an artist’s mecca.
77. Denver, Colorado
Denver is the cultural hub of Colorado that offers outdoor adventure, amazing music and top-notch visitor perks.
78. Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis showcases Graceland, country music and outdoor fun.
79. Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis features fast cars, blockbuster events and a grand acclaim for a blossoming beer and foodie scene.
Opt Outdoors and Camp
Source: Pexels
80. Joshua Tree National Park, California
Joshua Tree features some of the best climbing in the United States, a plethora of camping options and an endless territory to explore.
81. Mojave National Preserve, California
Mojave offers supreme camping, discovering and outdoor adventure.
82. Tonto National Forest, Arizona
Explore endless forests, red rocks and wildlife in this Arizona oasis.
83. Pedernales Falls State Park, Texas
This Texas state park offers supreme camping, hiking, swimming and fishing.
84. Great Basin National Park
Great Basin offers extreme diversity in the middle of a barren Nevada.
85. Colorado Bend State Park, Texas
Colorado Bend offers extremely amazing camping, waterfall hikes, river rafting and lots more.
86. Grand Canyon, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is an incredible wonder of the United States of America and features one of the largest canyons in the world. Take a rafting trip, hike one of the rims or just spend a few days camping at this landmark.
87. San Juan Islands National Monument, Washington
This boat destination sits in the gorgeous waters in between Washington State and British Columbia.
88. Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park offers a wonderful option for an outdoor camping escapade with the family. There is hiking, climbing, swimming and wildlife watching just to name a few activities.
89. Everglades National Park, Florida
Everglades National Park offers the perfect camping trip to explore swamps and wetlands.
Source: Pexels
90. White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
White Sands offers one of the largest sand dunes in North America that are perfect for camping and exploring.
91. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Get lost for weeks inside this incredible and epic land.
92. Huron-Manistee National Forest, Michigan
Huron-Manistee is prime destination for lakeside chilling, forest dwelling and outdoor adventure.
93. Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming
Bighorn offers supreme wildlife watching, stargazing and hammock hanging.
94. Superior National Forest, Michigan
This national forest offers prime real estate for camping directly on Lake Superior.
95. Kootenai National Forest, Montana
Kootenai showcases fishing, ice sports and a winter wonderland.
96. Carson National Forest, New Mexico
Carson National Forest features native Indian ruins, incredible views and extreme wilderness
97. Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California
Shasta-Trinity showcases endless outdoor activities, incredible views and limitless nature.
98. Ozark National Forest, Arkansas
Ozark National Forest showcases amazing camping, relaxing boating and awesome views.
99. Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana
This epic national forest offers some of the land first explored by Lewis and Clark.
100. Sam Houston National Forest, Texas
This stretch of woods is some of the only camping near the city of Houston, Texas.
101. THE MOST EPIC ROAD TRIP OF ALL TIME
Visit almost every single notable landmark in the U.S.A. with this epic road trip map.
Safe Travels
Flaticon
Well, there you have it — 101 cheap vacation ideas for the adventurous inspired and excited traveler.
Whether you are spending a week in an amazing national park camping and hiking or headed to Asheville, North Carolina, for the first time, we hope this list inspired you to pack a bag and head out for an adventure.
