Where It’s Most Expensive to Travel in the US Right Now
A new state-by-state breakdown shows where daily travel costs have surged—and how wide the gap has become.
Photo: Andrew Shelley / Unsplash
Travel in the U.S. has quietly become a game of financial roulette. Two trips of the same length can now land hundreds—or thousands—of dollars apart depending on where you plant yourself, and a new state-by-state breakdown shows just how extreme those differences have become.
According to a new analysis from Timeshare Exit Team, South Carolina is now the most expensive state for tourists in real, daily terms. The average traveler spends $450.07 per day, translating to more than $3,150 for a week—nearly four times the cost of visiting West Virginia, the cheapest state in the country.
What makes South Carolina’s ranking especially striking is where the money goes. Average nightly accommodation costs $349.62, the highest in any state, while meals average $75 per day, also the most expensive nationally. Even with attraction entry costs listed at $0, lodging and dining alone are enough to put the state firmly out of reach for budget-conscious travelers, particularly in destinations like Charleston and Hilton Head during peak seasons.
Massachusetts comes in second, with daily travel costs averaging $413.87. Hotels come in at $329.54 per night, second only to South Carolina, while transport and food costs remain persistently high. Boston’s sustained demand and limited hotel inventory continue to push prices upward, even without major attraction fees factored in.
California ranks third at $389.33 per day, but for a very different reason. Hotel prices are well below those in the top two states, averaging $183.60, while attraction entry costs surge to $131.50—the highest in the country. From theme parks to ticketed urban and outdoor experiences, activities drive a disproportionate share of spending, reshaping how travelers budget once they arrive.
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New York ranks fourth at $380.71 per day. Accommodation averages $259.84, while taxi fares and alcoholic drinks are the most expensive nationwide. Attraction costs remain relatively modest at $24, but the cumulative effect of everyday expenses, especially in New York City, quickly pushes totals higher.
Florida rounds out the top five at $365.60 per day. Hotel rates remain comparatively affordable at $151.75, but attraction entry costs spike to $151.50, emphasizing how experience-driven itineraries increase overall spend once activities are included.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, West Virginia posts a daily travel cost of just $108.51, with low prices across accommodation, food, transport, and attractions. Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi follow closely, forming a cluster of states where a weeklong trip costs less than three days in South Carolina.
The gap is no longer marginal. States anchored by major cities and paid experiences now sit in a different pricing tier altogether, while much of the Midwest and Appalachia remain dramatically cheaper. For travelers, the budget question has effectively shifted from how long a trip lasts to where it happens.
