Best Winter Holiday Destinations (2026)

When the mercury drops, some Americans welcome the chill while others follow the sun. This year, the winter promises to be a warmer one. The Old Farmer’s Almanac forecasts a temperate and uneventful winter across most of the U.S. Some regions will experience harsher weather, though, particularly in central and southern Appalachia, the western Ohio Valley, and the Rockies.

To help Americans plan their travels over the colder months, WalletHub developed a ranking of the cheapest U.S. destinations that are also the easiest to reach. In total we analyzed nearly 70 of the largest metro areas — grouped as “warm” or “cold” — based on 37 key metrics, including two weeks of flight data, safety indicators and weather predictions.

Compared with other rankings that focus on each destination’s scenic quality, this report focuses primarily on the cost and convenience of traveling to each location as well as its affordability. It also ensures that the number of attractions and variety of activities in each destination will keep everyone busy and entertained throughout the trip.

Top 5 Winter Holiday Destinations

Cold Weather

1. Chicago, IL
2. Atlanta, GA
3. Washington, D.C.
4. St. Louis, MO
5. Cincinnati, OH

Warm Weather

1. Las Vegas, NV
2. San Diego, CA
3. Austin, TX
4. Dallas, TX
5. Phoenix, AZ

“Whether you love to have a chill in your bones during the winter travel season or prefer to escape to somewhere sunny, the top travel destinations can cost as little as $200-$300 to reach by plane from major U.S. cities, with no connections. In addition to being affordable, the top cities also have an abundance of attractions that fit their weather patterns, along with high-quality restaurants and relatively low crime rates.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Top Cold-Weather Destinations

Best Winter Vacation Destinations for Cold-Weather Lovers

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

Travel Costs & Hassles

Lowest

• 1. Minneapolis, MN
• 2. Chicago, IL
• 3. Washington, DC
• 4. Kansas City, MO
• 5. Indianapolis, IN

Highest

• 28. Salt Lake City, UT
• 29. Providence, RI
• 30. Rochester, NY
• 31. Worcester, MA
• 32. Bridgeport, CT

Local Costs

Lowest

• 1. Cincinnati, OH
• 2. Omaha, NE
• 3. Pittsburgh, PA
• 4. Grand Rapids, MI
• 5. Cleveland, OH

Highest

• 28. Buffalo, NY
• 29. Boston, MA
• 30. Seattle, WA
• 31. Bridgeport, CT
• 32. New York, NY

Attractions

Most

• 1. Chicago, IL
• 2. New York, NY
• 3. Seattle, WA
• 4. Washington, DC
• 5. Portland, OR

Fewest

• 28. Grand Rapids, MI
• 29. Albany, NY
• 30. Worcester, MA
• 31. Hartford, CT
• 32. Bridgeport, CT

Cold-Weather Activities

Most

• 1. Atlanta, GA
• 2. Chicago IL
• 3. St. Louis, MO
• 4. Cincinnati, OH
• 5. New York, NY

Fewest

• 28. Albany, NY
• 29. Detroit, MI
• 30. Hartford, CT
• 31. Worcester, MA
• 32. Bridgeport, CT

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In-Depth Look at the Top Cold-Weather Destinations

Winner: Chicago, IL

The Chicago metro area is the best cold-weather winter travel destination, with the cheapest flights from major cities having no connections and costing as little as $205.

Chicago naturally boasts a ton of attractions, including ones that are perfect for winter vacationers. The metro area has the 10th-most ice skating rinks per capita, for example, along with a very high number of music venues, spas and affordable restaurants with at least 4.5 stars.

Finally, the Chicago metro area has the lowest property crime rate among the 32 metro areas for cold destinations in our study.

Runner-Up: Atlanta, GA

The Atlanta metro area is the second-best cold-weather winter travel destination of 2025, even if it doesn’t get quite as chilly as some of the other cities on the list. Atlanta has a large number of attractions and an especially high number of shopping centers, spas, food festivals and restaurants per capita.

During the winter travel season, the cheapest flights to Atlanta from major cities only require an average of 0.4 connections (meaning many flights won’t have any) and can cost as little as $310.

Atlanta ranks in the top half of destinations when it comes to vacation safety, with the 10th-lowest property crime rate and 15th-lowest violent crime rate among the 32 metro areas for cold destinations in our study.

Top Warm-Weather Destinations

Best Winter Vacation Destinations for Warm-Weather Lovers

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

Travel Costs & Hassles

Lowest

• 1. Houston, TX
• 2. Austin, TX
• 3. New Orleans, LA
• 4. Phoenix, AZ
• 5. Dallas, TX

Highest

• 33. Deltona, FL
• 34. Santa Maria, CA
• 35. Cape Coral, FL
• 36. Brownsville, TX
• 37. Honolulu, HI

Local Costs

Lowest

• 1. McAllen, TX
• 2. Lafayette, LA
• 3. Baton Rouge, LA
• 4. Dallas, TX
• 5. Pensacola, FL

Highest

• 33. San Jose, CA
• 34. North Port, FL
• 35. San Francisco, CA
• 36. Riverside, CA
• 37. Honolulu, HI

Attractions

Most

• 1. Las Vegas, NV
• 2. Los Angeles, CA
• 3. San Francisco, CA
• 4. Miami, FL
• 5. San Diego, CA

Fewest

• 33. McAllen, TX
• 34. Killeen, TX
• 35. Palm Bay, FL
• 36. North Port, FL
• 37. Deltona, FL

Warm-Weather Activities

Most

• 1. Las Vegas, NV
• 2. Orlando, FL
• 3. Honolulu, HI
• 4. San Diego, CA
• 5. San Francisco, CA

Fewest

• 33. Beaumont, TX
• 34. Santa Maria, CA
• 35. Killeen, TX
• 36. Deltona, FL
• 37. Palm Bay, FL

Show More

In-Depth Look at the Top Warm-Weather Destinations

Winner: Las Vegas, NV

The Las Vegas metro area is the best warm-weather winter travel destination of 2025. Las Vegas surprisingly has affordable accommodations during the winter travel season, with some of the lowest prices of a 3-star hotel room at $64 per night. Las Vegas is a bit more expensive to actually get to than other cities, though, with the cheapest flights from major cities costing $349 and an average of 0.17 connections.

Las Vegas shines due to its abundance of attractions, including an especially high number of amusement parks and shopping centers. The metro area also has plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities, with the fourth-best parks in the country, and a high number of basketball courts, bike rental facilities and public golf courses per capita. In addition, Las Vegas is one of the best places for affordable, high-quality restaurants.

Runner-Up: San Diego, CA

The San Diego metro area is the second-best warm-weather winter travel destination, in large part because it has the third-most pleasant weather conditions in the country. San Diego has a very large number of attractions, too, including it has an especially high number of amusement parks, bike rental facilities, shopping centers and affordable, highly-rated restaurants.

The cheapest flights to San Diego from major cities can be as low as $347 and have no connections, so all flights are direct. While it’s pricier to visit San Diego or other warm-weather destinations compared to cold-weather destinations during the winter, the flights are still fairly reasonably priced.

When it comes to safety, San Diego has the fifth-lowest motor vehicle fatality rate and the sixth-lowest fatality rate due to drunk driving among the 37 metro areas for warm destinations in our study. It also has the ninth-lowest property crime rate and the 16th-lowest violent crime rate.

Ask the Experts

Many Americans travel far during winter either to escape or enjoy the cold, which can be a costly ordeal depending on multiple factors. With budget-conscious and group travelers in mind, we asked a panel of experts to provide guidance on planning cost-effective trips without sacrificing pleasure. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What is the outlook for the upcoming winter travel season?
2. What are the best ways for travelers to save money?
3. What are some logistical do’s and don’ts for winter travel?
4. In evaluating the best cities for winter holiday travel, what are the top five indicators?
5. What economic factors might affect winter travel this year?

Ask the Experts

Rosane K. Gertner
Professor, Marketing - College of Staten Island, The City University of New York
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Xinyi Qian
Tourism Center Director & Extension State Specialist - University of Minnesota
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Babu George
Ph.D. – Full Professor of Management, School of Business - Alcorn State University
Read More

Dr. Amit Mehrotra
Assistant Professor, Department of Hospitality Management - New York City College of Technology, City University of New York
Read More

Peter Anderson
Lecturer, Collins School of Hospitality Management California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Read More

Dr. Noel Criscione-Naylor
CED – Program Chair & Professor Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management - Stockton University
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine the best winter holiday destinations, WalletHub compared 69 of the most populated U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, across six key dimensions: 1) Travel Costs & Hassles, 2) Local Costs, 3) Attractions, 4) Weather, 5) Activities and 6) Safety.

We evaluated those dimensions using 37 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 ideal winter travel conditions. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we calculated the population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Of the 130 MSAs in our initial sample, we eliminated those for which data limitations existed. We then classified each of the remaining MSAs as either a “cold” or “warm” destination according to the following temperature guidelines:

• Cold: ≤ 46 degrees F (50-year average December temperature)
• Warm: ≥ 57 degrees F (50-year average December temperature)

Next, we eliminated the MSAs with average winter temperatures of 47 to 56 degrees F, a range we designated as a “dead zone,” with the exception of the top 10 MSAs, which were assigned to the climate group with the nearest average winter temperature if they fell within this dead zone. We chose to include the top 10 MSAs on account of their popularity as travel destinations regardless of the season. In total, 69 MSAs were included in our final sample.

For the flight analysis, we collected data on Oct. 3 and used Dec. 24 as the departure date and Jan. 2 as the return date based on the following assumptions inspired by the findings of an American Express travel survey:

• December is the most popular month for winter-holiday travel; and
• The average American considers 10 days the ideal length for a vacation.

Finally, we determined each MSA’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Travel Costs & Hassles - Total Points = 18

• Cost of Cheapest Flight: 30% (~5.40 Points)
• Duration of Cheapest Flight: 10% (~1.80 Points)
• Number of Connections on Cheapest Flight: 5% (~0.90 Points)
• Cost of Shortest Flight: 30% (~5.40 Points)
• Duration of Shortest Flight: 10% (~1.80 Points)
• Number of Connections on Shortest Flight: 5% (~0.90 Points)
• Share of Delayed Flights: 10% (~1.80 Points)

Note: For simplicity, we recorded only the longest leg of each flight. Given the often stark disparities in flight costs and travel times, we also chose the best deals for each metric within a $30 range or one-hour window.

For example, if the cheapest round-trip flight between Washington and Los Angeles would cost $700 but it only cost $25 more for the second-cheapest flight and would reduce the total travel time by two hours, we chose the latter.

Similarly, if the shortest round-trip flight between Washington and Los Angeles would take six hours each way but it was only 25 minutes longer for the second-shortest and would save the traveler $200, we again chose the latter.

Local Costs - Total Points = 18

• Cost of Three-Star Hotel Room: 25% (~4.50 Points)
• Average Price for Two-Person Meal: 25% (~4.50 Points)
• Taxi-Fare Cost: 25% (~4.50 Points)
• Cost of Living: 25% (~4.50 Points)

Attractions - Total Points = 18

• Number of Attractions: 60% (~10.80 Points)
• Diversity of Attractions: 40% (~7.20 Points)
  Note: This metric was calculated using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, a commonly accepted measure of market concentration that also serves effectively as a general-purpose measure of diversity.

Weather - Total Points = 18

Note: The metrics below are based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.

1. Winter Weather: Total Points 18
2. Warm Weather: Total Points 18

Activities - Total Points = 18

1. Cold-Weather Activities
   • Proximity of Ski Slopes: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Ice-Skating Rinks per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Music Venues per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Food Festivals per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Restaurants per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Availability of Affordable, High-Quality Restaurants: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
     Note: “High Quality” refers to a star rating of at least 4.5.
   • Wellness Centers & Spas per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Shopping Centers per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)

 

2. Warm-Weather Activities
   • Restaurants per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Availability of Affordable, High-Quality Restaurants: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
     Note: “High Quality” refers to a star rating of at least 4.5.
   • Amusement Parks per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Number of Amusement & Water Parks on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Amusement & Water Parks" List: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Wellness Centers & Spas per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Shopping Centers per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Music Venues per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Tennis Courts per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Public & Municipal Golf Courses per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Baseball Diamonds per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Basketball Hoops per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Bike-Rental Facilities per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Food Festivals per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Quality of Parks: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
     Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Recreation” ranking.

Safety - Total Points: 10

• Violent-Crime Rate: 28.57% (~2.86 Points)
• Property-Crime Rate: 28.57% (~2.86 Points)
• Perception of Safety (Safety walking alone during daylight/night): 14.29% (~1.43 Points)
  Note: These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past 3 years. If the value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if the value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high.
• DUI-Related Fatal Incidents per Capita: 14.29% (~1.43 Points)
• Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths: 14.29% (~1.43 Points)

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of September 30, 2025 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Numbeo, White Book of Ski Areas, GolfLink.com, Council for Community and Economic Research, Kayak.com, TripAdvisor, The Trust for Public Land, Yelp, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and WalletHub research.

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