Dreaming of a summer vacay but on a tight budget? No worries: we’ve done some research and found the top 10 cheapest summer destinations in the US. Whether you want to head to the beach or explore a new city, these destinations are the cheapest places to fly to right now—you can snag roundtrip flights to any of these destinations for $70 or less!
Luckily, summer—and warmer weather—are just around the corner, and now is the perfect time to buy your tickets for any summer vacations you’re planning. Currently, you can find TONS of cheap flight deals for summer, but as more and more people start thinking about traveling for the summer, prices will start to rise. If you want to lock in a good deal, now’s your chance!
Please note that many of these prices are student prices, and airfare may be more expensive if you aren’t signed in or aren’t verified as a student. To sign up and verify your student status, it just takes a few minutes to become a member with StudentUniverse.
Las Vegas
A trip to Sin City might be just what you need to kick your summer off! Grab your besties and head to the Strip for a few nights of endless entertainment, food and luxury, without breaking the bank to make it happen. In Las Vegas you will always find all the lights, glitz and glam on full display. Even better? Cheap hotel rooms and plenty of swimming pools and fancy dinner out options. So what are you waiting for?
Flights to Las Vegas from $21* one-way or $41* roundtrip
Hotels in Las Vegas from $10**/night
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is an amazing place to visit! Whether you just have a weekend or a few weeks, there’s always plenty to see and do—and good weather to go with it. Beach-lovers will find dozens of incredible beaches near LA, from Malibu to San Clemente, while adventure lovers can add some hikes to their list in the Santa Monica Mountains or Malibu Creek State Park. Of course, there’s the city to see too! Take in the glamour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, shop ‘til you drop at the Grove, soak in art and culture at the LACMA or the Getty or spend a day in Disneyland or Universal Studios. From museums to food to events and festivals, LA is a city not to be missed.
Flights to Los Angeles from $28* one-way or $70* roundtrip
Hotels in Los Angeles from $60**/night
Dallas
Dallas may not be first on your bucket list, but these super-cheap flights can give you just the excuse you need to visit this cool city. Of course, Dallas—like much of Texas—is known for its delicious food, from Tex-Mex to BBQ galore and tons of other Southern food options. Dallas also has a huge music scene, from live music and outdoor concerts happening on the regular to giant festivals like South by Southwest. What you might not realize is that Dallas also has a huge arts scene too! The Dallas Art District is the largest in the US, stretching across 19 blocks of downtown Dallas. With museums, festivals, pop-up shops and outdoor murals and street art, there’s a lot to discover.
Flights to Dallas from 28* one-way or $55* roundtrip
Hotels in Dallas from $46**/night
Atlanta
Good weather and good food—what better way to get in a good mood? Thankfully, Atlanta has both—in fact, it’s known for having the best Southern food in the country. Whether you want to stuff yourself full of delicious Southern favorites like fried chicken or BBQ fries or go for a fancy brunch, boba or vegetarian Ethopian food, Atlanta has no shortage of options for foodies. Besides the food, there’s plenty to do, too, from exploring downtown Atlanta, taking advantage of the city’s many parks and gardens or diving into the city’s history and role within the Civil and Human Rights movement. Plus, with so many cheap flights to Atlanta, there’s really nothing stopping you.
Flights to Atlanta from $21* one-way or $48* roundtrip
Hotels in Atlanta from $50**/night
Chicago
Chicago is a must-visit in the US! Whether you’ve never visited before or it’s just been awhile, Chicago in the summer is always a treat. Since the city endures such a harsh winter, it really comes alive during the warmer months, with outdoor concerts, festivals, riverside restaurants and more. Snap a selfie with the Chicago bean, spend an afternoon in one of Chicago’s many museums and then get a new perspective by going kayaking on the Chicago River or watching the sunset from the Chicago Skydeck. With so many free things to do in Chicago as well, it’s easily one of the cheapest summer destinations in the US.
Flights to Chicago from $28* one-way or $52* roundtrip
Hotels in Chicago from $55**/night
Miami
Miami is a perfect beach destination for summer travel (or any time of year, really) with beaches for miles as well as delicious food and near-perfect weather year-round. Of course, the most obvious choice for Miami is to spend all day every day soaking up on the sun on the beach. If you need a break, though, there’s plenty of other things to do too. Check out the Wynwood Walls (a famous outdoor museum of street art—perfect for Insta backdrops) or go shopping downtown or escape indoors to one of Miami’s art or history museums.
Flights to Miami from $28* one-way or $55* roundtrip
Hotels in Miami from $46**/night
New York
A trip to the Big Apple is a must on everyone’s bucket list—from the energy of Times Square to a relaxing afternoon picnic in Central Park, seeing a big show on Broadway or catching a free comedy night, there’s something for everyone (and every budget). If you think you can’t afford a trip to NYC, don’t count it out right away! Although it’s an expensive place to live, you can easily explore NYC on a budget—especially with these cheap summer flights. Even if you’re coming all the way from Los Angeles, you can find flights to New York for around $170* roundtrip or so, making it one of our cheapest summer destinations! Grab your bestie and plan a summer trip you’ll never forget.
Flights to New York from $28* one-way or $55* roundtrip
Hotels in New York from $66**/night
Denver
Denver is most commonly thought of as a ski destination, but there’s lots to do in the summer, too. Plus, cheap flights right now make it easier than ever to escape to the mountains for a week. If you’re a museum junkie, you’ll find plenty to explore, from art, science, history, nature and more. Sports fans will find lots of opportunities to both watch or play. The famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre is the perfect place to catch an outdoor concert in the summer (make sure to get your tickets in advance!). And of course, the nearby Rocky Mountain National Park has hiking and mountain biking galore all summer long.
Flights to Denver from $30* one-way or $59* roundtrip
Hotels in Denver from $51**/night
Phoenix
Phoenix is HOT during the summer months, but if you’re looking for a cheap summer trip for May or September, Phoenix is a great choice. This desert city is home to lots of adventure options, from rock climbing to hiking, canyoneering to jet skiing, hot air balloon rides to stand up paddle boarding and more. Looking for something a bit more relaxing? The city also has plenty of shopping, spas and restaurants to enjoy. Hike Camelback Mountain for iconic views of the city or visit the Heard Museum to learn more about the local Native American culture. Whatever you choose, these cheap flights to Phoenix will give you the perfect excuse for a getaway.
Flights to Phoenix from $21* one-way or $41* roundtrip
Hotels in Phoenix from $59**/night
Nashville
The land of country music and hot chicken. And great cafes, culture, museums, restaurants, arts, and soooo many festivals. Is there more you could want from a fun summer city trip? Whether you’re hoping to catch the CMA music festival in June or you just want an excuse to go out to brunch with the group in cowboy hats – Nashville is ready and waiting for you. Also, you’ll see that Nashville’s summer weather is hot, but not like hot hot (average highs are between 79-90℉ between May-August). So you can totally enjoy all your cute summer clothes and spend some time by the hotel pool, but you won’t be baking cookies on the sidewalk.
Flights to Nashville from $40* one-way or $55* roundtrip
Hotels in Nashville from $52**/night
So which of these destinations are on your bucket list? Book your flights and make it a reality! Search flights to our cheapest summer destinations and beyond and score a great deal before they run out.
*Flight prices were accurate at the time of publishing, but are subject to availability and subject to change at any time. Airfare published here was priced for flights between May-August 2023.
**Hotel prices were accurate at the time of publishing, but are subject to availability and subject to change at any time. Hotel prices published here were priced for nights in rooms for 2 people between May-August 2023.
