NEW YORK, NY — Summer travel across the U.S. is getting expensive, with a new study showing that a seven-night trip for a family of four can top $6,800 in some cities.
MoneyLion’s breakdown for mid-June travel found that airfare, lodging and meals can quickly push popular destinations far above the $6,000 mark.
Anchorage and New York rank as the costliest family getaways
Anchorage, Alaska, came in at the top of the list at $6,861 for a weeklong stay from June 12 to June 19. The estimate included more than $2,000 each for meals and airfare, plus nearly $2,000 for a hotel.
New York followed closely behind at $6,839. The study said meals, hotel and airfare there totaled $3,360, $1,706 and $1,435, respectively.
Florida, California and Hawaii cities fill out the most expensive trips
Santa Barbara, California, ranked third at $6,323, with meals listed at $2,800, hotel costs at $1,335 and flights at $1,843.
Key West, Florida, and Miami, Florida, rounded out the top five at $6,303 and $6,279. The rest of the 10 most expensive destinations were Hilo, Hawaii; Atlanta, Georgia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Boston, Massachusetts; and Kailua, Hawaii.
Gettysburg, Clearwater and Glendale offer the lowest-cost options
MoneyLion also identified several cheaper summer destinations for families trying to keep costs down. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was the least expensive at $3,138, including $1,862 for meals, a $602 hotel bill and less than $500 for airfare.
Clearwater, Florida, followed at $3,276, while Glendale, Arizona, came in at $3,905. Charleston, West Virginia; Cincinnati, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and Branson, Missouri, completed the 10 most affordable list.
Travel prices are being squeezed by higher fees and fewer flight options
The study’s findings come as travelers face rising fees and fewer flight options, with higher jet fuel prices adding pressure to summer vacation budgets.
For families planning domestic trips, the gap between the most expensive and least expensive destinations is more than $3,700 based on MoneyLion’s estimates.
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