With around 82 percent of Americans planning to travel this summer but inflation making trips costly, the personal-finance website WalletHub recently released its report on 2025’s Best and Worst Cities for Staycations, as well as expert commentary.
To identify the best spots for staying local, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 41 key indicators of a fun-filled yet wallet-friendly staycation. The data set ranges from parks per capita to restaurant-meal costs.
Best Cities for Staycations
Cincinnati, Ohio ranked at the top of the list for the best staycation city, followed by Orlando, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Honolulu, HI; Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MO; Tampa, FL; Salt Lake City, UT; Atlanta, GA and, rounding out the top 10, San Diego, California.
Worst Cities for Staycations
Ranking at number 173 was New Haven, Connecticut, followed by Anaheim, CA; Santa Ana, CA; Oakland, CA; Irving, TX; Hialeah, FL; Chula Vista, CA, Pearl City, HI; Fremont, CA; and last on the list, at number 182, was Yonkers, New York.
Best vs. Worst
New York has the most parks (per square root of population), which is 26.5 times more than in Miami, Florida, the city with the fewest.
Honolulu has the most tennis courts (per square root of population), which is 18.8 times more than in Mesa, Arizona, the city with the fewest.
Orlando has the most ice cream and frozen yogurt shops (per square root of population), which is 25.8 times more than in Lewiston, Maine, the city with the fewest.
Amarillo, Texas, has the lowest cost of house-cleaning services, which is 3.4 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 Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst. “Cincinnati is the best city for staycations, and it’s especially good for outdoor activities. The city has a large number of parks, swimming pools, and baseball fields to keep people entertained and active. In addition, Cincinnati ranks among the best cities when it comes to the prevalence of affordable restaurants with at least 4.5 out of 5 stars and also has many beer gardens and ice cream shops for those looking to get their alcohol and dessert fixes.”
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?
“My wife and I enjoy a variety of diverse activities – museums, hiking, music, theater, nature, experiencing new places and definitely not least, dining out. For us, a great staycation destination would have at least some of these possibilities relatively close to home (or it wouldn’t be a staycation, would it?).”
David L. Corsun, Ph.D. – Director, Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management; Professor, University of Denver
“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
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
Have staycations become more popular because of inflation?
“Staying closer to home provides many affordable travel alternatives during inflationary times. This will allow you to explore local leisure activities while keeping travel costs down by lowering gas expenses or using public transportation.”
Dr. Katherine A. Quinn, Ph.D., MBA, CHE, CHIA – Associate Professor, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
