Grab your suntan lotion. We’re heading to Florida.
WalletHub has released this year’s list of the best summer travel destinations in the U.S., pinpointing which spots vacationers should be keeping in mind ahead of their next summertime trip.
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However, it’s not all about the fun and games.
“You might have a few destinations already in mind, but your travel budget might not agree, especially with how pricey gas and airline tickets can be,” the study reads. “It’s ideal to have fun while keeping your spending in check.”
As such, the study examined the cheapest destinations in the country that are also the easiest to reach, gathering data across 100 of the largest metro areas.
More specifically, those factors break down as follows:
- Travel Costs & Hassles — Examines factors like the cost, duration, and number of connections on the shortest and cheapest flights
- Local Costs — Examines factors like the cost of living, average gas prices, and hotel rates
- Attractions — Examines factors like the number and diversity of attractions
- Weather — Based on WalletHub’s list of cities with the best and worst weather
- Activities — Examines factors like the number of restaurants, theme parks, sports attractions and more
- Safety — Examines factors like the rates of violent and property crime
Overall, the top-ranked destination turned out to be the Orlando metro area, which also topped the nation in terms of local activities.
“Orlando, FL is the best metro area for summer travel, known for attractions like its huge theme parks. The shortest flights to Orlando from other major cities have zero connections and cost as little as $322.
Surprisingly, the lowest nightly rate for a three-star hotel room in Orlando is only $42, which is very reasonable. The metro area has plenty of affordable, high-quality restaurants to choose from, too.
Orlando also ranks highly when it comes to the prevalence of water parks, boat tours, ice cream shops, coffee shops, shopping centers and spas, providing venues to both get thrills and relax."
WalletHub, "Best Summer Travel Destinations (2025)"
Meanwhile, the rest of the Florida metros that made the list ranked as follows:
| Rank | Metro | Total Score | Best Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | 68.34 | Activities |
| 9 | Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Pompano Beach | 62.50 | Activities |
| 12 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 62.33 | Activities |
| 25 | Jacksonville | 58.54 | Activities |
| 65 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 51.59 | Safety |
| 66 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | 51.45 | Activities |
| 79 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | 48.53 | Safety |
| 91 | Cape Coral-Ft. Myers | 44.06 | Safety |
| 95 | North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton | 42.82 | Safety |