The groundhog popped its head signaling that winter is on its way out and that spring is just around the corner. It’s the beginning of that wonderful time of the year where the weather is warmer, the days are longer, and trees and flowers start to bloom, giving the desolate outdoors, life and color once more. The places suggested on this list of spring travel destinations in America cover a wide variety of interests from skiing to barbecue tasting, but what they all have in common is affordability. Consider these spring travel destinations in America when deciding to travel cheaply.
Cheap Spring Travel Destinations in America
Denver, Colorado
Not only does spring in Denver presents visitors with slightly warmer temperatures, it also beckons many winter sports enthusiasts trying to maximize the lower rates for end of the season lift tickets to nearby popular resorts like Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Vail. Discounts ranging from 10-25% are available depending on the packages you book. Consider buying the EPIC Day card , a multi-day pass that gives you access to all four resorts at no additional cost.
Not a fan of snow? Denver has plenty of other activities to keep you entertained. The largest city in the Rocky Mountain region is well known for its numerous outdoor festivals, excellent art exhibits, and dozens of craft breweries. Check out the Denver Art Museum and explore different types of art from textiles to modern impressionists or take the Denver Microbrew tour and find out for yourself why the city refers to itself as the “Napa Valley of Beer.”
Washington, D.C.
One of the great things about Washington, D.C ., is it’s surrounded by plenty of green spaces, from parks like Rock Creek, to the famous National Mall. Understandably, the area is at its most scenic during spring when wildflowers start to blossom and trees grow their leaves again. Get yourself a rental car and drive the length of the George Washington Memorial Parkway from Mount Vernon to Turkey Run Park in nearby Virginia. It traces the path of the Potomac River and offers plenty of hiking, walking, and biking trails. Another reason to visit the District in spring is the National Cherry Blossom Festival , which occurs every year during late March or early April. Thousands of cherry blossom trees burst into bloom all around the nation’s capital, but those planted around the Tidal Basin are the most popular with tourists.
Though spring is D.C.’s peak tourist season, the city remains one of the best affordable spring travel destinations in America with hotel rates that cost as low as $99 per night. Consider staying across the river in Virginia as well where a nightly stay averages around $110.
Texas Hill Country
There’s no better time to visit Texas than in spring, when the weather is mild and the bluebonnets are definitely in full bloom. These wildflowers can be seen along highways and countryside fields that surround the Texas Hill Country . Experience the charms and hospitality of small towns like Fredericksburg, the hometown of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Then there’s Burnet, which claims to be the bluebonnet capital of Texas and host of the annual Bluebonnet Festival, or Medina, which serves the best apple pie in the state at Love Creek Apple Store . No visit, particularly in Texas Hill Country, is complete without some barbecue tasting as well. Austin has the undoubted king with Franklin’s but if you don’t want to queue, there’s Salt Lick in Driftwood or Opie’s in Spicewood.
The Lone Star State has some of the lowest cost of living anywhere in the United States, which benefits visitors as well. Standard hotel room rates in the Texas Hill Country range from $55-$85 per night and with the exception of large cities like Austin or San Antonio, food is relatively cheap too averaging just $25-$35 for a hefty dinner for two including two pints of beer.
Orlando, Florida
You might be wondering why I chose Orlando over beaches in Florida. The answer is simply cost savings. The theme park capital of the United States is at its most affordable in spring (with the exception of Spring Break week and Easter Holiday) and it’s most tolerable. Flights to Orlando are competitive with plenty of low-price carriers offering discounted deals. Also room rates below $100 for suites are not far fetched, and you don’t have to worry about the ridiculously long lines that the peak season of summer brings. The weather is pretty great too, with temperatures hovering in the mid-70s to early 80s. Enjoy Walt Disney World’s Epcot and Animal Kingdom theme parks, and Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter while others are getting their tan on.
Got your spring itinerary already in the works? Where will your travels take you? Share your own tips on finding the cheapest spring travel destinations in America.
