America's Most Expensive Tourist Destinations

America's most expensive tourist destination is famously known for its resorts, slopes and skiing opportunities. A new GOBankingRates study reveals Aspen, Colorado, is the nation's most expensive tourist destination. For well-off couples vacationing there, the total vacation cost of $2,708 is worth the money to experience the city's breathtaking scenery and outdoor recreational pursuits.
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Where did the rest of the nation's destinations rank? To find the most expensive destinations, GOBankingRates found 55 top vacation locales using data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Numbeo's Cost of Living. This study assumes vacationers are two adults visiting for three nights, having three meals at a mid-range restaurant, 12 meals at inexpensive restaurants, six beers and six sodas. Additional travel factors include each city's average hotel cost (selected using the average cost of the three cheapest hotels within five miles of each city) and airfare cost (selected using the nearest airport from the destination with available data and double for two).
Florida narrowly beat out California with the most tourist destinations out of any state — all of which are affordable. Miami Beach (#32), Naples (#36), West Palm Beach (#37), Fort Lauderdale (#47), Orlando (#52), Kissimmee (#54) and Clearwater (#55) had total vacation costs of $1,630 or less for two adults.
Aspen, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Taos, Santa Fe, Williamsburg, Hot Springs and Birmingham have the most expensive airfare costs. Couples pay more than $1,000 for flights to these eight popular tourist destinations.
It's always 5 o'clock somewhere: Which destination has the cheapest beer? Vacationers pay the least for domestic beer in Branson, Missouri ($3.75); whereas beer purchased in Los Angeles costs $8.50.
Clearwater, Florida, might rank in last place, but it's the least expensive tourist destination for vacationers on a budget. The total vacation costs are $998 and airfare costs for a couple are $264, the cheapest of the 55 destinations.
From most to least expensive total vacation costs, keep reading for America's 55 most expensive tourist destinations.
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Airfare cost for a couple: $1,341
Total cost of hotel: $791
Total cost for all meals: $510
Domestic beer cost: $7.50
Total cost for vacation: $2,708
That's Interesting:
Airfare cost for a couple: $952
Total cost of hotel: $830
Total cost for all meals: $600
Domestic beer cost: $8
Total cost for vacation: $2,446
Airfare cost for a couple: $1,190
Total cost of hotel: $440
Total cost for all meals: $600
Domestic beer cost: $8
Total cost for vacation: $2,294
Airfare cost for a couple: $883
Total cost of hotel: $566
Total cost for all meals: $720
Domestic beer cost: $6.25
Total cost for vacation: $2,224
Airfare cost for a couple: $1,179
Total cost of hotel: $350
Total cost for all meals: $563
Domestic beer cost: $8
Total cost for vacation: $2,157
Airfare cost for a couple: $838
Total cost of hotel: $538
Total cost for all meals: $720
Domestic beer cost: $6.25
Total cost for vacation: $2,150
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Airfare cost for a couple: $878
Total cost of hotel: $401
Total cost for all meals: $788
Domestic beer cost: $8
Total cost for vacation: $2,134
Airfare cost for a couple: $669
Total cost of hotel: $765
Total cost for all meals: $564
Domestic beer cost: $7.50
Total cost for vacation: $2,058
Airfare cost for a couple: $819
Total cost of hotel: $539
Total cost for all meals: $600
Domestic beer cost: $8
Total cost for vacation: $2,024
Airfare cost for a couple: $978
Total cost of hotel: $600
Total cost for all meals: $381
Domestic beer cost: $7
Total cost for vacation: $2,016
Airfare cost for a couple: $1,070
Total cost of hotel: $443
Total cost for all meals: $449
Domestic beer cost: $5
Total cost for vacation: $2,005
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Airfare cost for a couple: $738
Total cost of hotel: $586
Total cost for all meals: $600
Domestic beer cost: $8
Total cost for vacation: $1,987
Airfare cost for a couple: $842
Total cost of hotel: $586
Total cost for all meals: $438
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,917
Airfare cost for a couple: $936
Total cost of hotel: $188
Total cost for all meals: $713
Domestic beer cost: $8
Total cost for vacation: $1,904
Airfare cost for a couple: $1,070
Total cost of hotel: $263
Total cost for all meals: $449
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,834
Airfare cost for a couple: $943
Total cost of hotel: $542
Total cost for all meals: $300
Domestic beer cost: $5
Total cost for vacation: $1,832
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Airfare cost for a couple: $907
Total cost of hotel: $366
Total cost for all meals: $470
Domestic beer cost: $5.75
Total cost for vacation: $1,791
Airfare cost for a couple: $844
Total cost of hotel: $470
Total cost for all meals: $417
Domestic beer cost: $5
Total cost for vacation: $1,779
Airfare cost for a couple: $1,043
Total cost of hotel: $195
Total cost for all meals: $480
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,771
Airfare cost for a couple: $755
Total cost of hotel: $363
Total cost for all meals: $582
Domestic beer cost: $8
Total cost for vacation: $1,770
Airfare cost for a couple: $894
Total cost of hotel: $345
Total cost for all meals: $458
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,757
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Airfare cost for a couple: $771
Total cost of hotel: $335
Total cost for all meals: $558
Domestic beer cost: $8
Total cost for vacation: $1,730
Airfare cost for a couple: $932
Total cost of hotel: $378
Total cost for all meals: $390
Domestic beer cost: $3.75
Total cost for vacation: $1,728
Airfare cost for a couple: $908
Total cost of hotel: $352
Total cost for all meals: $411
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,722
Airfare cost for a couple: $1,039
Total cost of hotel: $185
Total cost for all meals: $429
Domestic beer cost: $5
Total cost for vacation: $1,697
Airfare cost for a couple: $787
Total cost of hotel: $298
Total cost for all meals: $552
Domestic beer cost: $7
Total cost for vacation: $1,697
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Airfare cost for a couple: $738
Total cost of hotel: $186
Total cost for all meals: $683
Domestic beer cost: $8
Total cost for vacation: $1,673
Airfare cost for a couple: $852
Total cost of hotel: $348
Total cost for all meals: $410
Domestic beer cost: $7
Total cost for vacation: $1,669
Airfare cost for a couple: $862
Total cost of hotel: $119
Total cost for all meals: $600
Domestic beer cost: $8.50
Total cost for vacation: $1,649
Airfare cost for a couple: $1,010
Total cost of hotel: $186
Total cost for all meals: $396
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,640
Airfare cost for a couple: $792
Total cost of hotel: $312
Total cost for all meals: $480
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,635
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Airfare cost for a couple: $717
Total cost of hotel: $185
Total cost for all meals: $660
Domestic beer cost: $8
Total cost for vacation: $1,630
Airfare cost for a couple: $697
Total cost of hotel: $194
Total cost for all meals: $684
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,628
Airfare cost for a couple: $888
Total cost of hotel: $181
Total cost for all meals: $495
Domestic beer cost: $6.25
Total cost for vacation: $1,621
Airfare cost for a couple: $759
Total cost of hotel: $353
Total cost for all meals: $456
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,619
Airfare cost for a couple: $713
Total cost of hotel: $275
Total cost for all meals: $543
Domestic beer cost: $6.75
Total cost for vacation: $1,590
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Airfare cost for a couple: $709
Total cost of hotel: $274
Total cost for all meals: $543
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,579
Airfare cost for a couple: $844
Total cost of hotel: $212
Total cost for all meals: $473
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,579
Airfare cost for a couple: $835
Total cost of hotel: $185
Total cost for all meals: $480
Domestic beer cost: $7
Total cost for vacation: $1,558
Airfare cost for a couple: $769
Total cost of hotel: $306
Total cost for all meals: $426
Domestic beer cost: $7
Total cost for vacation: $1,556
Airfare cost for a couple: $873
Total cost of hotel: $156
Total cost for all meals: $459
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,539
That's Interesting:
Airfare cost for a couple: $855
Total cost of hotel: $153
Total cost for all meals: $473
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,533
Airfare cost for a couple: $745
Total cost of hotel: $223
Total cost for all meals: $495
Domestic beer cost: $7.50
Total cost for vacation: $1,526
Airfare cost for a couple: $769
Total cost of hotel: $217
Total cost for all meals: $480
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,516
Airfare cost for a couple: $830
Total cost of hotel: $219
Total cost for all meals: $396
Domestic beer cost: $4.50
Total cost for vacation: $1,486
Airfare cost for a couple: $835
Total cost of hotel: $162
Total cost for all meals: $420
Domestic beer cost: $5
Total cost for vacation: $1,462
For You:
Airfare cost for a couple: $549
Total cost of hotel: $234
Total cost for all meals: $582
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,417
Airfare cost for a couple: $352
Total cost of hotel: $418
Total cost for all meals: $585
Domestic beer cost: $6.89
Total cost for vacation: $1,413
Airfare cost for a couple: $765
Total cost of hotel: $225
Total cost for all meals: $381
Domestic beer cost: $4
Total cost for vacation: $1,409
Airfare cost for a couple: $669
Total cost of hotel: $278
Total cost for all meals: $390
Domestic beer cost: $4
Total cost for vacation: $1,373
Airfare cost for a couple: $619
Total cost of hotel: $244
Total cost for all meals: $438
Domestic beer cost: $4.50
Total cost for vacation: $1,343
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Airfare cost for a couple: $575
Total cost of hotel: $180
Total cost for all meals: $480
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,288
Airfare cost for a couple: $583
Total cost of hotel: $135
Total cost for all meals: $516
Domestic beer cost: $6
Total cost for vacation: $1,286
Airfare cost for a couple: $575
Total cost of hotel: $157
Total cost for all meals: $465
Domestic beer cost: $4.75
Total cost for vacation: $1,240
Airfare cost for a couple: $264
Total cost of hotel: $247
Total cost for all meals: $446
Domestic beer cost: $4.50
Total cost for vacation: $998
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the top vacation destinations in the US to find the most expensive vacations. GOBankingRates found 91 cities considered the top vacation destinations sourced from TripAdvisor's Top Destinations, Travel+Leisure's 2024 Top US Cities, and U.S. News & World Report's Best Cities in the U.S. Fifty-five cities qualified for this study as each city had to have data available from the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Numbeo's Cost of Living. For this study, GOBankingRates is assuming the vacationers are two adults visiting for three nights. They have three meals at a mid-range restaurant, 12 meals at inexpensive restaurants, six beers and six sodas. For each city, GOBankingRates found the average airfare cost from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average cost of hotels from Hotels.com and the average cost of goods from Numbeo. The airfare was selected using the nearest airport from the vacation destination. The hotels were selected using the average cost of the three cheapest hotels within five miles of each city. The weekend dates of Aug. 7-10, 2025, were selected. All data was collected on and is up to date as of June 4, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: America's Most Expensive Tourist Destinations

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