From airline tickets to rental car rates, the cost of travel just seems to keep going up. And families are feeling the pinch. According to Priceline’s inaugural 2026 State of Summer Travel Report, 44% of Americans say a summer vacation feels out of reach this year, but 73% of respondents plan to do whatever it takes to make one happen.
One approach? Choosing a budget-friendly beach destination. You still get the same kind of sandy shorelines, fun family activities, and waterfront views as more expensive locations, just with a smaller price tag. Here are my picks for affordable spots in the U.S. for family beach vacations that still have that classic coastal getaway feel.
SAVE MONEY: 11 affordable family vacation destinations in the U.S.: FamilyVacationist’s 2026 guide
The Wildwoods, New Jersey
Comprised of the communities of North Wildwood, Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest, The Wildwoods has a long reputation as a budget-friendly vacation spot on the Jersey Shore. Beaches here are completely free year-round, and a 38-block-long boardwalk offers excellent people-watching opportunities and a regular schedule of events, many of which are free. Families can also enjoy some relatively cheap thrills at the boardwalk’s arcades and carnival-style midway games, and a ride on the famous Sightseer Tramcars costs just $5 a person.
A free fireworks show takes place every Friday night during the summer near Pine Avenue Beach. Rent a bike to pedal around the area and admire its iconic “Doo Wop Architecture,” then wander the gardens (for free) at the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse.
Where to stay in The Wildwoods for a budget-friendly beach vacation
Families have been enjoying beach vacations for more than 50 years at Crusader Oceanfront Family Resort in Wildwood Crest, where many rooms have balconies with ocean views and rates start at as little as $99 a night in early May (but go up depending on timing and room choice in peak summer season). Landscaped paths lead directly from the hotel to the beach, and property amenities include a heated Olympic-sized pool, dedicated children’s pool, and elevated oceanfront sundeck.
Just one block from the beach and boardwalk, Daytona Inn & Suites in Wildwood offers a range of family-friendly accommodations, including apartment-style set-ups with kitchens. An outdoor pool and classic retro vibes add to the appeal.
Matador Oceanfront Resort touts itself as one of the most affordable oceanfront hotels in North Wildwood. With a location right on the beach and boardwalk and amenities like a heated outdoor pool, rooftop deck, and barbecue grills, it’s got all the ingredients for a fun family trip.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Pack up the car and head to Virginia Beach, which is situated within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the country’s population. Beach options abound, from bustling Oceanfront Beach flanked by the Virginia Beach Boardwalk to quieter options like Sandbridge Beach and Chesapeake Bay Beach. There’s free nightly entertainment at Neptune’s Park and the Boardwalk throughout the summer, and the seasonal Virginia Beach Wave Trolley travels around the area for single fares of $2 or less.
Beyond the beach, First Landing State Park (the most visited park in Virginia) features more than 19 miles of trails and 1.25 miles of beach, while the more than 9,200 acres of marshes, dunes, and maritime forest at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge are home to more than 300 documented bird species. The kids will love Mount Trashmore Park, a former landfill that now includes two lakes, a playground, and a skate park. Stop by the free Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum when you’re strolling the boardwalk, and visit the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art if rain is in the forecast, which offers free admission for children under 12.
Where to stay in Virginia Beach for a budget-friendly beach vacation
The Founders Inn and Spa, Tapestry Collection by Hilton isn’t right on the beach, but you get a lot of bang for your buck, with family-friendly indoor and seasonal outdoor pools (including a waterslide), a playground, and dedicated dog parks for four-legged guests. Rates range from $129 to $249 per night depending on travel dates and room type.
If you do want to stay right by the water, budget-friendly Sandcastle Resort offers easy access to the boardwalk and beach, ocean views, and an indoor pool. Past guests praise the property’s staff and appreciate its on-site dining options.
Carolina Beach, North Carolina
About 30 minutes from Wilmington, Carolina Beach offers classic family beach vacation vibes. The Carolina Beach Boardwalk is one reason for that, with carnival games and rides, summertime fireworks, and live music. Families tend to be fans of the beach near the boardwalk and at the Cape Fear Boulevard access point for easy proximity to all the fun.
There’s no charge to visit Carolina Beach State Park, which offers hiking, biking, boating, and fishing opportunities (but no swimming due to dangerous currents). Take the half-mile Flytrap Trail and be on the lookout for the carnivorous plant; this area is one of the only places in the world where it grows naturally. Carolina Beach Lake Park hosts free movies under the stars and a farmers’ market during the summer. And you can admire the many murals around the area as you visit shops and eateries like Britt’s Donut Shop, a local (cash only!) institution since 1939.
Where to stay in Carolina Beach for a budget-friendly beach vacation
Located just steps from the beach and the boardwalk, pet-friendly Carolina Beach Inn wins points for location. Each of its 12 rooms offers a unique theme and decor. Rates average around $175 to $225 per night during the summer beach season but can start as low as $125 per night during other times of year.
You’re just 1,000 feet from the beach and boardwalk when you book one of the renovated rooms at pet-friendly Carolina Beach Motel. Large outdoor patios provide a place to relax after a long day by the water.
A new boutique hotel with a focus on sustainability, The Oceaneer Hotel features an outdoor pool, espresso bar, and fitness center. Stylish rooms include amenities like energy-efficient fridges, canned Stoke Wtr, and eco-friendly bath products.
Coastal Mississippi
Coastal Mississippi offers 62 miles of shoreline for a family beach vacation with a smaller price tag than the nearby Florida Gulf Coast. Beach options abound in communities like Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Ocean Springs, and Gulf Islands National Seashore offers miles of shoreline for swimming as well as opportunities for hiking, bird-watching, and fishing (for a modest fee).
There’s no charge to visit Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, home to an interpretive center and walking trails. Public art can be found throughout the region, like the Hurricane Katrina Tree Sculptures on Highway 90. And Coastal Mississippi has a number of museums with free admission, including the Bay St. Louis Mardi Gras Museum and Biloxi Fire Museum.
Where to stay in Coastal Mississippi for a budget-friendly beach vacation
Families appreciate the location of Hampton Inn Biloxi/Ocean Springs, which puts them in easy reach of attractions like Biloxi Beach, Mississippi Aquarium, and Gulf Islands Waterpark. Amenities include an outdoor pool and free daily hot breakfast, and room rates start at $119 a night during the summer season.
Located on the beach and the Biloxi Boardwalk, South Beach Biloxi Hotel & Suites offers one- and two-bedroom suites featuring full kitchens and private balconies. Families will appreciate the pool, complimentary breakfast, and free parking.
Gulf County, Florida
On the Florida Panhandle in a region known as the Forgotten Coast, Gulf County serves as an ideal spot for a laid-back, uncrowded family beach vacation in the Sunshine State. St. Joe Beach is a family favorite for its easy public beach access and calm, shallow waters, and T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park draws beachgoers with its soft white sand and clear water (accessible for just $6 a vehicle).
The state park also features three hiking trails, including a half-mile scenic walk suited for all ages. Visit the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center to learn about the reptiles found in the area, climb the Cape San Blas Lighthouse for panoramic water views, and stroll around historic downtown Port St. Joe.
Where to stay in Gulf County for a budget-friendly beach vacation
Pet-friendly MainStay Suites Port Saint Joe South offers spacious suite-style accommodations with kitchenettes, complimentary breakfast, and an outdoor pool. Rates average around $155 a night.
For a more boutique hotel–style experience, book at The Port Inn – Port St. Joe, an Ascend Collection Hotel in downtown Port St. Joe. The pet-friendly property offers complimentary hot breakfast daily, with average nightly rates around $225.
Grand Haven, Michigan
There are lots of options for a beach day along Lake Michigan in Grand Haven, from the popular Grand Haven State Park with a half mile of sandy shoreline to local favorite North Beach Park, which offers a barrier-free beach walkway during the summer along with amenities like restrooms, picnic tables, a playground, and a sand volleyball court. Grand Haven City Beach is also a good choice for families, with restrooms and free (but limited) parking.
The Grand Haven Musical Fountain lights up the night with free shows every evening from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Other good options for low-cost family fun include checking out the small but mighty displays at the Midwest Miniatures Museum and traveling through time at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum.
Where to stay in Grand Haven for a budget-friendly beach vacation
At Best Western Beacon Inn, you can choose an exterior-access room with parking at the door or an interior-access room located near the indoor pool and breakfast area, which serves a complimentary full hot breakfast each day featuring make-your-own waffles. And you’ll be close to the beach, lighthouse pier, and downtown Grand Haven.
Camp ’89 Grand Haven offers RV sites, tent camping, and cabins, so you can choose how you want to stay. A full range of family-friendly activities and amenities includes a heated pool, mini golf, go-karts, playgrounds, hiking trails, shuffleboard, and ice cream parlor.
Seaside, Oregon
One of the oldest and most popular beach destinations in the Pacific Northwest, Seaside boasts a publicly accessible sandy beach. In the center of town, a 1.5-mile, 105-year-old oceanfront promenade features Mobi-mats at each end providing wheelchair and wagon accessibility to the beach. Search for sand dollars at low tide—but leave any living ones behind.
Funland Arcade—one of the largest arcades on the North Oregon Coast—has been a go-to spot for family fun since 1931, and rides on the Seaside Carousel are just $5. Feed the seals at Seaside Aquarium, admire the colorful creations at Painted Rock Beach, and take in the views at Seltzer Park. A water trike or swan boat is a fun way to get out on the water at Quatat Park.
Where to stay in Seaside for a budget-friendly beach vacation
Just two blocks from the beach and promenade, the family-owned Sandy Cove Inn offers fun themed rooms like family-friendly Surf’s Up with a futon bunk bed. Some rooms are pet-friendly, and the owners also offer vacation rentals that can sleep up to 12 people.
Mini-suites, family rooms, and cottages at pet-friendly Hillcrest Inn have kitchenettes or kitchens that help you save money on meals. Fresh coffee and snacks are available in the lobby, and you’re just steps away from the beach and other local attractions.
Torrance, California
Escape the crowds at Southern California’s Torrance Beach, where you’ll find more than a mile of California coastline as well as ample parking, bathrooms, outdoor showers, a lifeguard station, and a beach cafe. It’s also the starting point for The Strand beach bike path, which travels 22 miles up to Will Rogers State Beach in Malibu with plenty of places to stop along the way.
Kids will love the retro metal rocket and lunar module replica at Los Arboles Park and the splash pad and accessible treehouse at Wilson Park, which is also the site of free summertime outdoor concerts. Learn about the marshland that once covered Southern California at the free Madrona Marsh Preserve & Nature Center, take a self-guided tour of iconic TV and film locations, and enjoy some good eats at King’s Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant (the company opened its first bread production factory in Torrance in 1977).
Where to stay in Torrance for a budget-friendly beach vacation
Suites at Sonesta ES Suites Torrance Redondo Beach have full kitchens, and the hotel also serves complimentary daily hot breakfast. Outdoor grills, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center will keep the whole family happy.
Start off a stay at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Torrance – South Bay with the hotel brand’s signature warm chocolate chip cookie, then enjoy amenities like an outdoor pool, firepit, and fitness center. A range of room options is available for families of all sizes, including two-room suites.
More from FamilyVacationist.com:
- America’s most budget-friendly family resorts, vetted by real travelers and families
- 7 affordable California vacation ideas for the whole family
- 12 summer trip ideas in the U.S. that will get teens off their phone
- This summer’s best beach destinations in the U.S. with kid-friendly resorts and activities
