According to Skyscanner, travelers are still scoping out the best spots before pulling the trigger on the best deal.
Whether it’s mountain hideaways, sprawling cities, or sandy beaches, summer is arguably the best season to get out and explore or waste away seaside with your favorite cocktail in hand.
Before you burn through your PTO, it’s likely you’ve already done some price-checking, but we’re here to take the Price Is Right guessing game out of the equation.
Maybe we’ll run those mountain escapes and city breaks later, but today we’re focusing solely on sun and sand.
The latest insight from SkyScanner reveals 4 beautiful U.S. coastal getaways with the cheapest flights this summer, all sure to rock your socks off, whether it be fun-filled boardwalks, luxe resorts, or quintessential SoCal vibes you’ve dreamed of experiencing.
4) San Diego, CA ☀️
After a much-needed overhaul of San Diego International Airport, figure-eight traffic is no longer an issue, and there are ample flights to get here despite only having one runway.
Flights are averaging less than $300 round-trip, a steal for such a renowned summer paradise.
Now that “May Gray” has subsided and “June Gloom” enters its final chapter, July through September is peak season for my hometown of San Diego.
Don’t worry, though. I won’t gate-keep the secret spots Arizona and Nevada road-trippers have yet to discover.
Solana Beach is my go-to, as well as many other locals, since there aren’t any resorts beyond Del Mar’s city limits, and it makes for a great base with so many cool neighboring towns like Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
Beaches this far north are also largely free from bacteria, something tourists should always check before getting into San Diego waters given close proximity to Mexico.
San Diego feels very safe, too.
Our current Safety Index score, as voted by travelers, is 84/100:
3) Charleston, SC 🦪
Charleston is one of the most turn-back-the-clock cities across Americas, where one moment you’re dining an a hole-in-the-wall that stood the test of time for over a century, and another you’re strolling past gas-lit streets, pastel homes, and church steeples that make the whole city feel like a living postcard.
But what Charleston isn’t quite as known for is its numerous beaches in close reach.
It turns out gawking at the city’s timeless allure distracts many tourists from enjoying beach days, but where do you think the notoriously epic seafood comes from?
Many worthwhile beaches are a stone’s throw away, such as Folly Beach, and it only makes it even more worth venturing off to SC this summer given flights are so low.
Skyscanner reports round-trip fares are averaging just $256.
Better yet, Charleston is considered to be super safe and welcoming with its distinct “Southern hospitality”.
Our current Safety Index score is a remarkable 89/100:
2) Myrtle Beach, SC 🎡
Notice a theme here?
South Carolina dominates the list for affordable coastline, but the difference here is that Myrtle Beach is a renowned vacation hotspot for beaches.
Not to say you can’t indulge in southern cuisine like Charleston, but there’s no denying it’s a classic beach destination.
From its seaside ferris wheel to its beachfront hotels, sprinkle in some miniature golf or carnival games, and you’re in for a budget-friendly, easygoing vacay that doesn’t pretend to be anything else.
That said, we’d be remiss not to mention its “Dirty Myrtle” reputation, though it’s packed each and every summer.
Round-trip flights are averaging just $220, coming in 2nd place overall for the cheapest trips across America.
1) Punta Gorda, FL 🌅
Punta Gorda is the cheapest coastal escape in the States, largely thanks to Allegiant Airlines, which now owns Sun Country Airlines as well, so you have even more options to get here.
However, Punta Gorda was once Florida’s new trendy hotspot, again thanks to Allegiant dabbling in the resort industry by opening its very own Sunseeker Resort.
It didn’t pan out and was sold last year, and is now operated as Sunseeker Resort Florida Gulf Coast, Curio Collection by Hilton.
The reason is that prices were high for not offering a proper beach, given there are endless options across the rest of Florida.
If you’re the type who loves to kick back and not leave the resort, Punta Gorda is perfect, otherwise it’s best served as a springboard to take advantage of cheap fares and visit such icons as Siesta Key, Clearwater, or my personal favorite, Nokomis.
Punta Gorda is the only city seeing round-trip fares average under $200.
