Cheap Beach Vacations In The USA

UPDATED September 2023. Really want to get to the beach but think you can’t because it’ll cost too much? No worries! Here is a list of cheap beach vacations on a budget.

For me, any day at the beach is a fantastic day. But even better are cheap beach vacations. I am very lucky living in Florida 2 hours away from either coast.

When I want to stay longer, it is usually comped, or I have received a great deal. Be sure you check out my article How To Get Paid To Travel and make all your beach trips affordable. That’s what I do.

Price compare. I like to use Kayak to do that because it pulls from all the other travel sites. Simply enter the destination and let Kayak do the work.

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Don’t have time to read the whole article? Bookmark and price compare for your beach vacation here: Kayak Price Comparison

Final tip? Travel off season or during what are called the shoulder months. Those are the months on either side of the peak summer travel season months.

• Absolutely the cheapest way to have an amazing beach vacation is by camping on the beach. When my husband and I first moved to Florida, we were tight on money but still wanted to explore every inch of this beautiful state. How did we do it? By camping. We have camped at the beach, Disney’s Wilderness Park, in Tampa for a baseball game, and at many beautiful state parks. Many state parks in Florida and along the coast have campgrounds RIGHT on the water. One of the most beautiful is Grayton Beach State Park located on Florida’s Gulf Coast has campsites available for only $30/night. The most we ever spent for a campsite was $50 at Fort Wilderness. (Read that article here –> Disney On A Budget). Believe it or not, it’s not much more expensive today than it was then depending on the time of year you go.
• Myrtle Beach, SC. I love Myrtle Beach and the surrounding area. We actually stayed in Garden City in a 2/2 condo on the beach for less than $1000/week. While looking down from the balcony, we watched a school of manta rays swimming by – amazing sight. In the morning, walking the beach, you can see dolphins on the horizon as the sun rises. Beautiful.
• Galveston, Texas. Less than 45 minutes from Houston, Galveston is a nice beach town that’s great for a weekend trip for those in the southwest portion of the country. Although I am not a fan to look out and to see the oil wells from the beach, it’s still a pretty area that’s quite affordable.
• Florida’s Panhandle. You know I love Panama City Beach and all the beaches on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Not only is this area absolutely gorgeous, it’s very affordable. My husband and I visit PCB, Destin, Fort Walton Beach or Pensacola Beach at least two times a year. Note if you’re looking to go when it’s on the quiet side, the season kicks into full force around mid-May through mid-August.
• Virginia Beach, Virginia. You wouldn’t think this would be an affordable area for a beach vacation, but it actually is. Again, camping is the way to go. Take a look at First Landing State Park where the beach is a short walk from any campsite. Like Myrtle Beach, if you’re willing to be a little bit further from the main beach, it’s more affordable.
• Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Very affordable and family friendly. Spend the day on the beach and the evening walking the mile long boardwalk full of restaurants, shops and other attractions. Be sure to make time to visit Cape Henlopen State Park, and it’s walking dunes!
• Daytona Beach, Florida. This beach isn’t just for bikers although Bike Week is pretty spectacular to see. Beach access is free for pedestrians, but Daytona Beach is also one of the beaches you can drive your vehicle right onto the sand making it easy to set up a beach picnic. Great way to keep your food costs down.
• Long Beach, Washington. This is a beautiful 28-mile stretch of beach. Parking is free, or you can drive your car right onto the beach like you can in Daytona Beach. Make Cape Disappointment State Park one of your stops where you can hike to the lighthouse then go back and enjoy the beach.

Another great options to price compare and more is Booking.com. Type in the destination below, rough estimate of dates and let Booking do the rest. Below are a few more links to help you plan a vacation within your budget.