Rating the nation’s best and worst ‘Staycation’ cities

With around 82 percent of Americans planning to travel this summer and high expenses forcing many people to stay home, the personal-finance website WalletHub has released its report on 2024’s Best & Worst Cities for Staycations, as well as expert commentary.

California had one city in the top 10 of ‘best’ cities for staycations, while on the flip side, five of the ‘worst’ cities for staycations were in the Golden State.

WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 42 key indicators of an exciting yet wallet-friendly staycation. The data set ranges from parks and museums per capita to restaurant-meal costs.

 

Best Cities for Staycations

At number one, Orlando, Florida was the best city to stay at home for your vacation. That was followed by Honolulu, HI at number two; Cincinnati, OH; Las Vegas, NV; Tampa, FL; Chicago, IL; San Diego, CA; Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA and, at number 10, Tucson, AZ.

 

Worst Cities for Staycations

Ranked as the worst cities were Moreno Valley, California at number 173 and Santa Ana, CA at 174; followed by Hialeah, FL; Laredo, TX; Santa Clarita, CA; Yonkers, NY; Chula Vista, CA; Pearl City, HI; Irving, TX; and, last on the list at number 182, Fremont, CA.

 

Best vs. Worst

St. Louis, Missouri has the most zoos and aquariums (per square root of population), which is 23.2 times more than in Phoenix, Arizona, the city with the fewest.

New York has the most parks (per square root of population), which is 49.9 times more than in San Francisco, California, the city with the fewest.

Des Moines, Iowa, has the lowest cost of house-cleaning services, which is 4.1 times less expensive than in Juneau, Alaska, the city with the highest.

“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,” said Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst. “Orlando, Florida, is the 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.”

To view the full report, visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-staycations/4341

 

Expert Commentary

What activities can families do locally without breaking the bank?

“Families can find fantastic ways to enjoy staycations. At its core, leisure time is best used to strengthen the mind, body, and spirit. Time with family is a wonderful way to accomplish this. An easy place to start is with local parks, whether they be city, county, or state. Take your family on a picnic, visit the local swimming pool, or consider going on a hiking trek. Many cities offer free or low-cost summer concerts or movies in the park. Families should also consider visiting local museums for a fun and educational afternoon. Many museums feature local knowledge or culture and have exhibits for adults and children alike. Another idea for families on a staycation is to enjoy some local commercial recreation like bowling or attending a matinee movie. Businesses like axe-throwing and pickleball are emerging at a record pace. These are great things to enjoy with children and can be great, inexpensive fun.”

David T. Rolfe, Ed.D. – Associate Professor, Central Washington University

 

“Walk: the most ancient pastime. Recent neuroscience has strongly linked forward ambulation and visual flow to immediate, strong benefits to well-being: mental, emotional, and, of course, physical. Timing your staycation walk in a new-to-you park or other safe, local free space to sunrise or sunset has big benefits for quality of sleep as well.”

Logan Park, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Southern Illinois University

 

What is the best time of year to have a staycation?

“I am not sure there is a best time of the year for a staycation. The more important factor is what your hometown can offer for activities. If you live in a community with great summer weather, go do a swim day. If you are in the cold north, take a couple of days and find the best sledding hill in town. Do you live near a university? Fall and winter can be great for watching collegiate sports.”

David T. Rolfe, Ed.D. – Associate Professor, Central Washington University

 

“Find the shoulder seasons of your local parks and greenspaces. During peak season, high demand often leads to crowding and displacement behaviors, like spreading out from crowds into less-developed areas to avoid unwanted encounters. This process can lead to a lot of resource damage at the park/greenspace, such as vegetation trampling and wildlife impacts. Also, local small businesses are often better able to work with you more closely during off-peak seasons to make your staycation more special or customized for you or your group.”

Logan Park, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Southern Illinois University

 

Are staycations becoming more popular because of inflation?

“We saw a large backlog of travel during the pandemic. Many people were not able to travel, and as soon as the country opened up again, there was a deluge of travelers. Pent-up desire to travel, paired with extra income, meant we saw a record number of travelers immediately following the pandemic. Now, the demand has lessened and inflation has risen dramatically. There is reason to believe that more families will elect to stay close to home, save money, and look toward alternate entertainment.”

David T. Rolfe, Ed.D. – Associate Professor, Central Washington University