Cheap Vacation Ideas That Won’t Drain Your Bank Account

Craving for your next travel destination this 2019 but worried about breaking the bank? Consider going to a place you have never been before during the off-season and exploring very affordable activities. The appeal of packing your bags to the great unknown is achievable even while you are on a budget — even more so. From campsites to amusement parks to museums, this list of cheap vacation ideas has you covered.

Beaches and Lakes

Going to beaches that do not cost big bucks doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get astounding photographs for your Instagram. Take pictures with a lush backdrop of blue sky and party under the stars all night with these cheap travel destinations.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Just a few hours of flight from the East Coast, Puerto Rico is on the Fodor’s Go List 2019 destinations for its beachfront hotels (Condado and Isla Verde), historic tours (El Morro fort in Old San Juan), sailing trips (San Juan Bay), cultural district (Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico), culinary district (La Placita Market) — and of course, its nightlife. San Juan now offers good deals to pull tourists to the shore after the devastating Typhoon Maria, which makes it one of your next cheap travel destinations.

Outer Banks, North Carolina

North Carolina’s Outer Banks is the home of historical sites such as the Kill Devil Hills, where the Wright Brothers first took flight. But not many people know the place, putting it on the list of cheap travel destinations with good deals. The gorgeous beaches in the 130-mile-long barrier island chain are the next pictures for your postcards.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Adults looking to take a break from the kids may do so at South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach, awash with cheap vacation ideas. The 60-stretch of beach known as the Grand Stand has the Broadway at the Beach amusement park where children can go to and more than 100 golf courses where adults can play as well. You can also eat seafood in the restaurants by the shore.
Lake George, Adirondacks, New York

Family get-away time has never been cheaper with a lake vacation, traditionally more affordable than hitting the beach. Lake George, in the foothills of the Adirondacks in New York, is one of the best cheap travel destinations. Take a dip at the town beach, cruise around in a paddle-wheeler around the lake, and hit the sheets of either an inn, lodge, or hotel — which are affordable at Lake George, even in the summer.

Lake Powell, Arizona and Utah

Cheap travel destinations will not exactly give you the comforts of a home kitchen, bedrooms and a bathroom on a picturesque lake or river — unless you discover you could go houseboating on Lake Powell, where water skiing comes with the view of sandstone canyons.

Campsites and Cabins

Southern Utah

Watch sunsets burning behind red rocks and light a campfire in the dark after at Zion National Park, one of America’s prime camping spots for cheap vacation ideas. (Book ahead!) Or if you want a quieter atmosphere with fewer visitors, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is one of your other options for cheap travel destinations.

Fair Hills Resort, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Go back to the good old days of summer camp at the Fair Hills Resort in Detroit Hills, Minnesota. It has cheap vacation ideas in store such as sleeping in rustic cabins, tagging in on scheduled activities and eating meals such as the Minnesota walleye courtesy of the resort. The inclusive resort is one of the cheap vacation destinations letting your family experience your childhood with you.

Horseshoe Canyon Ranch — Ozarks, Arkansas

Riding a horse, canoeing, zip lining and rock climbing aren’t exactly in the list of cheap vacation ideas — if you do not know where to look. Skip Montana and Wyoming for Ozarks in Arkansas, where you could do what are now cheap vacation ideas and go home to reasonably priced cabins.

Museums and Art Scenes

Looking to get soaked up in arts and culture instead of the sun? With these cheap travel destinations, these are now your next cheap vacation ideas.

Washington, D.C.

Museum lovers are in for a show with cheap travel destinations all in one place: Washington D.C.’s Smithsonian museums are all free! From spaceships at the National Air and Space Museum to pandas at the National Zoo and even George Washington’s uniforms at the American Museum of Natural History, visiting a museum is one of your best bets for cheap vacation ideas.

Old Bardstown Village Civil War Museum, Bardstown

Got lost through time at the Old Bardstown Village Civil War Museum, where it could take two days to explore haunting artifacts and displays showcasing the Civil War and all its history. Afterwards, stroll around the charming town of Bardstown where the museum is located and where you could dine on a Hot Brown sandwich at Talbott Tavern or taste bourbon at the Willett Distillery.

Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

The Colonial Williamsburg museum is history coming to life — where your cheap vacation ideas are singing, dancing and eating in the 18th century. The museum has actors masquerading as all kinds of Americans, from the free to the enslaved, and they all charmingly dress the part too!

Amusement Parks

Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

For the amusement park thrill seekers, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a total of 18 roller coasters — not bad for place on the list of cheap travel destinations. While not all of them are for the fainthearted, the theme park itself is for people looking for cheap vacation ideas. Scream in cheap thrills at the new Steel Vengeance or play it safe with other rides made for the children.

Camelback Resort, Poconos, Pennsylvania

While kids usually have more fun than adults in water parks, Aquatopia in Camelback Resort might prove otherwise. Camelback Resort is your best bet for cheap vacation ideas in non-peak times due to good deals. Not only does Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark have water slides for both adults and children, there are also indoor and outdoor tubs adults could dip into — making Camelback Resort one of the next cheap travel destinations for all ages.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Alright, Las Vegas isn’t exactly an amusement park — at least not for children, that is. During the hot summer, there are fewer visitors and more deals, which surprisingly make it one of your next cheap travel destinations. Stray away from higher-end properties like the MGM Grand to a cheaper Circus Circus — just make sure you don’t blow up your money in the casino.

Who says you need money for adventure and travel? All you need are cheap vacation ideas and cheap travel destinations to set them in, and you’re good to go!