Vacations don't have to be expensive to have a lasting impact. Check out these affordable spots to get away in 2025.
The time between the end of summer and the beginning of the holiday season can feel hectic, but paradoxically, also a bit blah—and the idea of a break can feel like the boost we all need. On top of regular life stuff, 2025 has been a stressful year, and deciding between saving for retirement and going on a sanity-saving getaway can be a tough call.
I know that for me, sometimes a night or two away is all it takes to get a fresh perspective and alleviate stress, yet I also know that some of those benefits will be lost if my credit card takes a hefty hit. And with the holidays right around the corner, most people aren’t spending on themselves if they can help it. But an affordable fall trip can be within your reach, if you know where to look.
Financial website GOBankingRates has released a new report that looks at the top 30 most affordable vacation spots in the country right now. Keep reading to learn where you can get a weekend away that will leave you rejuvenated without breaking the bank.
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How did the study determine the most affordable vacation spots?
To determine the 30 most affordable locations, GOBankingRates first sourced data from Travel + Leisure, Tripadvisor and U.S. News & World Report, as well as travel websites Nomadic Matt and Holdify. To figure out the costs for a vacation in each of the 30 cities, they calculated costs for two adults on a three-night vacation between Aug. 7 and 10.
For lodging, GOBankingRates determined the average price of the three cheapest hotels within five miles of downtown using Hotels.com data. They estimated travel costs using average airfares sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, using the closest airport if the exact city wasn’t listed. Of course, airfare will vary based on the starting location (and some people may drive), but this should give you a good idea of the air travel costs.
Each trip also included meals (three meals at mid-range restaurants and 12 meals at inexpensive restaurants, including six beers and six sodas). The average food and beverage prices were sourced from Numbeo. All data is up to date as of Oct. 1, 2025.
What is the No. 1 most affordable vacation destination right now?
Are you ready for this? The No. 1 most affordable vacation destination right now is Concord, North Carolina, which also happens to be the only place on the list where a couple can get a three-night vacation for less than $1,000. Here’s the cost breakdown for a long weekend in Concord, North Carolina:
- Meals: $462
- Drinks: $66
- Hotel: $215
- Airfare: $197
- Total cost of vacation: $940
Compared with Phoenix and Macon, Georgia, which came in at No. 2 and No. 3 on this list, respectively, Concord costs hundreds of dollars less, leaving travelers extra cash to splurge on a massage, a museum visit or souvenirs to bring home. Plus, Concord is only a half-hour from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines and one of the busiest airports in the world, averaging 1,400 arrivals and departures every day.
Aside from being affordable, what makes Concord a great place to visit?
Located just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, Concord is a great place to visit for couples and families alike. Concord isn’t one of the state’s typical tourist destinations—like Asheville in the Blue Ridge Mountains or Wilmington on the coast—but there’s a lot to do.
Concord has Concord Mills, a huge shopping area with hundreds of stores, a five-star-rated escape room center and an interactive aquarium that costs only $22 for adults and features dozens of exhibits, an underwater ocean tunnel, live feedings, informative talks and more. If you’re more into the outdoors, Concord has multiple parks and nature trails.
Concord is also home to indoor skydiving, indoor go-karts and a Great Wolf Lodge for those seeking indoor water-park fun. For car enthusiasts, Concord has Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Mustang Owner’s Museum, which offers a constantly evolving collection of more than 25 Mustangs from different generations and eras.
That’s already a lot to do, but there’s more! The Depot at Gibson Mill is the largest antique mall in the South, with more than 620 booths in 88,000 square feet. One unique addition to the antiques is a fabric room featuring hundreds of patterns and fabrics, a nod to Gibson Mill’s history as a once-thriving textile mill. Gibson Mill also features an award-winning food hall, two craft breweries, a classic car showroom, restaurants and more.
Yes, we realize you could spend more than three days in Concord!
Which cities rounded out the top 3?
The top three destinations all came in at less than $1,200 per trip, which is a really good deal for a three-night getaway for two people. We’ve already looked at what Concord has to offer, so now let’s see what you can do in Phoenix and Macon, Georgia—and how much it will cost.
Phoenix, Arizona
A long weekend in Phoenix costs $1,120, with food being the biggest expense, at $503. There’s a lot to do in Phoenix, and it’s a great place for nature lovers who also want city amenities. Papago Park is a great place to see the region’s iconic red sandstone formations and hike to Hole in the Rock for stunning city views.
For those who want to learn more about Sonoran Desert plant life, the Desert Botanical Garden is a must. Other options include hot air balloon rides, downtown street art tours and desert excursions to see Native American ruins. If you’re looking for indoor experiences, Phoenix has loads of museums—including the world’s only musical instrument museum—plus plenty of places to shop and eat.
Macon, Georgia
A weekend in Macon will run you $1,184, with the biggest expense being airfare, at $598 for two people. Macon is a terrific destination for history buffs, who can do everything from visiting Native American earthen mounds at Ocmulgee National Monument to learning about American rock music at The Allman Brothers Band Museum.
Visitors to Macon should consider the Tubman Museum, which goes beyond the history of Harriet Tubman with exhibits on African-American art, history and culture. Music lovers won’t want to miss the Otis Redding Museum and Capricorn Sound Studios and Museum, where the Allman Brothers, the Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels and others recorded.
Macon also has a huge indoor pickleball facility, the International Cherry Blossom Festival in March (Macon is known as the “Cherry Blossom Capital of the World”) and the Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration in September.
What other cities made the list of the most affordable vacation spots?
While the top three have a lot to offer, it’s worth taking a look at the rest of the top 30 most affordable vacation spots. Here’s the full list, by city name and total cost of a three-night weekend vacation:
- El Centro, California: $1,243
- Brownsville, Texas: $1,336
- Niagara Falls, New York: $1,337
- Las Vegas, Nevada: $1,339
- Pearland, Texas: $1,362
- McAllen, Texas: $1,405
- Fargo, North Dakota: $1,433
- Cincinnati, Ohio: $1,435
- McKinney, Texas: $1,441
- League City, Texas: $1,447
- Sugar Land, Texas: $1,449
- Harlingen, Texas: $1,454
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota: $1,473
- Nashville, Tennessee: $1,479
- Dallas, Texas: $1,479
- Providence, Rhode Island: $1,490
- Grand Prairie, Texas: $1,491
- Savannah, Georgia: $1,495
- Frankfort, Kentucky: $1,499
- Louisville, Kentucky: $1,504
- Ankeny, Iowa: $1,504
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: $1,506
- O’Fallon, Missouri: $1,514
- St. Charles, Missouri: $1,516
- Bethesda, Maryland: $1,518
- Columbus, Indiana: $1,518
- Alexandria, Virginia: $1,528
Were there any big surprises?
Although many Americans head to Florida for vacation, the Sunshine State typically makes a hefty dent in the wallet, so it didn’t make the list of affordable destinations. On the other side of the country, California is known to be expensive for almost everything, but El Centro, in the far southern portion of the state, came in fourth for affordable fall getaway spots.
Texas made a strong showing with a whopping nine cities on the list, from coastal Brownsville to cities, suburbs and small towns across the Lone Star State. In contrast, Providence, Rhode Island, is the only town in New England to make the cut, with Niagara Falls, New York, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, rounding out the Northeastern contingent. The Midwest had a strong showing, with cities from Fargo, North Dakota, to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the spotlight for affordable vacations.
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- GOBankingRates: “America’s Most Budget-Friendly Tourist Destinations”
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport: “How CLT Became a Major Airline Hub”
- Gibson Mill: “Concord, NC’s Entertainment Destination”
- Visit Phoenix: “Welcome to Phoenix”
- Visit Macon: “Things to Do”
