Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features.

Please select your date of birth for special perks on your birthday. Your username will be your unique profile link and will be publicly used in comments.
Narcity Pro

This is a Pro feature.

Time to level up your local game with Narcity Pro.

Pro

$5/month

$40/year

  • Everything in the Free plan
  • Ad-free reading and browsing
  • Unlimited access to all content including AI summaries
  • Directly support our local and national reporting and become a Patron
  • Cancel anytime.
For Pro members only Pro
Summary

This State Beat Hawaii & Florida As The Best US Summer Destination & The Top 5 Might Shock You

This city won't break the bank and it's filled with things to do. ✈️

Florida Associate Editor

Summer is just months away, which means people are gearing up to go somewhere exciting for a memorable getaway. While Florida's sunny weather and Hawaii's beaches typically prove a popular visit, this year...not so much.

WalletHub did a study ranking the best U.S. cities to travel to this summer using "budget-and fun-friendliness indicators," which ultimately dragged some tropical paradise destinations to second place and below.

Researchers looked at the cheapest flights compared to the number of attractions and even the cost of the average two-person meal.

Atlanta, GA takes the cake this time around, and it might be because it's not only wallet-friendly, but there are tons of things to do there aside from sunbathing at the beach.

@terrakimberlyscott

Cities of the World! Part 8. Atlanta, GA! #terrastravels #terrakimberlyscott #atlanta #atlantageorgia #georgia #thingstodoinatlanta #travel #travelguide #traveltips #georgiaaquarium #worldofcocacola #foxtheater #martinlutherkingjrnationalhistoricsite #martinlutherkingjr #atlantaguide

Here's a quick glance at the Top 5 summer hot spots:

  1. Atlanta, GA
  2. Honolulu, HI
  3. Washington, D.C.
  4. Wichita, KS
  5. New York, NY

The Georgia capital might have taken the top spot because the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, one of the biggest in the U.S., allows for cheaper travel. The city ranked No. 9 in the nation for the "Travel Costs & Hassles" topic.

There are also tons of activities here, like the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, the Botanical Garden, and much more, so it ranked No. 8 in "Activities." On average, it had fairly lower scores in each topic, making it the top choice.

While Honolulu might not come as a surprise in the top 5, the data findings were financially backed, which can be shocking because, according to PayScale, the cost of living in Honolulu is 84% higher than the national average. So, if you scale that down to a summer vacation, dining and leisure are most likely pricier than most places.

However, the tropical island ranked higher in weather (No. 1), activities (No. 2), and safety (No. 4). These numbers brought the city to the top 2.

@mikaybennett

This Is Your Sign To Book A Trip To Hawaii 🌺 • • • • • • • • #fypシ #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #NextLevelDish #hawaii #hawai #hawaiian #hawaiitiktok #hawaiicheck #hawaiilife #hawaiianfood #hawaiifood #hawaiitiktokers #hawaiigirl #hawaiifoodie #hawaiifoodfinds #honolulu #honoluluhawaii #honolulufoodie #honolulutiktok #honolulufood #hawaiivlog #hawaiivlogs #waikiki #waikikibeach #waikikihawaii #diamondhead #surf #surfing #tropical #tropicaldestinations #vacationdestination #honeymoon #honeymoondestinations #honeymoonideas #honeymooninhawaii #hawaiihoneymoon #hawaiitravel #hawaiitrip #hawaiitraveltips #whattodoinhawaii #whattodoinhonolulu #travel #traveltiktok #travelbucketlist #bucketlist #bucketlisttravel #bucketlistdestinations #bucketlistvacations #maui #mauihawaii #wheninhawaii #hawaiitips #hawaiiliving #traveltok #traveltips #bestdestinations #bestvacations #vacationdestination #vacationinspo #vacationinhawaii #hawaiivacay #oahu #oahuhawaii #oahulife #oahuwedding #oahuweddings #oahucheck #oahufoodie #oahutravel #oahutrip #oahutravelguide #oahuhikes #oahuhike #aloha #hula #alohadance #alohaocean #alohafriday #hawaiibeach #hawaiianbeaches #bigisland #bigislandhawaii #hilife #hawaiiphotographer #hawaiiphotography #hawaiistate

Washington, D.C. is typically popular around cherry blossom season, which is Spring time, but it ranked well in "Safety" (No. 2) and "Attractions" (No. 15).

Wichita, Kansas seems to be a bit of a wild card, but it made it in the top five for its "Travel Costs & Hassles" (No. 7), "Local Costs" (No. 6) and "Safety" (No. 5).

Taking the fifth spot is New York, which is a well-known state for a tourist to be in, but it is a pretty expensive state to travel to.

As for Florida, Tampa ranked No. 7, and Orlando took the eighth spot.

No matter where you go, WalletHub found that the average flight nationwide to a popular summer destination costs $413. The average duration is 4 hours and 13 minutes.

So, when you're planning your next trip, you might want to compare some numbers!

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

Explore this list   👀

    • Associate Editor

      Jenna Kelley (she/her) was the Associate Editor for Florida at Narcity Media, where she oversaw all of the editorial content across the Sunshine State. She started her career in broadcast media as a television news reporter for three years. In 2020, Jenna won a Georgia Association of Broadcasters (GABBY) award for Best Online Produced Story. She's covered live concerts, reported at the Masters Tournament, and interviewed state senators during election season. Prior to working at Narcity Media, she made her way home to Florida and launched a copywriting business. Jenna received her B.A. in English with a minor in Communications at Florida State University. She has over five years of experience from print and digital media to radio and television.

    I live in Europe — Here are 7 vacation destinations to avoid and where to go instead

    Overrated, overcrowded — don't waste your precious dollars on these spots! 👀

    9 cheap vacation destinations where your weak Canadian dollar will still go a long way

    You can get by for as little as $22 per day for food, transport and accommodation. 🌎

    This enchanting small town set on a BC island was named among North America's 'most peaceful'

    Sandy beaches, ancient forests and a cozy town — anyone?. 🌲

    Canada's housing market is set to get cheaper and 5 cities are dropping more than Toronto

    A buyer's market is finally taking shape across much of Canada. 🏡

    New data reveals the 'most peaceful' places to live and Canadian towns demolished US ones

    Five Canadian towns were named the most serene on the continent. 🍁