Are you searching for ways to create a memorable family vacation ​that won’t leave your bank account in the red? Then this article is for you. Getting started on creating a fun and cost effective vacation is easier than you think. We have provided you with several ideas that are easy and inexpensive! Are you prepared to have fun on your next family vacation? Creating memorable vacations is my passion and I am ready to help you get there.

Do you want to take a family vacation … but can’t afford to spend a fortune doing so? It is possible, if you know where to find the best deals. To help you get started, here are some tips for having a fun and affordable family vacation.

Are you planning a vacation in the near future? If so, then you’re probably looking for the best deals. The problem is, there are a lot of websites that offer travel deals. That means there’s more work involved finding the top deals for your needs and preferences. That’s where I come in. I’ve worked hard to find some of the best deals on vacations for your family. If you’re like most Americans, you only take one vacation per year. Then there are those who are lucky to take two. If you aren’t a member of the one-vacation club, then congratulations on your good fortune. But don’t celebrate too hard.

Fun Family Vacation On A Budget

Best Cheap Family Vacations

Finding a vacation destination with multigenerational appeal and dining and hotel options that can accommodate groups can be difficult. Finding a spot that won’t destroy your wallet can be even tougher. Based on traveler feedback, editor analysis and factors like sights and accessibility, U.S. News compiled this list of the best cheap family vacations. Rest assured, you won’t have to break the bank to take the kids on a memorable trip this year. Use these rankings to start planning your next getaway, and vote for your favorite affordable family vacation destinations below. (Note: Some of the below destinations may be affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Check with the CDC and the U.S. Department of State before traveling.)

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• View 40 PhotosBelongs on List?YesNoYellowstone#1 in Best Cheap Family VacationsYellowstone’s geysers are sure to inspire young children and teenagers, while geothermic wonders like the Grand Prismatic Spring and Mammoth Hot Springs will captivate visitors of all ages. Families can also take in the natural beauty of the park while biking, horseback riding or kayaking. The entrance fees to this national park, which spans Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, are reasonable, but hotel rates are highest during the peak summer season. However, campsites are relatively cheap, so travelers won’t have to worry about paying a pretty penny for a room if they bring their own tent or recreational vehicle. READ MOREBEST HOTELS|THINGS TO DO
• View 38 PhotosBelongs on List?YesNoYosemite#2 in Best Cheap Family VacationsYosemite’s numerous hiking trails, rushing waterfalls and giant sequoias are just a few reasons why this California national park appeals to families looking for a fun, outdoorsy vacation. Entrance passes are good for three days during peak season (May through September) and seven days during the offseason, allowing ample time for activities. While summer is the busiest time of year for Yosemite, if you arrive in May or September, you’ll still get great weather and won’t have to deal with dense crowds. Camping is affordable, albeit popular, so you’ll want to make your campground reservation months in advance. READ MOREBEST HOTELS|THINGS TO DO
• View 48 PhotosBelongs on List?YesNoGrand Canyon#3 in Best Cheap Family VacationsOne of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights is also one of its most affordable. For some of the Grand Canyon’s most coveted views, hike the Bright Angel Trail or the Rim Trail. While the wide variety of trails keeps the Arizona park accessible to all travelers, be sure to research each trail’s difficulty before embarking. Also, keep in mind that affordable eateries are limited in the area, so for more options, head about 75 miles southeast to Flagstaff. Just be sure to reserve passes, hotels and campsites months in advance; the park sees hordes of tourists every spring and summer. 

• Outer Banks#4 in Best Cheap Family VacationsThe North Carolina coast’s uncrowded beaches – which are free to visit – are its main draw, but families visiting the Outer Banks will also find can’t-miss historical sites, such as the Wright Brothers National Memorial. (Passes to the memorial are free for children younger than 16 and $10 for adults.) Meanwhile, adults and children will all enjoy climbing the Currituck Beach Lighthouse or the Bodie Island Lighthouse for a small fee. After an active day, families can stroll along Duck’s boardwalk or go ghost crabbing. To save on lodging, book rooms or vacation rentals a few months in advance. READ MOREBEST HOTELS|THINGS TO DO

• View 56 PhotosBelongs on List?YesNoWashington, D.C.#5 in Best Cheap Family VacationsFull of free museums, iconic monuments, outdoor spaces and distinct neighborhoods to explore, Washington offers something for every type of family. Checking out the city’s Smithsonian-affiliated attractions (especially Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute) and popular sights like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the Tidal Basin are a must. For affordable eats, grab lunch at a food truck. Plus, families can explore the city by renting a bike or taking the Metro. Spring and fall are the best times to visit thanks to comfortable temps and manageable crowds. READ MOREBEST HOTELS|THINGS TO DO
• View 14 PhotosBelongs on List?YesNoGatlinburg#6 in Best Cheap Family VacationsBest known for being the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg has everything you need for a family-friendly getaway that’s easy on your wallet. Not only is Great Smoky Mountains National Park free to enter, it offers fun-filled activities the whole family will enjoy, such as hiking, biking and wildlife viewing. Outside the park, visitors can take advantage of low-cost attractions like the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway and the Gatlinburg Space Needle. Save additional coin by riding the free Gatlinburg Trolley throughout town and booking your accommodations early. 

By the time you add up transportation, lodging, and meals, the best family vacation spots in the U.S. can get pretty expensive. And if you have a large family, need to fly somewhere with the kids, or rely on restaurants for meals, even modest family vacation ideas can start to feel financially overwhelming. But when you make a good plan and stick to it, cheap family vacations to some of the most popular tourist attractions in the country aren’t just doable—they can actually be among the best family vacations you’ll ever have.

Cheap Family Vacations in the United States

With the right combination of free activities, advance planning, and strategic frugality, cheap family vacations don’t have to mean boring family vacations. Here are this year’s top budget-friendly family vacation destinations that deliver the maximum bang for your vacation buck.

1. Custer State Park, South Dakota

South Dakota’s first and largest state park, Custer State Park, is a 71,000-acre wildlife preserve known for its free-ranging bison herd, buffalo safari jeep tours, and buffalo round-ups. Built for road trips, it boasts a number of scenic drives where you can take in the Black Hills scenery and additional wildlife like bighorn sheep, elk, mountain goats, pronghorns, deer, prairie dogs, and perhaps even a mountain lion. 

NO PASSPORT NEEDED: The 17 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the U.S.

The park’s 18-mile Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway is a prime viewing route for the wildlife that lives among its pine-covered hills, rolling prairies, and red-walled canyons. Another way to spot animals is taking a two-hour Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour to not only view the wildlife up close in their natural habitat, but also learn about the animals and park history from a guide. 

Other activities include camping, hiking along the numerous trails, swimming in the park’s five lakes, boating, fishing, horseback trail rides, and even performances in the Black Hills Playhouse theatre.

Conveniently, Custer State Park is located just east of the city of Custer, and it’s not far from other budget-friendly family vacation spots like Mt. Rushmore and Badlands National Park. You can easily explore all three in a single family trip.

Where to Stay Near Custer, South Dakota

The nearly century-old State Game Lodge was the “Summer White House” for President Calvin Coolidge and the First Lady for three months in 1927. The State Game Lodge has a variety of national park lodge-like accommodations, from historic guest rooms in the main lodge to more modern hotel rooms and luxury cabins. In addition to accommodations, the State Game Lodge serves as the departure point for the Buffalo Safari Jeep Tours.

2. Bowling Green, Kentucky

Cheap family vacations don’t get any more all-American than the caves, cars, and pure Americana in the rolling green hills of Kentucky’s Cave Country. Just an hour north of Nashville, the small (and underrated) town of Bowling Green is the closest tourist center to Mammoth Cave National Park, the world’s largest known cave system and a UNESCO World Heritage Site to boot. (Mammoth Cave is 40 miles northeast of Bowling Green.)

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There’s no fee to enter Mammoth Cave National Park, and the aboveground activities (nature walks and hikes) are free of charge as well. You will need a ticket for a scheduled tour to enter the cave itself, and it’s recommended that you purchase your tickets ahead of time as they will sell out. Cave tours prices are very inexpensive (they range from $11 to $23) and take anywhere from one to three hours to complete. 

Beyond Mammoth Cave, the gearheads in your family will love the National Corvette Museum and Corvette Assembly Plant where every single Corvette is produced.

Nestled along the Barren River, Beech Bend Park is a classic family-run entertainment complex that includes an amusement park, water park, and drag strip. Its raceway is one of America’s oldest continually operating drag strips. Races take place every weekend between March and November, and many events are nationally recognized car shows. Sometimes you can even drag your own car out on the strip!

Where to Stay Near Bowling Green, Kentucky

Close to shops and restaurants, Hilton Garden Inn offers cooked-to-order breakfast, a heated pool, and a whirlpool. It’s a great (and inexpensive) home base for all of Bowling Green’s family-friendly attractions.  

3. Santa Monica, California

A city within a city, Santa Monica’s location within greater Los Angeles makes it a great home base for SoCal family beach vacations. And while LA can get pricey, beaches are a great budget equalizer when planning cheap family vacations.

CHEAP FAMILY VACATIONS: 7 Affordable California Getaways for Families

Santa Monica has a popular stretch of beach adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier. This classic amusement pier opened in the early 1900s and has a number of kid-favorite rides, including a roller coaster and the Pacific Wheel. Of course, Southern California is known for its endless summers and beach culture, and it’s easy to check out the other beaches in the Los Angeles area too.

Venice Beach is the place to people watch and always has a number of roller skaters, skate dancers, artists, and body builders on scene. Manhattan Beach’s long strip of sandy shore is anchored by beach volley ball courts and the free nonprofit Roundhouse Aquarium. Hermosa Beach is a two-mile strip connecting Manhattan and Redondo Beaches, and The Strand is a 20-mile paved biking and running path that stretches all the way from Hermosa Beach back north to Santa Monica.

Where to Stay Near Santa Monica, California

You can pay upwards of $500 per night at some Santa Monica hotels, but for the perfect combination of affordability and location, try the Ocean Lodge Santa Monica Beach Hotel. This three-star family-friendly beachfront hotel has rooms in the $200 per night range and is just a five-minute walk from Main Street and Santa Monica Pier.