Many Americans consider spring to be an ideal time to take a temporary sabbatical celebrating the quietus of those long, arduous winter nights. As luck would have it, Spring Fever coincides harmoniously with peak tax season. As the air thickens and the terra firma thaws, those who have the privilege of filing for a tax refund visit their local H&R Block with bright eyes, usually receiving some sort of bonus by late May. The IRS estimates the average American’s refund is $3,000, but if you’re anything like me, you’ve already mentally spent about half of that on more practical endeavors such as credit card bills, car repairs, or home improvements in an exhausting effort to act more responsibly. In honor of tax season, here’s a list of U.S. destinations that’ll cost less than $1,000 to explore during a long weekend from anywhere in America. Whether you’re looking for nightlife or the Milky Way, reasonably indulge your inner wayfarer for less.
Outer Banks, NC
Average Flight Cost: $200 – $500
Average Hotel Costs / 2 nights: $200
Rental Car Cost / 3 days: $80
Public Transportation: Shuttle, Bus.
Best Season To Go: Summer.
Nearby Attractions: Carova Beach, Springer’s Point Preserve, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, dozens of lighthouses and historic landmarks.
El Paso, TX
Average Flight Cost: $150 – $450
Average Hotel Costs / 2 nights: $150
Rental Car Cost / 3 days: $120
Public Transportation: Bus, Paratransit.
Best Season To Go: Late Spring, Early Summer
Nearby Attractions: White Sands National Monument (1.5 hour drive), Chamizal National Memorial, Organ Mountains (1 hour drive), Guadalupe Mountains National Park (1.5 hour drive), Thousand Steps Trail, Western Playland Amusement Park, El Paso Museums of History, Archeology, and Art.
Las Vegas, NV
Average Flight Cost: $80 – $450
Average Hotel Costs / 2 nights: $160
Rental Car Cost / 3 days: $130
Public Transportation: Monorail, Bus, Shuttle, Tram, Cab.
Best Season To Go: Late Fall, Early Spring.
Nearby Attractions: The Strip, various museums, casinos and shopping opportunities, Valley of Fire State Park (1 hour drive), Death Valley National Park (1.5 hour drive), Lake Mead National Recreation Area (1.5 hour drive), Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (30 minute drive). Find more attractions in Las Vegas here.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Average Flight Cost: $70 – $400
Average Hotel Costs / 2 nights: $170
Rental Car Cost / 3 days: $140
Public Transportation: Bus, Cab.
Best Season To Go: Year Round.
Nearby Attractions: Fort Lauderdale Beach, Intercoastal Waterway, Big Cypress National Preserve (2 hour drive), Everglades National Park (2 hour drive), Las Olas Blvd.
Memphis, TN
Average Flight Cost: $100 – $430
Average Hotel Costs / 2 nights: $200
Rental Car Cost / 3 days: $80
Public Transportation: Bus, Trolley.
Best Season To Go: Spring.
Nearby Attractions: Beale Street Historic District, Memphis House of Blues, Graceland, National Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studio, Holly Springs National Forest (1 hour drive).
Ocean City, MD
Average Flight Cost: $150 – $420
Average Hotel Costs / 2 nights: $180
Rental Car Cost / 3 days: $70
Public Transportation: Boardwalk Tram, Bus, Trolley.
Best Season To Go: Late Summer.
Nearby Attractions: Ocean City Boardwalk, Ocean City Beach, Trimper’s Rides and Amusement Park, Assateague Island National Seashore, an array of dining, nightlife and shopping opportunities.
Los Angeles, CA
Average Flight Cost: $80 – $450
Average Hotel Costs / 2 nights: $220
Rental Car Cost / 3 days: $180
Public Transportation: Metro Rail, Bus, Shuttle.
Best Season To Go: Spring, Fall, Winter.
Nearby Attractions: Santa Monica Pier (20 minute drive), Sunset Blvd., Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden, The Broad art gallery, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Park and Observatory, The Hollywood Sign. Find more attractions in Los Angeles here.
Cleveland, OH
Average Flight Cost: $80 – $450
Average Hotel Costs / 2 nights: $150
Rental Car Cost / 3 days: $75
Public Transportation: Bus, Train, Cab, Shuttle.
Best Season To Go: Spring, Summer, Fall.
Nearby Attractions: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center, Cuyahoga Valley National Park (30 minute drive), Great Lakes Brewery, Edgewater Park, Gordon Park, Westside Market, Tremont Historic District, A Christmas Story House, Lakeview Cemetery.
Pittsburgh, PA
Average Flight Cost: $200 – $470
Average Hotel Costs / 2 nights: $160
Rental Car Cost / 3 days: $100
Public Transportation: Bus, Light Rail, Inclines.
Best Season To Go: Spring, Summer.
Nearby Attractions: The Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Mount Washington, The Strip District, Mattress Factory, Market Square.
Denver, CO
Average Flight Cost: $80 – $480.
Average Hotel Costs / 2 nights: $190
Rental Car Cost / 3 days: $70
Public Transportation: Bus, Rail, Shuttle, Metro, B-Cycle.
Best Season To Go: Late Summer for hiking, Early Winter for skiing.
Nearby Attractions: Dinosaur Ridge, Denver Zoo, Denver Botanic Gardens, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Cherry Creek, Chamberlin Observatory, Rocky Mountain National Park, (1 hour drive), Arapaho National Forest (1 hour drive), Pike’s Peak and Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs (2 hour drive.) Find more about Denver here.