Nearly three-quarters of Americans said they plan to take at least one beach vacation in 2026. While these numbers are up compared to 2025, so are the costs of plane tickets and hotels. A trip to the beach is often the ideal vacation, but some data shows that families are holding back and possibly delaying a much-needed vacation.
Everyone deserves a break and spending quality time with family. As summer break approaches, consider one of these affordable beach destinations where your money will go further.
Pensacola, Florida
In Florida, most people travel to Tampa, Miami, Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. All cities offer beautiful beaches, but often with a hefty price tag for families.
An affordable alternative is Pensacola Beach and along Perdido Key, which are consistently ranked among the best beaches in the country. Pensacola Beach offers sugar-white sand, clear Gulf waters, beachside dining, and water activities along the Santa Rosa Sound and the Gulf. Perdido Key is a quiet barrier island known for its incredible natural beauty and fewer crowds.
What makes these destinations a standout are the prices. In mid-July, homes and resorts range from $150 to $400 per night for families of four.
South Padre Island, Texas
This Texas beach destination surprises many visitors, defying the common belief that Texas has no great beaches. With 34 miles of pristine white beaches, stunning waters from the Gulf of Mexico, and year-round temperatures averaging 74 degrees, South Padre Island is a beachgoer’s paradise.
South Padre offers a variety of free and low-cost activities for families who want to stretch their budget. Most beaches are free or have a small entrance fee, and the Sandcastle Trail is a free and adventurous self-guided tour of sand sculptures across the island. The Laguna Madre Nature Trail is a free, public boardwalk, and the Port Isabel Lighthouse offers an affordable historic tour.
In July, the most expensive summer month to travel to South Padre Island, hotels range from $155–$250 per night.
Gulf Shores, Alabama
One sign to look for when researching more affordable destinations is areas of the country with a lower cost of living. This will unlock beach towns you otherwise would not have considered. Case in point: Alabama.
According to Rent Café, overall expenses in Alabama are 12% lower than the U.S. average, a difference driven in part by housing costs. This is a win for families because this translates to lower accommodation costs.
Alabama’s Gulf Coast offers 32 miles of powdery sand and is the perfect place to catch the sunrise or sunset over the beach. Taking in the colors of the coastal sunsets is breathtaking, and the best part is they don’t cost a thing.
Families can head to Gulf State Park for hiking or biking, or enjoy mini-golf for $12 per person. The Gulf State Park Pier is $3 to sightsee (fishing costs more), and families can try geocaching while hiking. This fun activity turns hikes into scavenger hunts.
Accommodations cost anywhere between $157 and $360 during the peak summer months.
Surfside Beach, South Carolina
Known as “The Family Beach,” Surfside Beach in South Carolina lives up to its nickname. It offers a relaxed, family-oriented atmosphere with beautiful, uncrowded beaches. Located less than 20 minutes south of Myrtle Beach, Surfside gives you the best of both worlds: staying in a quieter area with access to bigger attractions.
This gem of a destination is a great alternative to Myrtle Beach. Surfside Beach has two miles of sandy shore, seven public parks, playgrounds, and shoreline watersports for parasailing and banana boat rides. In 2016, Surfside Beach also became the first Autism-Friendly Travel Destination for families with loved ones on the autism spectrum.
Accommodations range between $160 and $340 per night for a family of four.
Seaside, Oregon
The East Coast isn’t the only option for affordable beaches. Along the Pacific Northwest is Seaside: Oregon’s original beach town that dates back over 150 years — a family-friendly destination with a wide range of affordable activities and accommodations.
Seaside’s nearly three-mile-long stretch of beach is ideal for long walks, bike rides, or snuggling up with your children while everyone catches stunning sunsets. In addition to free beach access, families can also enjoy a stroll on the Seaside Promenade to take in expansive views of the Pacific Ocean. Other inexpensive activities include riding the famous Seaside Carousel and hiking in nearby parks and trails.
One note, especially for the summer, is to search for or inquire about daily events and programs during your stay, as there are always fun ones to experience.
Accommodations range from $303 to $339 per night.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
Calling the towns that surround the Great Lakes “beach destinations” may be controversial, but their beauty remains undisputed. Michigan has a gem that Midwesterners usually gatekeep: Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Located in Northwestern Lower Michigan along the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes features miles of sandy beaches, bluffs that tower 450 feet above the lake, lush forests, clear inland lakes, and unique flora and fauna that define the park’s natural world.
The high dunes are a must-see in person. They offer spectacular views across the lake. An island lighthouse, US Life-Saving Service stations, coastal villages, and picturesque farmsteads reflect the park’s rich maritime, agricultural, and recreational history.
Three-star hotels typically begin at $252 per night.
