The Best Cheap Travel Destinations in the USA for Couples (2024)

This post is all about Cheap Travel Destinations in the USA.

Are you interested in planning a trip with your significant other, but maybe you don’t want to pay the price for an expensive getaway? There are so many inexpensive hidden gems in the US and this post will help you discover your next cheap travel destination!

Let’s be honest, there are so many places you could choose for your next vacation spot, but it can also be a little overwhelming narrowing down the best cheap travel destinations spots for you and your significant other.

In this blog post, I help you discover the best cheap vacations in USA for couples – from beaches, cities, and outdoor adventure spots, you’ll be sure to find the perfect getaway location!

These 15 best cheap travel destinations in the USA will help you plan your next getaway in no time!

Best Cheap Travel Destinations

Want to travel on a budget? You absolutely can! These 15 best cheap travel destinations will provide the best and cheap vacation spots – including the best things to do in each location!

Cheap Beach Vacation Destinations

Looking for some ocean views during your vacation? Below are the top 5 best cheap beach vacation destinations for you and your significant other to enjoy!

1. Destin, Florida

Destin is located on the Florida panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico. This quaint beach town is uniquely known for its sandy soft white beaches and emerald green ocean water. It is the perfect vacation destination for couples on a budget.

• Stroll the Destin Harbor Boardwalk to discover local restaurants, entertainment, cafes, boat rides, water sports, and so much more.
• Grab a bite to eat at McGuire’s Irish Pub – trust me when I say it is DELICIOUS.
• Take a day trip to Gator Beach.

2. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach is a fun and unique beach destination location due to it’s vibrant boardwalk with shopping, eateries, entertainment, nightlife, live theater and so much more. You can either spend an entire day laying on the beach or enjoy your entire day with all the fun activities Myrtle Beach offers!

• Stroll the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and discover local shops, restaurants and entertainment. Be sure to check out the famous SkyWheel at the Boardwalk too!
• Wonder through the Brookgreen Gardens to discover the wildlife preserve and sculpture garden.
• Grab tickets to see the best live entertainment at the Broadway Theater.

3. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

If you’re looking for a vacation destination with hot weather all year-around, look no further. Fort Lauderdale is located on the southern east side of Florida. Due to it’s southern location, you can experience warm weather, even during the winter months! Fort Lauderdale is known for it’s 165 acres of beaches, which is also the most common tourist attraction too! You can guarantee an ocean front view for an affordable price!

• Stroll the beachfront promenade to discover local shops, cafes, restaurants, entertainment venues and so much more.
• Take a day trip to Miami (40 minute drive).
• Visit the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

4. Cocoa Beach, Florida

Cocoa Beach is another Florida hidden gem with beautiful beaches and unique activities. Whether you want to relax on the beach or take a surf lesson – you definitely can! Cocoa Beach is one of the few places in Florida where the waves are large enough to surf. It is the perfect location for a relaxing beach vacation, where you can try some new and unique activities.

• Take a walk on the Cocoa Beach Pier, stretching over 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, for an entire 360° view of the city.
• Visit the Kennedy Space Center.
• Take a surfing lesson with your significant other!

5. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach is another relaxing beach town with endless activities for you to enjoy. From the popular Boardwalk, Cape Henry Light House, Virginia Beach Aquarium, and Rudee Inlet, you’ll be sure to find something you and your significant other will enjoy.

• Enjoy the Virginia Beach waters at the Rudee Inlet with jet skiing, parasailing, fishing charters, or sea-side dinning.
• Discover new alcoholic beverages at the Tarnished Truth Distilling Co., the countries first and only craft distillery.
• Immerse yourself into nature at the First Landing State Park.

Cheap Travel Destinations for the Outdoor Adventurers

If you’re looking to immerse yourself into the outdoor adventures of the US, below are the top 5 best cheap travel destinations for nature loving couples!

6. Moab, Utah

Moab, Utah is a beautiful destination to experience unique mountain hikes and National Parks. Specifically, Moab is known for the Arches National Park – the most popular spot to snap a photo. However, aside from the hikes, you can experience microbreweries, shops, art galleries, and so much more in the downtown district.

• Hike to the Arches National Park to snap a photo in front of the famous arches.
• Harness up and experience canyoneering with highly trained tour guides.
• Camp at Sand Flats Recreational Park.

7. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs is known for many things, such as the Rocky Mountains, Garden of Gods, and even the US Olympic Training Center – how cool is that?! With all the well known mountains and National Parks in Colorado Springs, you can guarantee many outdoor activities for you and your significant other to enjoy.

• Try a new outdoor adventure with zip lining in the Pikes Peak Region, the most visited mountain in North America.
• Experience outdoor rock climbing at a famous National Park.
• Visit the unique boutiques and shops at Colorado Springs’ Old Colorado City.

8. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a unique travel destination to fully immerse yourself into outdoor activities and scenery. The small mountain town is filled with outdoor adventure and indoor activities such as zip lining, hiking, mountain coasters, mini golf, escape games, mirror mazes, aquariums, and so much more.

• Experience a unique outdoor rollercoaster through the Gatlinburg mountains.
• Go horseback riding in the Great Smoky Mountain trails.
• See an indoor 5D moving movie theater at Ripley’s Moving Theater.

9. Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor is a unique hidden gem in the U.S. with delicious seafood and fun outdoor activities. The small mountain town is known for the ocean cliffs, rocky beaches, glacier-formed lakes and valleys, and forests. This is the perfect cheap travel destination to explore the east coasts outdoor scenery.

• Taste fresh seafood at Tasty Whale Tavern.
• Hike the Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail.
• Stroll along Bar Harbor’s Main Street with shops, restaurants, cafes and entertainment.

10. Asheville, North Carolina

Although you might think of Asheville as a city, this mountain city provides a unique list of outdoor adventures too. From waterfalls, hiking, biking, fishing, camping, kayaking, and so much more. However, Asheville provides a lively city experience too. The city is filled with live music, art galleries, and historic architecture.

• Visit Biltmore, the largest private home in America and a monument to the Gilded Age.
• Go on a scenic driving tour of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Cheap Travel Destinations for the City Landscapes

City travel destinations are filled with endless things to do for you and your significant other! Below are the top 5 best cheap travel destinations for the best city vacation.

11. Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. is an affordable travel destination in the USA for couples to enjoy. You can experience the famous White House, Lincoln Memorial, and Washington Monument. Washington D.C. is the perfect destination to immerse yourself into the history of America.

• Snap a photo in front of the White House.
• Immerse yourself with history at Washington D.C.’s museums.

12. San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio, Texas is know for its rich Native American history through the Texas Revolution. The city is filled with historic activities, Tex-Mex food, the Alamo, River Walk, and so much more! It’s the perfect destination to experience the city-life on an affordable budget.

• Sightsee on a boat cruise through the River Walk.
• Visit the Natural Bridge Caverns for zip lining, rope courses, mazes, and so much more!

13. San Diego, California

You might think San Diego, California is expensive because it’s located in California. However, it is actually a cheap travel destination in the USA to visit for a vacation. It’s also located right next to the beach – what can be better? A city and beach? Sign me up! San Diego is full of beach and city activities for you to enjoy your vacation!

• Go on a sunset cruise across the San Diego bay.
• Grab tickets to a San Diego Padres baseball game at Petco Park.
• Stroll along San Diego’s Little Italy.

14. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is an up-and-coming city with new skyscrapers popping up everyday, it seems! There are so many things to do in Atlanta to get the full city experience. From Atlanta’s Botanical Garden, World of Coca-Cola, College Football Hall of Fame, and os much more! It’s the perfect location to spend time with your significant other on a budget friendly getaway.

• Stroll along the Centennial Olympic Park.
• Grab tickets to a show at the Fox Theater.
• Visit the Center of Puppetry Arts – like Kermit the Frog!

15. New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is most notably known for Mardi Gras. However, it is also known for its vibrant nightlife, Creole and cajun food, colonial architecture, and live music. You’ll run out of time before you run out of things to do in New Orleans!

• Stroll along the infamous Bourbon Street.
• Indulge in a tasty Beignet (also what New Orleans is famous for).

These are the top 15 cheap travel destinations in the USA for couples to visit in 2024. Be sure to let me know in the comments which travel destination you plan to visit this year! I’d love to hear from you!

This post showed you the best cheap travel destinations for couples in 2024.