10 Best US Cities for Vacation Destinations

Atlanta takes the top spot on WalletHub's travel destinations list
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted May 14, 2024 4:52 PM CDT
Making Vacation Plans? These US Cities Fit the Bill
Stock photo of downtown Atlanta.   (Getty Images/zstockphotos)

Atlanta in July? That's the No. 1 pick by WalletHub for US cities that double as excellent summer vacay destinations. The site looked at 100 of the most populated cities in America, using more than three dozen metrics in six key areas: travel costs and hassles (including delays); what it costs to stay and do things locally; the number and diversity of local attractions; weather; activities; and safety, including rates for violent crime and property crime. Here, the top 10 metro areas in the US to pack your bags for:

  1. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta (Georgia)
  2. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (DC/Virginia/Maryland/West Virginia; No. 1 in "Safety" category)
  3. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford (Florida)
  4. Honolulu (No. 1 in "Weather" and "Activities" categories)
  5. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (Florida)
  6. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown (Texas)
  7. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware/Maryland)
  8. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Illinois/Indiana/Wisconsin)
  9. El Paso (Texas)
  10. Cincinnati (Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana)
See how other cities ranked here. (These US cities boast the best quality of life.)

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