Staycations are a go-to when funds are limited for a true vacation.
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While staying home to uncover the wonders of your city probably doesn’t sound as alluring as a trip to Bali or the Pyramids of Giza, staycations are highly underrated for a few reasons.
First, you’ll save on lodging. Second, you can finally explore those spots on your to-see list. Third, you can use the same booking platforms you know and love to rediscover your hometown.
From fine dining restaurants to spa treatments to cooking classes, you can flip your daily routine for more interesting adventures across town.
At least, in some US cities.
A new study has dived deep into over 40 unique factors to answer the question: Which US cities let you nail a staycation without too much work? The metrics include topics like tennis courts and parks per capita, along with walkability, movie costs, festivals, cocktail prices, and more.
The goal is to highlight US cities for staycations that offer a lot of activities for reasonable prices or for free. The number of ‘third spaces’ is also a major factor.
Top 10 cities for staycations across the US
The best cities for staycations offer more ways to enjoy the scenery and public spaces, often without spending much, if anything. They also have more affordable dining, drinking, and entertainment venues, letting you get more out of your at-home trip.
Ready to see which cities come out ahead? The list includes both big cities and smaller regional hubs.
- Orlando, Florida
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Tampa, Florida
- Chicago, Illinois
- Portland, Maine
If you want to dive into the full rankings and methodology, head to WalletHub, which conducted the study.
If you’re interested in learning which cities to avoid for a staycation, the study also lays out the worst places to go. Here they are:
- Oakland, California
- Santa Ana, California
- Newark, New Jersey
- Hialeah, Florida
- Laredo, Texas
- Irving, Texas
- Chula Vista, California
- Fremont, California
- Yonkers, New York
- Pearl City, Hawaii
