3 Cheap States To Visit During the Winter
Winter vacationers often head to warm climates to beat the cold, but travel to those prime locations comes at a high price. If you can embrace colder weather, you can save a lot of money by visiting less temperate states instead.
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A recent AAA article named the cheapest states to visit in the U.S., along with the least-expensive times to visit.
GOBankingRates selected the ones that provide the best values during the winter months and researched the top two places within those states for a budget-friendly vacation.
Georgia
Georgia is unique in that it offers every type of destination, from mountains, to cities, to some of the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast. Visiting in November through February stretches your dollar furthest, according to AAA.
Savannah
Located on Georgia’s coast, Savannah is famous for its moss-draped trees, cobblestone streets and a charming historic district showcasing some of the country’s most iconic examples of antebellum architecture.
Tybee Island, located a short drive from the historic district, boasts three miles of beaches, along with the requisite shops, bars and restaurants.
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For the most authentically local experience, opt for an inn over a standard hotel. As of early December, over two dozen four-star downtown inns have availability for full weeks in January and February, all at under $300 a night and most for less than $200 per night. Tybee Island inns run about $200 per night.
Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge is a quintessential mountain town located about 90 miles from Atlanta, meaning the major city can be a reasonable day trip.
It’s also home to Chattahoochee National Forest, a 106,000-acre park popular for hiking and trout fishing. In addition to Chattahoochee’s natural wonders, Blue Ridge has the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, several wineries and craft breweries and a number of restaurants and galleries to round out your experience.
Accommodations tend to be more rustic in Blue Ridge, but in the case of Blue Ridge Treehouse Rentals, rustic doesn’t mean bare-bones. These spacious vacation rentals have fireplaces, grills, hot tubs, fire pits and large decks where you take in stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Cabins sleep five or six, making them suitable for groups, and rates start at $365 per night.
South Dakota
If you love cold weather, South Dakota could be the perfect budget-friendly destination for your winter vacation. Skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing are all popular here. But South Dakota also has plenty of national parks and historic sites to explore. Plan your visit for November, December or January for the best prices.
Rapid City
Rapid City is your gateway to some of South Dakota’s popular “Great 8” attractions. Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park are less than 30 miles away, and Badlands National Park is just over 60 miles out. Black Hills-area skiing is within about an hour’s drive.
Be sure to save a couple of days to explore downtown Rapid City. Visit Main Street Square (bring your skates) and the city’s many museums, galleries, restaurants and other attractions. You might also drive over to Sturgis, about half an hour away.
You’ll get the most value by booking a hotel in Rapid City. Name-brand hotels like Wyndham, Radisson and Hilton have rooms starting at about $50 per night for mid-January stays. Even Residence Inn and Fairfield Inn & Suites, which have indoor water parks for kids, are less than $100 (breakfast included).
Pierre
In addition to being the state’s capital, Pierre is located along the Native American Scenic Byway, which extends for 350 miles through Lakota Sioux tribe reservations. The roughly one-third of the byway that runs north from Pierre to the end, at Mobridge, gives you access to the state Cultural Heritage Center, Eagle Butte, the H.V. Johnson Lakota Cultural Center and the Sitting Bull Monument.
Pierre and Fort Pierre have plenty of attractions of their own, including the State Capitol, nature areas, historical and cultural museums and memorials.
Pierre accommodations are mostly generic hotels and motels, with one exception: The Historic Farr House, a 1904 Georgian Revival offering guest access to a library, office, lounge, living and dining rooms and a rocker-lined porch. The winter rate for a queen room is about $80 per night.
Arkansas
Arkansas is one of a relatively few states where you can explore America’s civil rights and Native American histories within a single vacation. It’s also a place where the arts thrive, and outdoor recreation opportunities abound. Visit between January and March, when prices are low.
Hot Springs
Located about an hour’s drive from Little Rock, Hot Springs is best known for Hot Springs National Park.
The park has miles of hiking trails, mountain views, and, of course, the famous geothermal springs that give the town and the park their name. You can access the springs through several bathhouses located within the park.
When you’re not exploring the bathhouses and natural surroundings, you can browse shops, take a trolley tour, visit museums, catch a live show or try your luck at the Oaklawn Casino.
Inns are the preferred accommodations in Hot Springs. For a high-end, fully immersive Hot Springs experience, try Hotel Hale, where each suite has a spring-fed tub. Prices start at about $250 per night for a long stay in February.
Rates at other bed and breakfasts start at about $150, and you can get a vacation rental or a room from a name-brand hotel for less than $100.
Eureka Springs
Eureka Springs is an eclectic, inclusive town in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas.
The springs here are cold, but the city has about 60 of them to explore while you’re out and about. The town’s spas, art galleries, shops, museums and outdoor recreation are also major draws.
Budget accommodations range from vacation rentals and brand-name hotels for under $100 per night, to treehouse resorts and cottages for $100 to $200 per night. Alternatively, book a spa hotel or inn starting at about $160 per night.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Cheap States To Visit During the Winter
