Best & Worst Cities for Staycations (2025)

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterJun 9, 2025

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
Jun 9, 2025

Around 82% of Americans plan to travel this summer, but inflation may force people to cut back on their expenses and take a less extravagant trip. Fortunately, you don’t necessarily need to travel far to have a great time. You might be surprised to find that your local cities can offer plenty of options for entertainment and relaxation at a great price point.

To determine the best places for a fun-filled yet wallet-friendly staycation, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 41 key metrics. Our data set ranges from parks per capita to restaurant-meal costs.

“It’s fun to visit an exotic location on vacation, but during rougher economic times, a staycation can save you a lot of money while being just as memorable. Not only do you avoid the cost of overnight accommodations and minimize travel costs, but you can also discover all kinds of fun activities close to home that you might not have tried out otherwise. Plus, you’ll feel more rested if you spend less time in transit and more time sleeping in your own bed.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Places for a Staycation

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Recreation Rank	Food & Entertainment Rank	Rest & Relaxation Rank
1	Cincinnati, OH	65.24	8	10	5
2	Orlando, FL	64.63	25	1	12
3	Las Vegas, NV	63.94	12	3	14
4	Honolulu, HI	60.56	1	16	125
5	Chicago, IL	59.92	5	17	71
6	St. Louis, MO	59.39	51	2	25
7	Tampa, FL	58.72	34	13	20
8	Salt Lake City, UT	58.53	7	22	49
9	Atlanta, GA	58.41	14	9	86
10	San Diego, CA	57.80	13	19	41
11	Portland, ME	57.68	2	43	89
12	Tucson, AZ	57.51	23	27	16
13	Scottsdale, AZ	57.14	44	31	1
14	New Orleans, LA	57.14	35	4	77
15	Denver, CO	56.63	11	25	63
16	Portland, OR	56.61	24	6	97
17	Pittsburgh, PA	56.55	41	11	58
18	Charleston, SC	55.50	37	28	32
19	Albuquerque, NM	54.93	42	26	27
20	Philadelphia, PA	54.89	9	23	108
21	Columbia, SC	54.18	149	21	9
22	San Francisco, CA	53.82	6	7	170
23	Shreveport, LA	53.46	146	51	3
24	Houston, TX	53.45	26	8	136
25	New York, NY	52.92	4	57	144
26	Fort Lauderdale, FL	52.89	3	49	133
27	Richmond, VA	52.39	30	20	98
28	Springfield, MO	52.38	159	60	7
29	Austin, TX	52.07	29	12	139
30	Chattanooga, TN	51.90	59	46	44
31	Louisville, KY	51.73	43	47	48
32	St. Petersburg, FL	51.24	36	55	75
33	Milwaukee, WI	51.16	19	18	137
34	Seattle, WA	51.12	21	15	149
35	Burlington, VT	51.01	18	74	84
36	Boise, ID	50.93	45	66	54
37	Knoxville, TN	50.82	89	37	46
38	Overland Park, KS	50.76	105	112	11
39	Omaha, NE	50.70	39	61	67
40	Reno, NV	50.56	74	50	18
41	Virginia Beach, VA	50.32	49	107	23
42	Los Angeles, CA	50.18	16	48	129
43	Tulsa, OK	50.16	84	85	2
44	Missoula, MT	50.12	58	121	21
45	Tempe, AZ	50.00	27	53	107
46	Wilmington, DE	49.79	69	56	73
47	Washington, DC	49.69	10	24	172
48	Fort Smith, AR	49.50	131	145	4
49	Miami, FL	49.27	33	5	175
50	Rochester, NY	49.17	52	38	114
51	Minneapolis, MN	49.10	40	58	101
52	Amarillo, TX	49.01	171	83	13
53	Billings, MT	48.98	112	68	47
54	El Paso, TX	48.89	110	29	24
55	Mobile, AL	48.64	152	63	38
56	Plano, TX	48.32	55	105	52
57	San Antonio, TX	48.24	79	14	117
58	Rapid City, SD	48.20	93	75	43
59	Birmingham, AL	48.12	134	33	82
60	Henderson, NV	48.10	75	99	15
61	Cleveland, OH	48.09	53	36	116
62	Huntsville, AL	47.96	145	97	30
63	Kansas City, MO	47.85	104	30	72
64	Sacramento, CA	47.79	63	32	109
65	Jackson, MS	47.53	179	118	6
66	Vancouver, WA	47.43	98	87	60
67	Fayetteville, NC	47.33	180	98	17
68	Norfolk, VA	47.09	38	127	87
69	Columbus, OH	47.03	68	71	70
70	Oklahoma City, OK	46.91	121	52	19
71	Akron, OH	46.57	107	109	34
72	Lincoln, NE	46.50	82	86	42
73	Sioux Falls, SD	46.49	150	80	65
74	Colorado Springs, CO	46.30	78	45	94
75	Phoenix, AZ	46.29	66	62	93
75	Fargo, ND	46.28	140	90	51
77	Providence, RI	46.06	54	67	121
78	Ontario, CA	46.06	91	143	53
79	Augusta, GA	46.02	177	126	8
80	Jacksonville, FL	45.89	32	78	138
81	Nashville, TN	45.85	71	44	113
82	Gulfport, MS	45.75	102	114	55
83	Cape Coral, FL	45.46	60	152	50
84	Baton Rouge, LA	45.26	81	54	99
85	Spokane, WA	45.15	92	95	40
86	Las Cruces, NM	45.09	123	141	28
87	Grand Rapids, MI	44.99	72	84	112
88	Bakersfield, CA	44.97	169	79	10
89	Buffalo, NY	44.92	56	59	141
90	Corpus Christi, TX	44.83	94	102	57
91	Nampa, ID	44.46	136	164	21
92	Dallas, TX	44.32	62	69	123
93	Boston, MA	44.21	14	40	180
94	Winston-Salem, NC	44.12	142	81	35
95	Bismarck, ND	43.94	83	115	92
96	Indianapolis, IN	43.88	99	39	120
97	Glendale, AZ	43.83	111	101	64
98	Fort Worth, TX	43.76	130	92	29
99	Riverside, CA	43.64	124	111	31
100	Madison, WI	43.61	20	94	171
101	Raleigh, NC	43.57	95	41	126
102	Salem, OR	43.56	153	96	85
103	Cedar Rapids, IA	43.27	151	117	76
104	St. Paul, MN	43.17	47	72	162
105	Greensboro, NC	43.05	139	65	66
106	Mesa, AZ	43.05	100	106	68
107	Modesto, CA	42.97	156	103	83
108	Fort Wayne, IN	42.97	147	82	61
109	Chandler, AZ	42.81	129	93	56
110	Columbus, GA	42.76	178	108	59
111	Tacoma, WA	42.58	116	77	122
112	Toledo, OH	42.56	96	100	88
113	Peoria, AZ	42.37	90	148	81
114	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	42.13	175	142	36
115	Lexington-Fayette, KY	42.02	133	89	79
116	Newport News, VA	41.92	167	140	69
117	Montgomery, AL	41.87	173	122	80
118	Stockton, CA	41.82	122	139	39
119	Lubbock, TX	41.79	172	113	26
120	Pembroke Pines, FL	41.69	65	160	106
121	South Burlington, VT	41.58	57	149	127
122	Huntington Beach, CA	41.54	28	137	146
123	Charlotte, NC	41.38	103	34	153
124	Anchorage, AK	41.04	48	73	176
125	Dover, DE	40.69	80	165	103
126	Moreno Valley, CA	40.55	174	159	37
127	North Las Vegas, NV	40.52	137	157	33
128	Baltimore, MD	40.51	64	42	177
129	Fontana, CA	40.41	135	162	78
130	Aurora, IL	40.35	73	167	102
131	Cheyenne, WY	40.30	143	154	90
132	Irvine, CA	40.17	46	136	160
133	Nashua, NH	40.16	88	169	96
134	Tallahassee, FL	40.06	164	76	140
135	Durham, NC	40.05	125	64	131
136	Casper, WY	39.71	126	104	142
137	Memphis, TN	39.70	120	70	143
138	Detroit, MI	39.65	86	88	156
139	Wichita, KS	39.64	141	35	145
140	Brownsville, TX	39.62	176	168	45
141	Garden Grove, CA	39.45	22	146	158
142	Long Beach, CA	39.43	70	91	168
143	Fresno, CA	39.25	154	116	74
144	Arlington, TX	39.21	119	124	104
145	Gilbert, AZ	39.18	161	134	62
146	Oxnard, CA	38.98	106	170	100
147	Charleston, WV	38.84	165	119	134
148	San Bernardino, CA	38.73	170	131	110
149	Little Rock, AR	38.46	160	110	135
150	Aurora, CO	38.31	117	120	132
151	Worcester, MA	38.08	109	147	130
152	Glendale, CA	37.83	31	155	165
153	Chesapeake, VA	37.61	97	156	128
154	Columbia, MD	37.54	166	174	91
155	Manchester, NH	36.90	158	158	118
156	West Valley City, UT	36.84	50	181	95
157	Grand Prairie, TX	36.68	113	177	115
158	Oceanside, CA	36.60	67	166	148
159	San Jose, CA	36.49	76	138	166
160	Warwick, RI	36.30	77	151	157
161	Santa Rosa, CA	35.73	87	161	152
162	Lewiston, ME	35.57	132	179	111
163	Laredo, TX	35.40	115	173	124
164	Des Moines, IA	35.22	155	125	147
165	Garland, TX	35.09	138	135	151
166	Juneau, AK	35.07	17	133	182
167	Port St. Lucie, FL	34.99	181	130	105
168	Jersey City, NJ	34.51	127	128	167
169	Huntington, WV	34.21	101	171	150
170	Bridgeport, CT	33.84	61	172	163
171	Newark, NJ	33.84	118	153	159
172	Santa Clarita, CA	33.73	162	163	119
173	New Haven, CT	32.81	148	132	174
174	Anaheim, CA	32.40	157	123	169
175	Santa Ana, CA	32.27	128	144	173
176	Oakland, CA	31.71	85	129	181
177	Irving, TX	31.64	168	150	155
178	Hialeah, FL	31.48	108	176	164
179	Chula Vista, CA	29.01	163	178	154
180	Pearl City, HI	28.44	182	180	161
181	Fremont, CA	27.22	144	175	179
182	Yonkers, NY	25.55	114	182	178

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Swimming Pools per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Cleveland, OH
T-1. Philadelphia, PA
3. Chicago, IL
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Pittsburgh, PA

Fewest

Fewest
97. Fremont, CA
98. Garland, TX
99. Lubbock, TX
100. Madison, WI
101. Anaheim, CA

Tennis Courts per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Honolulu, HI
T-1. Chicago, IL
T-1. Richmond, VA
T-1. Norfolk, VA
T-1. Omaha, NE

Fewest

Fewest
99. Gilbert, AZ
100. Des Moines, IA
101. Irving, TX
102. Santa Clarita, CA
103. Mesa, AZ

Public Golf Courses per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Warwick, RI
T-1. Peoria, AZ
T-1. Scottsdale, AZ
T-1. Gilbert, AZ
T-1. Tempe, AZ

Fewest

Fewest
175. Jacksonville, FL
176. El Paso, TX
177. Bakersfield, CA
178. New York, NY
179. Laredo, TX

Zoos & Aquariums per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. St. Louis, MO
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. Las Vegas, NV
T-1. Orlando, FL
T-1. Tampa, FL

Fewest

Fewest
112. Indianapolis, IN
113. Columbus, OH
114. San Jose, CA
115. Phoenix, AZ
116. New York, NY

Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Orlando, FL
T-1. Las Vegas, NV
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. Atlanta, GA
5. San Antonio, TX

Fewest

Fewest
177. Casper, WY
178. New Haven, CT
179. Huntington, WV
180. Pearl City, HI
181. Lewiston, ME

Beer Gardens per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Milwaukee, WI
T-1. Portland, OR
T-1. New York, NY
T-1. Washington, DC
T-1. Austin, TX

Fewest

Fewest
106. Tulsa, OK
107. Minneapolis, MN
108. Virginia Beach, VA
109. Fresno, CA
110. Oklahoma City, OK

Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita

Most

Most
1. Salt Lake City, UT
2. Spokane, WA
3. Richmond, VA
4. Fort Lauderdale, FL
5. Pittsburgh, PA

Fewest

Fewest
178. Bridgeport, CT
179. West Valley City, UT
180. New York, NY
181. Columbus, GA
182. Pearl City, HI

Museums per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. New Orleans, LA
T-1. New York, NY
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. San Francisco, CA
T-1. Seattle, WA

Fewest

Fewest
176. Garland, TX
177. Chesapeake, VA
178. North Las Vegas, NV
179. Peoria, AZ
180. Chula Vista, CA

Spas per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Las Vegas, NV
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. Honolulu, HI
T-1. Scottsdale, AZ
T-1. New York, NY

Fewest

Fewest
178. Anaheim, CA
179. West Valley City, UT
180. North Las Vegas, NV
181. Pearl City, HI
182. Fontana, CA

In-Depth Look at the Best Cities for Staycations

Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati is the best city for staycations, and it's especially good for outdoor activities. The city has a large number of parks, swimming pools, and baseball fields to keep people entertained and active.

In addition, Cincinnati ranks among the best cities when it comes to the prevalence of affordable restaurants with at least 4.5 out of 5 stars. After all, most people don’t want to cook for themselves or do dishes while taking a staycation. The city also has many beer gardens and ice cream shops for those looking to get their alcohol and dessert fixes.

To top things off, Cincinnati has a relatively low cost of hiring a maid for a house cleaning, at around $92, so after you’re done with a fun day trip, you can come home to a clean house without having to do any of the work.

Orlando, FL

Orlando, FL, is the second-best city for a staycation, due to the fact that there are so many different things to do in the city. Orlando has an extremely high number of amusement parks, water parks, nightlife activities, festivals, zoos and arcades per capita, so it’s easy to fill a week with different fun outings every day.

Orlando is also a great place to eat out, with plenty of affordable restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars out of 5 and very diverse restaurant types. There are also lots of ice cream shops for dessert during the hot summer.

Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas is the third-best city for a staycation. The city offers plenty of opportunities to play golf or basketball, swim, hike, or rent bikes, so you can enjoy the outdoor scenery while staying active.

It is also no surprise that Las Vegas has a large number of casinos, if you're willing to try your luck, and plenty of arcades, making it an exciting destination for both adventure seekers and those looking to indulge in some nostalgic fun.

Finally, Las Vegas has a lot of affordable, good-quality restaurants, and it boasts a high number of spas, which are a great day trip idea during a staycation.

Ask the Experts

There’s a difference between a staycation and business as usual in the context of staying local. And it all has to do with how you spend your time in the city you call home. For advice on making the best of your staycation, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

What are the best ways to enjoy a staycation?
What activities can families do locally without breaking the bank?
What is the best time of year to have a staycation?
In evaluating the best cities for staycations, what are the top five indicators?
Have staycations become more popular due to inflation?

Ask the Experts

David L. Corsun
Ph.D., Director & Professor, Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver
Read More

Andrew Burnstine
Ph.D., Associate Professor, College of Business and Management - Lynn University
Read More

Patty Janes
Ph.D., Professor, Hospitality and Tourism Management - Grand Valley State University
Read More

Matthew H. Ebbott
Senior Lecturer, Recreation & Outdoor Education and the Environment & Sustainability program, ROE Program Coordinator, Co-Director Headwaters First Year Seminar Program - Western Colorado University
Read More

Yating (Tina) Liang
Ph.D., Professor, Hospitality Leadership - Missouri State University
Read More

Jonathan Katz
Lecturer and Director, Strategic Branding and Global Experience - Boston University School of Hospitality Administration
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine the best staycation spots, WalletHub compared 182 U.S. cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Recreation, 2) Food & Entertainment and 3) Rest & Relaxation.

We evaluated those dimensions using 41 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for staycationers. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the “Number of Residents” in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Recreation – Total Points: 33.33

Public Golf Courses per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Tennis Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Swimming Pools per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Basketball Hoops per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Baseball & Softball Diamonds per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Playgrounds per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Walk Score: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Bike Score: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Bike Rental Facilities per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Hiking Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Shopping Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Water & Amusement Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Boat Tours & Water Sports per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.30 Points)
Miles of Bicycle Lanes, Paths & Routes per Square Mile: Half Weight (~1.15 Points)

Food & Entertainment – Total Points: 33.33

Movie Costs: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Average Price for Two Tickets to the Theater: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Bowling Costs: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Average Cocktail Price: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Nightlife Options per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Casinos per Capita*: Half Weight (~0.85 Points)
Festivals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Museums per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Zoos & Aquariums per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Paintball Fields per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Arcades per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Amusement Parks or Water Parks” List: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Note: This metric measures the presence and prevalence of a city in TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Amusement Parks or Water Parks” List.
Theaters & Concert Halls per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Beer Gardens per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Restaurant-Meal Costs: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Prevalence of Affordable Restaurants with 4.5+ Stars: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Diversity of Restaurants: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)

Rest & Relaxation – Total Points: 33.33

Cost of House-Cleaning Service: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)
Spas & Wellness Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)
Massage Costs: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)
Beauty-Salon Costs: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)
Public Beaches per Capita*: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)
Idealness of Summer Weather: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of May 12, 2025 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, The Trust for Public Land, League of American Bicyclists, Walk Score, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Expatistan, Numbeo, MassageBook, GolfLink, Areavibes, Thumbtack and WalletHub research.

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