20 Cities in America Where Family Vacation Costs Are Skyrocketing

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Luxury Link.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic upended the travel industry, prices have rebounded — often at a pace that has outstripped general inflation.

While travel demand surged back in the years following the pandemic, so too did the cost of family vacations across the United States. From airfare and hotel stays to meals and rental cars, nearly every component of travel has grown more expensive, placing new financial pressure on American families planning time away.

Despite these challenges, families still have several options to make their vacations more affordable. Traveling during the shoulder season or booking flights and accommodations on off-peak days can significantly lower costs.

Many are also rethinking their destinations, trading expensive coastal hubs and theme park destinations for less-crowded cities or hidden gems that offer more value.

To help families understand where and how vacation costs have changed, researchers at Luxury Link — an online booking platform specializing in luxury travel — analyzed what it costs to take a four-night domestic trip for a family of four in cities all across the country. Learn more about the methodology at the end.

These are the U.S. cities that have experienced the sharpest rise in overall vacation costs.

20. Tampa, FL

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +19.0%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,434
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +8.5%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +24.9%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +31.1%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +5.5%

19. Chattanooga, TN

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +19.0%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,734
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +23.3%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +9.3%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +21.3%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +6.3%

18. Jacksonville, FL

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +19.1%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,200
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +19.2%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +17.0%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +23.6%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +4.6%

17. Oklahoma City, OK

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +19.1%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,567
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +13.8%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +22.1%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +31.1%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): -1.7%

16. San Diego, CA

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +19.1%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $5,180
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +15.1%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +23.4%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +21.1%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +11.9%

15. Sacramento, CA

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +19.4%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,681
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +16.2%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +11.1%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +30.3%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +34.3%

14. Rochester, MN

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +19.7%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,946
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +25.8%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +2.4%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +31.1%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): -6.0%

13. Lexington, KY

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +19.8%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,636
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +15.2%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +9.4%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +42.9%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +3.7%

12. Birmingham, AL

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +19.9%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,844
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +12.0%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +17.8%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +42.9%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +8.5%

11. Charleston, SC

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +20.1%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $5,533
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +4.3%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +32.2%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +29.6%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +11.6%

10. Austin, TX

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +20.3%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,943
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +17.1%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +18.7%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +31.1%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +4.7%

9. Atlanta, GA

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +20.7%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $5,061
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +13.8%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +21.3%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +30.3%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +26.2%

8. Savannah, GA

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +21.3%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,698
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +13.1%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +28.9%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +31.1%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +7.6%

7. Nashville, TN

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +22.6%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $5,227
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +11.6%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +25.7%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +41.0%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +1.6%

6. Tucson, AZ

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +22.7%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,789
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +12.5%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +37.5%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +31.1%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +23.5%

5. Phoenix, AZ

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +23.8%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,742
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +8.9%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +23.9%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +53.6%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +17.2%

4. Salt Lake City, UT

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +23.8%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,865
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +20.0%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +13.6%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +42.9%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +26.1%

3. Las Vegas, NV

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +24.8%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,420
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +17.0%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +20.9%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +41.0%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +21.0%

2. Spokane, WA

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +24.8%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,629
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +19.2%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +20.0%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +41.0%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +13.6%

1. Albuquerque, NM

• Change in cost of 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2019-2025): +27.7%
• Total cost of a 4-night stay for a family of 4 (2025): $4,672
• Change in round-trip flight cost (2019-2025): +10.8%
• Change in lodging cost (2019-2025): +53.2%
• Change in meal cost (2019-2025): +45.5%
• Change in rental car cost (2019-2025): +7.6%

Methodology

The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Domestic Airline Consumer Airfare Report, the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Per Diem Rates, and Business Travel News’ Corporate Travel Index Calculator.

To determine the cities where family vacation costs have risen the most, researchers at Luxury Link calculated the change in airfare, lodging, meals, and rental car costs for a family of four for each city, comparing 2019 to 2025.

The total family vacation cost was considered to be four average-priced round-trip flights, two average-priced hotel rooms for four nights, three average-priced meals per day for four people, and the cost of one average-priced rental car for four days.

Airfare averages were calculated using the four-quarter period ending in Q2 2025, the latest comprehensive data available, and the full-year period in 2019.

Round-trip airfare was calculated by doubling the average aggregated one-way domestic data for directionless city pairs associated with each location. These figures incorporate both nonstop and connecting itineraries.

To ensure comprehensive coverage, the calculation averages fares across all airports serving a given market. Some smaller markets are primarily served by small or regional airports with limited commercial options and may reflect lower average airfares or larger percentage changes from 2019 to 2025.

Average hotel room costs were derived from GSA per diem rates for full-year 2019 and 2025, which are designed to represent mid-range hotels within each market. Similarly, average meal costs utilize these GSA rates to encompass the total expense for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and incidentals (tips).

Rental car costs were determined by averaging daily rental rates for full-year 2019 and 2025 data, inclusive of taxes, across full-size, intermediate, and compact vehicle classes.

The researchers also calculated the total cost of a four-night stay for a family of four, the change in round-trip flight cost, the change in lodging cost, the change in meal cost, and the change in rental car cost. For relevance, only a select 100 cities with complete data across all metrics were used in the analysis.