WalletHub’s 2025 report on the Best Summer Travel Destinations highlights insights into the most attractive metro areas across the United States based on budget and fun-friendliness. The study evaluates 100 metro areas using 41 indicators, including travel costs, attractions, and dining expenses.
Orlando, FL tops the list, followed by Atlanta, GA, and Washington, DC. Other notable destinations include Honolulu, HI, Austin, TX, and Miami, FL. Florida and Texas emerge as popular states for summer travel, each featuring multiple cities in the top 15. Meanwhile, California has more destinations ranked lower in popularity.
The average cost of a flight to these summer hotspots is $375, with an average duration of just over four hours. For those considering coastal getaways, Los Angeles stands out on the West Coast, while Washington, D.C. leads on the East Coast.
- 1. Santa Rosa, CA
- 2. Atlanta, GA
- 3. Salt Lake City, UT
- 4. Grand Rapids, MI
- 5. Milwaukee, WI
- 96. Cleveland, OH
- 97. Cape Coral, FL
- 98. Des Moines, IA
- 99. McAllen, TX
- 100. Baton Rouge, LA