Going on vacation doesn’t always have to be an all-out splurge to have a good time. There are plenty of destinations that are well worth your travels that are both affordable and closer than you think. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Cloudbeds, a hospitality management software provider, did its own research to find the best value vacation spots in America, and its list has something for everyone. 

In the No. 1 spot is the Sunshine State. “Florida tops the list as the best-value vacation destination in the U.S., achieving an overall score of 74.41/100,” Cloudbeds shared in its findings. “It ranks No. 1 for hotels, boasting 14,751 three-star hotels with an average nightly rate of $175 for stays between June and August 2024. The Sunshine State also has more attractions by land area than any other state, with 286 beaches, 205 shopping malls, and over 580 different outdoor activity options.” It also doesn’t hurt that Florida averages anywhere between 230 to 250 days of sunshine a year. 

To come to its conclusion on which destinations are top-notch and wallet-friendly, the team analyzed data from travel review sites like Tripadvisor, along with information from online travel agencies and official government reports like Transport data from apta.com, using the information to measure the average cost of accommodation, availability of public transport, the average weather, and the number of attractions, considering 30 factors in total before giving each state a normalized score out of 100.

Joining Florida high on the list is California in second place, which received an overall score of 71.19/100. It earned its place thanks to its fantastic weather and the high number of three-star or above hotels, with an average rate of $221 per night.  

Coming in third is New Jersey with a score of 68.67/100 thanks to its average hotel rate of $208 per night. 

Rounding out the top 10 is New York in fourth place, followed by Massachusetts, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maryland, and South Carolina, proving you can find a great getaway for less all around the nation. However, if you want to save even more, make sure to check out these budget travel tips from the pros as you start plotting your next great escape.