When you read the word “vacation,” what comes to mind? Do you drift away to a white, sandy beach somewhere as the palms dance in the ocean breeze? Do you picture yourself walking down tree-lined streets in a European city somewhere? Maybe you’re standing on a mountaintop after a vigorous climb.

No matter what kind of summer getaway you dream of, chances are you’re going to have to spend a few pennies to make it happen. However, going on a vacation doesn’t need to be synonymous with breaking the bank! If you want to travel this season, here are our top summer vacation ideas for travelers on budget.

How we chose the best summer vacation spots

We all have different budgets, different incomes, and different ideas of how we’d like to spend our vacation. For this article, we considered each of the following factors to select the best summer vacation spots on a budget:

Most of all, we wanted to present our readership with alternatives to the traditional “hot-spot” summer vacation destinations for ideal vacation getaways you might not have considered.

So without further ado, here they are — the best summer vacation spots on a budget.

Our top 9+ summer vacation spots on a budget ✈️

1. Bar Harbor, Maine

The first stop on our list is Bar Harbor, ME, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, lobster roll aficionados, and people who love the smell of the North Atlantic — without the Cape Cod price tag. If a New England getaway is on your summer bucket list, look no further.

Nestled along Maine’s rugged coastline on Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor was traditionally a vacation destination for the east coast elite. Today, it serves as a bustling summer spot for travelers who know its well-kept secrets.

Consider visiting Acadia National Park, where you can hike to see unbelievable vistas of Maine’s coast on the summit of Cadillac Mountain. You can take in some history of the local culture and see relics of the Wabanaki people at the Abbe museum. Afterward, be sure to sample some of the local seafood or grab a coffee in a local café!

Affordable accommodations can be found at local bed and breakfasts, or on Vrbo or Airbnb — just be sure to book in advance for the best rates. The closest major airport is Portland International Jetport, which is a three hour drive from Bar Harbor — perfect for a New England summer road trip. 

2. San Juan, Puerto Rico

If you’re looking for a prime tropical vacation with culture bursting at the seams, look no further than Puerto Rico. (For US citizens, you won’t even need a passport.) 

Once you step outside at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, you’ll feel the relaxation almost immediately. 

San Juan is the capital and cultural hub on the Island of Enchantment, as Puerto Rico is known. With some of the best beaches in the world, an unbelievable gastronomy scene, great nightlife, and a classic Caribbean identity, San Juan is an unbeatable getaway for year-round travelers.

Be sure to walk along the cobblestone streets and pastel buildings in Old San Juan. If you’re a foodie, try mofongo and pastelles. Soak up the sun at El Escambrón beach. You can even make day trips to hike in El Yunque, or snorkel or scuba dive in the bioluminescent bays.

While the city does offer accommodations at resorts, there are great, affordable options at hostels throughout the city, as well as Airbnb. The Old Town is walkable, but public transit from Condado or Santurce is reliable, and you can find an Uber with ease.

3. Wasaga Beach, Ontario 

One of the best-kept secrets of the Canadian summer, Wasaga Beach is the place to be in the peak season. Situated on the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron, Wasaga Beach boasts the longest freshwater beach in the world — enjoy 14km of sand and sun and cool off with a refreshing dip in the water.

For sportspeople and anglers, the South Georgian Bay is well-known for outstanding fishing year-round, with rainbow trout season lasting through summer and the Chinook salmon beginning to run in late August — you can try your luck in nearby Collingwood. 

Hotel prices vary in Wasaga Beach — you can find anything from budget motels to sprawling lakeside estates with private beach access. For budget travelers wanting the best of both worlds, you can find cottages with beachfront access for a little over $100/night. 

Getting to Wasaga Beach is easy — you can fly into Toronto Pearson International Airport, rent a car, and find yourself reaching the sandy shores in about two hours. 

4. Cannon Beach, Oregon

Perhaps one of the most picturesque destinations on the list, Cannon Beach on Oregon’s northern coast is beautiful and serene. Catching a sunset at Cannon Beach beside a beach bonfire next to the iconic Haystack Rock is one of the high points of the summertime in the Pacific Northwest. To get there, all you’ll need to do is fly into Portland International Airport and make an hour and a half drive west.

Once you get to Cannon Beach, don’t expect to enjoy a swim — the average high for the month of July is only 66 degrees, with this time of year being the hottest! However, Cannon Beach is a hub for plenty of other outdoor activities. You can spend your time hiking, visiting the Tillamook lighthouse, or enjoying a meal at any of the wonderful restaurants in town. Oregon is also well known for its wineries, which you can sample while you’re there.

5. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

We continue our tour of the Pacific Northwest to Mount Rainier National Park — an easy trip from SeaTac International Airport. Tucked southeast of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier National Park is renowned for its rugged, untouched beauty — the crown jewel is its namesake stratovolcano. The iconic, snow-capped peak stands at a lofty 14,111 feet! If it’s outdoor adventure you’re after, Rainier is the ideal summer vacation destination.

If you’re not much for mountaineering, you can still drive to the Sunrise Point Overlook — the 6,400-foot elevation offers robust views of the natural beauty. The park has wonderful hiking trails, subalpine lakes, waterfalls, wildflowers, plenty of campsites, and more. And the best part? Admission is $30 for a 7-day, private vehicle pass.

Rainier’s proximity to the Seattle-Tacoma metro area is also worth noting. While Seattle can be quite expensive, there are ways to enjoy the city without breaking the bank. Consider taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island, walking around City Center, or admiring the view from the Waterfront. 

6. The Adirondacks

If this word only conjures up ideas of a particular type of outdoor furniture, it’s time you became familiar with the official seat of summertime’s namesake. 

Far beyond the brownstones of the Upper West Side (like, way beyond), the Adirondack Park is one of the best-kept secrets of New York. Spanning close to 5,000 square miles, the Adirondacks are home to mountains, lakes, pine trees, and a wonderful summertime climate. 

For adventurers, consider climbing the high peaks, like Mount Marcy or Algonquin Peak. If you’re after rest and relaxation, park it in an Adirondack chair on the shores of Fourth Lake in Inlet, NY. Have kids looking for thrills? Enchanted Forest Water Safari is a popular destination for summer fun. Kayaking, hiking, biking, and swimming are all very popular activities. 

Getting there is fairly open-ended — it’s especially dependent on where you’re coming from. The park is accessible from Hancock Int’l in Syracuse, Leahy Int’l in Burlington, and Trudeau Int’l in Montreal.

7. Gulf Shores, Alabama

If you want to hit a beach on the Gulf of Mexico this summer but you’d rather bypass the crowds on the Florida panhandle, consider making your way to Gulf Shores, AL. Known to the live music crowd for hosting the Hangout Music Festival every May, Gulf Shores is home to a beautiful beach and hot summer weather that’s perfect for swimming. The greenish tides and white sandy beaches make this destination ideal for those who love a beautiful ocean view!

The town is also home to several golf courses, a shopping mall, and an amusement park called Waterville, USA, making it a perfect family-friendly destination. While Gulf Shores is served by a municipal airport, you might have better luck flying into Mobile Regional Airport — the drive from Mobile to Gulf Shores should take a little over an hour.

Accommodations vary in Gulf Shores — there are plenty of resorts and beachfront hotels, but you’ll be able to find better bargains for places to stay if you check local listings on Airbnb or Vrbo. 

Honorable mentions

While the locations above are in no way an exhaustive list of budget vacation destinations, they do offer some of the best bangs for your buck. Still, here are a few more destinations to consider. They didn’t make our top seven due to location, seasonality, or other cost-affecting factors, but they’re certainly not expensive.

Remember, vacations are like any other expense — you can set a budget and stick to it just about anywhere. 

8. Terlingua, Texas

A former mining town deep in the heart of the west Texas desert, Terlingua is currently a ghost town with a tourism industry — it’s renowned for its rugged landscape, proximity to Big Bend National Park, and incredible stargazing. 

Terlingua is very remote — it’s a pretty serious drive from any major airport. You can consider flying into El Paso if you’re coming from the west coast or Austin if coming from the east. Both are notably scenic drives but they’re also long — 300 miles from El Paso and 500 from Austin. 

The unbelievable desert beauty of Terlingua is truly remarkable, but consider visiting either one early in the season or on the cusp of fall — it gets very hot!

9. Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Another incredible locale to check out, especially if you’re in the Western half of North America, is Vancouver Island. Located on Canada’s extreme southwest corner, the island is best reached through Vancouver International Airport. No matter if you’re coming from Regina, Calgary, Seattle, or San Francisco, you can be there in less than 2.5 hours.

From there, you can either take a ferry or drive to Vancouver Island. With a length of 456 km (that’s 283 miles!), the island is known for its stunning, rugged beauty and its pleasant, Mediterranean climate — they even grow olives and have many vineyards! 

In terms of where to stay, you can consider Tofino with its ancient rainforests and sprawling coastlines (it’s an awesome surf destination), Ucluelet with its fantastic aquarium, or hopping from town to town. 

Accommodations can vary greatly, so it’s best to take a look on sites like Expedia or Kayak, or rent privately from Airbnb or Vrbo. 

10. Cody, Wyoming

If you’re interested in the Wild West, look no further than a trip to Cody, Wyoming — known for its history with the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody, for whom the town was named. A beacon of Western culture, Cody is the rodeo capital of the world, so get your cowboy boots ready! You can go square dancing, horseback riding, and more.

You can also use Cody as a stepping stone to Yellowstone National Park, where you can hike, go white-water rafting, and camp out beneath the stars. There’s also a bustling arts community in Cody, where you can listen to music or check out local art galleries.

As with Terlingua, Cody is fairly remote, and it can still be fairly chilly even in the summer months, so be sure to pack appropriately. But if you’re trying to escape the brutal summer heat, Cody just might be your new go-to summer destination.

11. Cayucos, California

If it’s a chill coastal vibe you’re after, look no further. Located off State Route 1 just north of Morro Bay State Park, you can rest and relax on the Pacific in Cayucos. Known for its designation by Arthur Frommer as one of the Coolest Small Towns in America, this beach town is one of the best. You can relax at the beach or surf at the pier — just be sure to bring a wetsuit. 

Cayucos is also home to one of the best 4th of July parades in California, where you can watch a surf rock band play on a float! The town is also adorned with murals, which you can admire as you pop into local saloons, surf shops, antique stores, and more. 

12. Québec City, Quebec

Want to feel like you’ve left North America for a spell — without the European price tag? Immerse yourself in the 400 year history of Québec City — known by the local Francophone population as La Ville de Québec. 

The only fortified city north of Mexico in North America, Québec City flanks the St. Lawrence River. Northeast of Québec’s other metropolis, Montreal, Québec City is a primarily French-speaking city, known for its UNESCO Heritage designated Old Town, complete with narrow streets, Gothic architecture (including the incredible Fairmount Le Chateau Frontenac Hotel), and the stunning Montmorecy Falls. 

For music buffs, the city boasts a fantastic musical festival, known as Festival d’éte Québec (FEQ) — that’s Quebec Summer Festival for English speakers — which has hosted artists like Green Day, Lana Del Ray, Kendrick Lamar, and Foo Fighters.

You can fly directly into QC — it’s an hour and a half flight from JFK in New York or YYZ in Toronto — or you can opt for a beautiful, 2.5 hour summer drive after flying into Trudeau Int’l in Montreal. 

Travel on a budget

Wherever you go this summer, remember to plan your best trip by creating a budget and sticking to it. You can use Quicken Simplifi to set up savings goals, stash away extra cash, create a budget, and pay for that perfect bed and breakfast in Bar Harbor or that gorgeous beachfront rental in San Juan.