As the summer heats up, you may feel like going on vacation over Memorial Day is too expensive. What if all the hotels are booked, everything is too costly, or there is nothing within driving distance?

Gas prices are at an all-time high without any relief in sight, and inflation is making flights and hotels much more expensive. However, there are still some late summer deals to be found if you look in the right place! Learn how to travel on a budget and where to go.

Check out these ideas for Memorial Day vacations that are drivable and less expensive than you might think!

If you live in New England, visit New Haven, Connecticut 

Home to Yale University, New Haven is a beautiful and historic city with plenty to see and do. Walk the campus of Yale, visit the Long Wharf Theatre, explore one of the many art museums, or enjoy a stroll through one of the many parks.
Plus, you can eat some of the best pizza in the United States.

If you want to keep your vacation inexpensive, you can visit East Rock Park and explore all the many trails, go swimming at Lighthouse Point Park Beach, or enjoy a free walking tour at Yale.

New Haven has many great hotel and Airbnb options that will keep you comfortable while enjoying all that Elm City offers.
If you want to keep prices down, you can stay for even less in one of the nearby suburbs, North Haven or Milford.

Average Hotel Price: $207 per night.

If you live in New York City, visit The Adirondacks

The perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors, the Adirondacks offer hiking, biking, camping, and more. With over six million acres of land to explore, you’ll never run out of things to do.

The Adirondacks are family-friendly and offer fun activities like waterparks, mini-golf, laser tag, and bowling. Plus, the hotels are large and full of things to do within the hotel itself.
The Adirondacks can be a great place to vacation if you have kids.

The Adirondacks have many great lodging options, from camping and cabins to hotels and resorts. No matter what your budget is, you’ll be able to find something that suits your needs.

Average Hotel Price: $77 per night

If you live in the mid-Atlantic, visit Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

This historic town is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors, with hiking, biking, and kayaking all nearby. Or take a stroll through town and learn about its storied past. Learn about John Brown’s raid and the Civil War at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. (All of the museums are free!)

Harpers Ferry has some of the best whitewater rafting and hiking trails in the area. Help keep costs down by spending lots of time in the great outdoors.

Harpers Ferry is a great place to visit if you’re looking for some history and outdoor adventure. Camping is nearby, and there are a few hotels in Harpers Ferry itself.

Average Hotel Price:$188 per night

Camping Prices: Under $60 per night.

If you live in the south, visit Nashville Tennessee

Nashville is a great city for music lovers, with plenty of live music venues to enjoy. But there’s more to Nashville than just music. You can also tour the State Capitol, visit the Parthenon, or explore one of the many museums dedicated to music.

To keep your costs down while in Nashville, take advantage of all the free attractions, like touring the State Capitol building, or visit one of the many free museums. You can also enjoy the music scene by seeing a show at one of the many honky-tonks on Lower Broadway for less than the price of a movie.

There are plenty of great hotels and Airbnb options in Nashville, so you can find something that fits your budget. Stay outside of downtown to stretch your money further.

Hotel Prices as low as $69 per night.

If you live in the Midwest, visit Minneapolis, Minnesota

This vibrant city is the perfect place to enjoy the final days of summer. Take a walk or bike through one of the many parks, enjoy the views from the Stone Arch Bridge, or visit one of Minneapolis’ many museums.

If you want some free things to do, get out and walk along Lake Harriet, swim on the shore, or go hiking at Minnehaha Park and splash around at the waterfall. You will surely find lots of fun outdoor adventures when visiting Minneapolis.

The enormous Mall of America is just a 20-minute drive from downtown. You could spend a whole day there!

Stay outside of downtown Minneapolis to get the best deals on hotels.

Hotel average prices: $188

If you live in the Northwest, visit Couer d’Alene, Idaho

This beautiful city is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors while also enjoying great food and entertainment. Couer d’Alene is only an hour from Spokane, Washington, making it the ideal place to visit for a weekend getaway.

This Mountain town has some of the most beautiful scenery in the area, and it all starts with the lake. Lake Couer D’Alene offers many activities, such as swimming, boating, and fishing. If you want to explore more of the area, there are plenty of hiking and biking trails to enjoy.
Almost anything you do outdoors is free or inexpensive, making this a fabulous last-minute summer vacation.

Stay at the Couer d’Alene resort, or make your vacation inexpensive and camp at one of the dozens of camping spots around the city.

Hotel average price: $178 per night.

Camping: $40 per night

If you live in the West visit Albuquerque, New Mexico

This city is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors and learn about Native American culture. Hike through the Petroglyph National Monument, explore one of the many pueblos, or take a scenic drive down the Turquoise Trail.

Albuquerque is also home to the Sandia Peak Tramway, which offers stunning views of the city and the surrounding area.
You can find all sorts of fun things to do for free in Alberquerque, from museums to hikes to walking down the old Main Street. Plus, hotels are cheaper in late summer than in the peak.

Hotel average price: $111 per night.

Affording to Fly to a Family Vacation

Traveling with your children doesn’t have to break the bank.

• My best trick for flying your family somewhere is to pick the dates you have to travel, and then look for the cheapest flights anywhere. Our family has taken some amazing Spring Break trips for less than $1500 for a family of 5.
• You can also look for inexpensive airlines that do short flights. For example, Avelo Airlines has round-trip tickets to Florida every winter for less than $100 a person.
• See what Credit Card rewards you may have accumulated, and use them to pay for a flight or two, so the entire price is cheaper.
• Travel during the off-season and prices for flights plummet.

Saving Money on Accommodations

Hotels can eat up a huge part of your budget, so here are my best tips for staying somewhere affordable.

• Stay outside of the tourist area. Consider searching for accommodations in neighboring communities or the outskirts, where prices are typically more affordable and public transportation is still conveniently available. You might also stumble upon some known attractions that tourists overlook.
• Find a hotel that offers breakfast. While you may not save a ton of money at the hotel, you are also paying for part of the cost of food.
• Check Airbnb, VRBO, and hotel sites before making a decision. Prices vary wildly between all three depending on the location.
• House-sitting is another money-saving option for budget travelers. By house sitting, you reside in someone’s home while they’re away, looking after their pets and plants in return for lodging. There are dozens of sites for house sitting.

Tips for Cutting Costs on Dining

Indulging in local cuisine while on a trip adds to the enjoyment, though it may strain your finances. The good news is you can savor meals without breaking the bank during your family vacation. Discover ways to cut costs on dining without compromising on flavors. This guide focuses on keeping your stomach and wallet content during your travels.

Clever Snack Ideas and Grocery Hacks

We invented the term “grocery store dinner” many years ago. When we travel, we choose a few nights when we cook things ourselves (generally at an Airbnb). The kids love it because they get to try new things they find at a foreign store, and I love it because it saves a lot compared to eating out every meal.

We also buy snacks so that we don’t have to stop to eat 3 times a day. We often pack a sandwich or a bakery treat so we can push lunch until 3 and then we generally just have a small snack for dinner. It saves us hundreds of dollars during a 2 week vacation. Plus we can save our money to eat places we really want.

Dining Out on a Budget

We save so much money doing our grocery store dinners that we don’t worry too much about dining out on a budget; however, here are some great tips.

• Eat your big meal at lunch. Lunch menus are less expensive, and you can have the same dining experience. Then eat a snack for dinner.
• Find restaurants that aren’t near tourist locations. They will always be cheaper and in my opinion, much better.
• Don’t go fancy! Plenty of fabulous meals don’t require you to break the bank. Ask a local; they will generally tell you their family’s favorite spot.

Questions People Often Ask About Affordable Family Vacation Ideas

These are some of the most common questions I get asked about making family travel affordable. If you want to ask your own questions, send me an email.

What are some cheap family vacation spots?

Our favorite cheap vacation spot is Prince Edward Island, Canada. We go every other summer and load up the car for the 13-hour drive. We rent an Airbnb for a week and spend most of our time relaxing on the beach. We cook local seafood and eat a lot of ice cream.

The total price for a weeklong vacation for 5 is around $2500.

We also love exploring New England, and we often spend a long weekend in Vermont, Maine, or Massachusetts. A two—to three-day trip generally costs between $200 and $600.

How can we save money on activities during our vacation?

Much of this depends on your interests and what you want to see and do.

• I love to use Tiqets and Viator to find great deals.
• If you are in a large city, CityPass is generally a great deal and allows you to visit multiple sites for a base price.
• Explore cost activities such as strolling through the city enjoying parks or attending museums during admission days. Various locations offer designated days where entry fees are waived.

Check out my post about Free Things to do in NYC

Is it cheaper to plan our vacation last minute?

There is no tried-and-true answer for this. We tend to plan well in advance but wait for a good deal to go somewhere fun. While this works for us, it doesn’t work for many people who don’t feel comfortable without a vacation plan.

I would tell you to do what you feel most comfortable with. Prices last minute might be slightly lower, but not a ton.

How Do We Save Money on Luggage?

This is one of my favorite topics! I love to travel light, and we generally travel with a carry-on only. Even for a week or longer, we only travel with a carry-on. It’s cheaper, and I hate waiting for luggage at the airport.

If you are traveling on a budget airline, you can travel with just a personal item, too. We recently went to Belgium and all carried personal items, but we did check one suitcase so we could bring things home. However, that meant we still only spent $100 in luggage fees.

Easy Vacation Tips for Super Moms

Taking a vacation doesn’t need to be costly or complex to organize for moms with crazy busy schedules.  Picture not stressing over overspending because you know how to uncover bargains on accommodations and entertainment. The key is creating lasting memories without breaking the bank.

With a little bit of planning,  you can enjoy a fulfilling family getaway without overspending, which is entirely achievable!

When you’re considering a family trip, in the future, don’t be deterred by the expenses. Use these tricks to start organizing without worry and concentrate on creating memories.

In Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for a historic city to explore or a scenic mountain town to enjoy the outdoors, there are plenty of great late summer vacation options won’t break the bank. So get out there and enjoy all that summer has to offer!