There are few things more relaxing than laying oceanside on the beach, but those resorts add up! If you’re looking to stay close to home without breaking the bank, check out these cheap USA beach vacations.
1. Gulf Shores, Alabama
Alabama’s Gulf Shores is one of those priceless, often-overlooked cheap USA beach vacations, especially given that Destin and Pensacola are nearby.
The family-friendly destination boasts pristine beaches, water sports, and tons of entertainment with its robust events calendar.
Avoid visiting during spring break unless you want to come between a college student and a good party. Otherwise, enjoy a relaxing shore and exhilarating activities like parasailing, helicopter tours, and jet skiing.
There’s even something for those who prefer a more low-key approach to cheap USA beach vacations—Gulf Shores’ Alabama Coastal Birding Trail is popular with birders and offers hiking trails for all levels.
2. Cannon Beach, Oregon
Oregon typically isn’t synonymous with beach vacations, which is what makes Cannon Beach even more of a hidden gem. The stunning beach offers some of the Pacific Northwest’s most incredible views and even more interesting wildlife.
Haystack Rock, part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, is a seasonal landing ground for tufted puffins. Nearby, Ecola State Park has breathtaking ocean views, while Hug Point State Recreation Site protects sea caves and waterfalls for visitors to explore.
See also: Airbnb Oregon Coast: The Coolest Places to Stay
3. San Juan, Puerto Rico
As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico more than qualifies for this list of cheap USA beach vacations. Its San Juan is a beach destination not to be overlooked in the country.
Parque Isla Verde and stylish Condado are where most of the best Puerto Rico resorts are located, featuring stunning Atlantic Ocean views and modern luxury.
Though you could easily spend a week relaxing on the beaches of San Juan, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is not to be missed, nor is the San Cristóbal fortress. Explore Old San Juan, the historic city center, then take a Bacardi rum factory tour to enjoy one of the territory’s main exports.
See also: The Best Puerto Rico Resorts: Experience Unforgettable Getaways
4. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach isn’t just a popular spring break destination. There are plenty of things to do in Virgina Beach, spanning art, aquatic life, and over three miles of boardwalk to explore.
View over 12,000 marine animals at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, or see some of the state’s top art exhibitions at the 6,000-square-foot Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. Those looking to get more into nature can visit Virginia Beach’s First Landing State Park.
Grab a hotel at a reasonable rate, then dine on Chesapeake Bay blue crabs at a boardwalk restaurant after hitting the shores at Sandbridge Beach. If you get bored (unlikely at this buzzy beach), check out the Military Aviation Museum and Virginia Beach Surf and Refuge Museum, or take a day trip to nearby Jamestown.
See also: The Cutest Airbnb Virginia Beach Vacation Rentals
5. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach attracts springbreakers and avid golfers alike. When it isn’t a raging party, the beach in South Carolina is home to energetic beachfront entertainment, top-rated golf courses, and a 60-mile-long string of beaches known as the Grand Strand.
Amusement parks, like the old-fashioned Family Kingdom and gigantic ferris wheel known as the SkyWheel, are popular boardwalk attractions, cementing Myrtle Beach as an affordable, family-friendly destination.
Of course, traditional beach activities like snorkeling, sailing, and tubing are also available. Bring your own equipment to save extra money during your vacation.
6. Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach may be best known for hosting NASCAR races at the Daytona International Speedway, but that doesn’t mean that the Florida city isn’t full of beachy vibes.
Driving into the beach will incur a $20 fee, but walking in is completely free. Head to the Daytona Beach Boardwalk & Pier and dine at local dive bars, or grab rental gear for boogie boarding, surfing, and paddle boarding.
You can easily find hotels under $100 here and tons of affordable activities. The Daytona Beach Bandshell hosts free concerts from June to September. On the weekends, it puts on a fireworks show for beachgoers.
7. Huntington Beach, California
Forget Los Angeles’ Santa Monica and Venice Beach, and head down south to Huntington Beach instead.
Located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Huntington Beach is one of the top surfing destinations in the United States. As it isn’t the chaos that is Los Angeles, it tends to be a little less expensive than the city’s beaches and flashy Malibu.
The beach’s pier is one of the longest on the West Coast, offering shopping, restaurants, and fishing. Explore local wildlife at Huntington Beach State Park or the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve—it’s the best of both worlds.
See also: Unique Airbnb California List
8. San Diego, California
San Diego isn’t quite as inexpensive as some of the cheap USA beach vacations on this list, but if you’re visiting off-season, you can experience one of the country’s best coastal destinations for a relatively affordable price, especially if you’re traveling with kids.
It’s tough to go wrong when choosing San Diego as a vacation destination. The California hotspot boasts over 100 days of sunshine annually, making it one of the sunniest places in the United States.
The city is full of diverse neighborhoods, including Little Italy for foodies and Gaslamp for vibrant nightlife. San Diego’s tourism board touts its historic Old Town as being extra affordable, where visitors can get a taste of the beach destination’s true heart and soul.
See also: Best Airbnb: San Diego
9. South Padre Island, Texas
One of Texas’ seven barrier islands, South Padre Island is among the state’s best for cheap USA beach vacations.
The city, named after the island it’s on, has over 34 miles of serene shore and over 50 acres of protected land at the South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center, and Alligator Sanctuary, where visitors can view reptiles, birds, and tortoises native to the island. The center has over 3,300 feet of boardwalk to explore.
A true beach retreat for nature lovers, visitors can also catch a glimpse of dolphins swimming along the island at the South Padre Island Dolphin Research & Sealife Nature Center.
Not only are hotels inexpensive, but transportation is also. South Padre Island has a free shuttle bus that will go straight to your destination after being flagged down.
See also: 21 of The Best Texas State Parks To Put On Your Bucket List
10. Ocean City, Maryland
The Northeast’s prestigious beaches for the well-to-do crowd get pricey quickly during peak season. If the idea of shelling out for the Hamptons or Block Island doesn’t interest you, head to Ocean City, Maryland, where prices stay much more reasonable.
If staying on the beach’s boardwalk is out of your price point, check out nearby West Ocean City. Albeit further inland, the town is far more affordable.
The city’s boardwalk has hardly changed over time, still hosting popular beach snacks like caramel popcorn at Fisher’s, funnel cakes at the Alaska Stand, and heaping buckets of fries at Thrasher’s Fries.
Ocean City is a nostalgic beach getaway complete with inviting boardwalk arcades and one of the oldest carousels in the United States.
11. Cape May, New Jersey
The Jersey Shore has more to offer than trashy reality shows, and Cape May is proving it.
Though accommodation may not be the most budget-friendly of US beach towns, the prominent East Coast beach has a cornucopia of free activities to enjoy.
Stroll the town’s Victorian houses that have been converted into shopping and dining, or scour for crabs and seashells at the beach. Beachfront restaurants serve delicious seafood while extraordinary birds roam the skies.
Visit from March to November to spot humpback whales off the coast, or discover Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area to enjoy hiking and untouched wilderness.
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
