The 5 Cheapest (Awesome) U.S. Vacation Cities

Taking a vacation is, more often than not, an expensive venture, especially if you’re planning to go to exotic destinations. But who says an affordable vacation has to be far away? There are several cities in the United States where you can have fun on a budget and find cheap vacations.

The trick to an affordable vacation is to find low-cost things to do. Here are five of the cheapest cities in the U.S. for vacations that have plenty to offer without breaking the bank.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville is basically a smaller and more affordable alternative to Memphis and Nashville. Its accommodations are not as expensive, and the same goes for entertainment. While there, you can explore the Knoxville Museum of Art and all its wonderful collections. 

The Peter Kern Library is a great place to go to relax, and you can tell your mother you got an education – of sorts. This “unpretentiously sophisticated speakeasy” is a great place to unwind with a fancy cocktail, and if you want to read a book too, it’s all good.

After you’re good and relaxed, you can catch a show at the Tennessee Theater, billed as the “grand entertainment palace” of the volunteer state. Opened in 1928, the ornate beaux arts building has “something for everyone: classical music, vintage films, dance, Broadway, and stellar performances by today’s hottest musicians and yesterday’s favorites.”

San Antonio, Texas

The lone star state is known for several things, including southern hospitality, great barbeque, and live music. What other reasons do you need to go visiting?

Most things in San Antonio are affordable, from housing to food and entertainment. San Antonio also has a rich fusion of American and Mexican history. It’s a great place to learn about how the two cultures interact with each other. Be sure to visit the Alamo, the famous site of the Battle of the Alamo where Texas liberationist forces were defeated by Mexican President and general Lopez de Santa Anna.

Also, you should not leave without tasting some of the many Mexican-fusion dishes available. Touted as “America’s Next Great Culinary Destination” by Food&Wine magazine, San Antonio is the site of the “Tex-Next” food movement, mixing Tex-Mex traditions with international flavors from Europe and Asia.

Atlanta, Georgia

When you fly to Atlanta, the first thing you notice is the cheap airfare. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the U.S. by traffic, and it’s the hub for Delta Airlines. Pretty much anywhere you’re coming from, it’s cheap to fly to Atlanta.

While on the ground, you can enjoy the attractions and amenities of a world-class city. Families will delight in the Zoo Atlanta that boasts two giant pandas and one of the largest families of great apes in the country. The George Aquarium has a discovery zone where kids and their grown-ups can experience several biospheres in an immersive environment.

Atlanta is also rich in history, from the antebellum (that is, before and during the U.S. Civil War) period to the 20th and 21st centuries. No trip to Atlanta is complete without a visit to the gilded capitol building.  You can also tour the home of Coca-Cola, arguably the world’s most successful soft drink and the CNN studio headquarters which is not only a great deal at $15 for an adult – you might also get on TV!

Denver, Colorado

Denver Colorado has a lot of attractions for a vacationer on a budget. The first thing that comes to mind for many of Denver’s 31 million annual tourists is the mile-high city’s proximity to nature, which, if you don’t have a lot of expensive gear, is totally free to enjoy.

The city also has a world-class Botanical Garden whose mission is to “define and celebrate our Western identity and a unique high altitude climate and geography” over a sprawling 24 acres and an Art Museum containing major works from Claude Monet and American sculptor Alexander Phimister Proctor.

Of course, Colorado also legalized recreational marijuana before any other state. Though the scene isn’t exactly an Old West Amsterdam, there are places in Denver to partake, and you can even get a modestly priced private tour of cannabis culture in Denver.

Kansas City, Missouri

Last on our list, but certainly not least, is Kansas City, Missouri. The city is most famous for three things: jazz music, great barbecue, and baseball.

Kansas City is the home to the Kansas City style of jazz. The music developed in the 30s through the 50s by notable greats like Count Basie and Charlie Parker. KC was the laboratory where the structured, orchestral big band sound was broken into improvisational pieces and bebop was born. You can still see vibrant jazz at the Green Lady Lounge and The Blue Room. The latter club is part of the American Jazz Museum, which is not to be missed if you have any interest in American culture or music.

There are too many great places to eat in Kansas City, or at least, too many to mention here. Kansas City’s barbecue tradition extends from well-established empires like Jack Stack Barbecue to Minsky’s Cafe and Bar that has pioneered the pizza barbecue fusion style.

Finally, KC is great for sports fans. The Royals have been playing good baseball lately, having won the World Series in 2015. If you’re into football you have the Chiefs, who are one of the NFL’s best teams. If soccer is your thing, you can catch the Sporting Kansas City.

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