The Cheapest Time to Fly to 50 U.S. Cities

As its annual favor to travelers everywhere, Hipmunk has once again analyzed millions of flight bookings to identify the cheapest month to visit some of the most in-demand destinations in the country. This year’s data is focused on the cheapest time to visit 2019’s top 50 trending destinations (hint: in most places it’s January). The data also helpfully provides the median hotel price for each of next year’s trending locations. In other words, here’s nearly all the information you need to plan a vacation. 

When to go: January
The median price for a flight to Las Vegas will be at its lowest in January, when the average price is $259. The median hotel price for the month meanwhile, is $156.

When to go: January
For those who live in colder parts of the country, visiting Orlando in January may be just what the doctor ordered. Flight prices will be at their lowest during the first month of 2019 at $235. The median hotel price is also budget-friendly at $162.

When to Go: January
January in Los Angeles includes annual the Rose Bowl Parade, Dine L.A. (the city’s version of restaurant week), and Photo L.A., one of the most notable photo events in the country. Airline tickets meanwhile, will be at their lowest of the year at a median price of $254, while the median hotel room cost is $184.

When to Go: January
It takes a brave soul to venture to New York City during the deep chill of January, or perhaps it’s the ideal time for those who love nothing more than to see the city blanketed in white like a holiday postcard. No matter which group you fall in, January is the time to go if you’re searching for a bargain. Tickets will be at their lowest of the year at $263, while hotel rooms will be around $182. When you do arrive, check out the Big Apple’s cheap attractions. 

When to Go: January

Phoenix is a rare example of bargain prices being available during a destination’s high-season. In January, Phoenix offers many festivals and activities and temperatures (between 66 and 72) that make it an ideal time to explore. According to Hipmunk, January will be the cheapest month of the year to visit, with a median flight booking price of $273. The median hotel booking price is $213.

When to Go: January
Calling all snow fans, Denver is on sale in January, according to Hipmunk. The median flight booking price will be just $202, while the median hotel room price is $156. Need more excuses to visit? January will also bring with it the Winter Brew Fest in Denver, which showcases local and national breweries and microbreweries.

When to Go: January
How does an average daily temperature of between 66 degrees and 73 degrees sound? That’s what you can expect when visiting Tampa in January, which also happens to be the month offering the lowest median ticket prices of the year at $222. The median hotel price for the month is $188.  

When to Go: January
Another Florida option for the dead of winter, Fort Myers also offers its best prices of the year in January with a median flight booking price of $252. The median hotel price is just $117 for the month.

When to Go: January
Starting to sense a trend here? January is the time to travel if scoring a budget-friendly airline ticket is a top priority. The median flight booking price for New Orleans in January is $291, while the hotel median price is $186. Here’s one more reason to visit the Big Easy in January: The Carnival season kicks off on Jan. 6 with free parades. New Orleans is another city with lots of inexpensive attractions. 

When to Go: January
There’s always much to see and do in Seattle between the Space Needle, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Another unique option is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center, which showcases how the world’s largest philanthropy is making a difference around the world. The best time to visit these attractions if a budget airline ticket is on your radar is January, when the median flight price is $266 and the median price of a hotel is $189.

When to Go: January
While Chicago in January is not for the faint of heart, it is a time when there is much going on in the Windy City. Options include street markets, a comedy festival, and restaurant week. The median airline ticket price for the month is $226, while the median hotel cost is $130.

When to Go: January
Yet another destination that will be at its cheapest in January, the median airline ticket price to the nation’s capital during the first month of the year is $281. The median for hotel room prices will be about $161. Loaded with museums and high-profile government landmarks, the nation’s capital also is home to many affordable sights. 

When to Go: January
The Boston Wine Festival is one of the notable highlights in Beantown in January, as is the Boston Celtic Music Festival. The median airline ticket price for the month is $236, while the median hotel rate is about $168.

When to Go: January
Another January option, the median airline ticket price to Salt Lake City will be the cheapest of the year at $329. The median hotel price is $230. Prices aside, this may be a less-than-ideal month to visit the city, as January brings the most extreme (read: coldest) weather of the year. Temps hover between 22 and 37 degrees.  

When to Go: January
The median airline ticket price to Portland in January will be at its annual low for 2019 at $261, while the median hotel price is $159. Events tentatively slated to take place in the city in January include Japanese New Year, a Bourbon & Bacon festival and also the Fun Beer Contest (specific days for each of these events have yet to be finalized).

When to Go: January
January is the most affordable month to visit Austin, when the median flight price is at $291 and the median hotel price will be $209. While Austin is known for its eclectic live music scene, the city will also be hosting a notable theater event from mid-January through February. The five-week Frontera Fest features offbeat fringe theater. Each night a new, unjuried bill of four or five plays is presented at venues across the city.  

When to Go: January
Though the city may be at its coldest in January, that doesn’t mean Houston should be written off. In fact, by some accounts, it’s still a very good time to visit and enjoy the city’s various attractions including the Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston; the Children’s Museum of Houston and also Holocaust Museum Houston. The median airline ticket price is $284, while the median hotel price is $136.  

When to Go: January
Surprise, another city where airline ticket prices are trending cheapest in January. Nashville-bound travelers will find a median ticket price of $289 in January, while hotels are around $189. Winter is low season in the music city, so you will likely find fewer crowds as well at such popular attractions as The Grand Ole Opry and The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. 

When to Go: January
Winter is high season for this stylish desert community known for its spas, hiking and trendy restaurants. But don’t expect balmy weather. Average temps are between mid-40s to high 60s, which a much better alternative to summer temperatures in the desert. The median airline ticket to the city in January is $370. The median hotel price is $187.  

When to Go: January
Another Florida option for the dead of winter, the median airline ticket price to Jacksonville drops to $334 in January, while the median hotel is $147. One of the most popular attractions in Jacksonville is Amelia Island, where there are 13 miles of beaches and many historic attractions.

When to Go: January
Philadelphia will kick of the new year with a variety of events and activities, including its Center City District Restaurant Week, Winter at Dilworth Park and the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest. Median airline ticket prices to the city will be $305, while the median hotel price will be about $182.

When to Go: January
January is snowbird central in Tucson, as the city becomes a magnet for those seeking to escape winter everywhere else. The same month the city also hosts the popular Tucson Jazz Festival. The median airline ticket price will be about $397. And because of the city’s popularity this time of year, the median hotel price is still a bit steep at $239.

When to Go: January
A much smaller version of Las Vegas, there’s actually far more to Reno than gambling. The city has a blossoming arts and culture scene that includes many independently owned galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. Also nearby is stunning Lake Tahoe. The median airline ticket price to the city is $392 in January, while the median hotel cost is $115.  

When to Go: January
A city considered to be a hidden gem, some of the top attractions here include the Detroit Institute of the Arts and also the Motown Museum. The cheapest airline prices of the year for those interested in visiting will be in January, when the median ticket is $235. The median hotel price will be about $169.  

When to Go: January
If Newark is on your agenda for the coming year, January may be the time to lock in your trip. The median airline ticket will be $270, while the median hotel price is $227. Reasons to visit Newark? Besides its proximity to New York City, Newark is also home to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the state’s largest outlet mall, The Outlet Collection, Jersey Gardens. Just in case you want to kick-off 2019 with some major retail therapy. 

When to Go: February
The cheapest flights of the year to Dallas are in February, when the median ticket price is $257. For those considering jetting off to the city, highlights of the month include the DFW Asian Film Festival, a Mardi Gras parade, and the Chinese New Year Festival. Even with all of this activity, the median hotel price is a modest $166.

When to Go: February
Given that it’s one of the priciest cities in the country, scoring a less expensive airline ticket to San Francisco can certainly be helpful. The best time to do that? February, says Hipmunk, when the median flight booking price will be $273, and the median hotel price is $200.

When to Visit: May
Located in California’s technology hub of Silicon Valley, San Jose’s top attractions include the San Jose Museum of Art; the Children’s Discovery Museum and, of course, the Tech Museum of Innovation. The median airline ticket price to the city in May is $278. The median hotel price is $219.

When to Go: July
If rainy and humid is your thing, look no further than Key West. Because of the weather, there are fewer tourists in Key West in July, but that makes hotel prices much more favorable. According to Hipmunk, the median hotel price is $280. While the median airline ticket to this destination will be about $414.  

When to Go: July
A charming and popular destination, Charleston is a port city that was founded in 1670 and is known for its cobblestone streets and antebellum architecture, and which also has many inexpensive attractions. The cheapest airline ticket prices of 2019 for this destination will be in July, when the median cost is $329. The median hotel price in July will be $236.

When to Go: August
Another famous South Carolina destination, Myrtle Beach is a vacation resort and is legendary for its 60-mile string of beaches, its boardwalk, golfing and arcades. The median airline ticket price to the city in August will be $269. The median hotel price will be $158.  

When to Go: August
With a median airline ticket price of just $287, and hotels at $179, a visit to Minneapolis may be an ideal way to close out the summer. In addition to pleasant weather, August also offers some notable events including the Uptown Art Fair (a juried fine arts festival) and also the Minnesota State Fair.

When to Go: August
Durham is home to a variety of attractions including Duke University and its Nasher Museum of Art, as well as the Museum of Life + Science, which features a butterfly house and wildlife habitats. While temperatures are at the hottest in August (average highs of 89 degrees), the median airline ticket price will be at its lowest, about $332. The median hotel price will be about $160.

When to Go: September
While the weather may not be ideal in Anchorage in September, you won’t have to content with crowds. The median airline ticket price is $553 for the month, while the median hotel price is about $126. Just don’t forget to bring an umbrella or raincoat, because September is a wet month for the city.  

When to Go: September
While Sacramento is the capital of California, politics are not the only attraction here. Old Sacramento is known for its wooden sidewalks and wagon rides, a nod to the city’s Gold Rush history. The California State Railroad Museum is also a noteworthy stop for history buffs. The median flight price to the city in September will be $340, and the median cost of a hotel will be about $137.

When to Go: September
One of the most stunning of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is dominated by tropical rainforest. Lihue is its primary entry point, home to island’s main airport, as well as its government and commercial center. The median airline ticket price to this island paradise will drop to its lowest of the year in September at $584, while the median price for a hotel is $328. 

When to Go: September
With a median flight booking price of $219, September is the time to visit Fort Lauderdale. The median hotel price for the month will be a budget-friendly $137. A Florida city known for its beaches (naturally), Fort Lauderdale is also famous for its boating canals, and upscale outdoor restaurants and luxe boutiques.

When to Go: September
While Hawaii is rarely a rock-bottom bargain, you can try to time your visit to go during somewhat less expensive times of the year. One of those times is September, according to Hipmunk. The median flight price will be at a low of $609, while the median hotel price will be about $242.

When to Go: September
Between the annual Miami Spice event, which showcases the city’s hip culinary scene, and the Miami Home Design and Remodeling Show, September can be an intriguing time to visit this South Florida city, which also has loads of cheap fun. More importantly, the median airline ticket price is $290, the lowest of the year, while the median hotel room price for September is $168.

When to Go: September
Here’s a little secret that San Diego locals don’t like to share: September is one of the most stunning months to be in the city. The weather is perfect, (May gray and June gloom are long gone), and with summer break over, the crowds have also dissipated. The median airline ticket price for month also works in your favor at a median of $299, while the median hotel rate is $181.

When to Go: September
With median ticket prices of $244 and hotel rooms around $191, September is shaping up to be the best month to visit Atlanta. One of the city’s biggest and most notable annual events happens every September, Music Midtown. Originally launched in 1994, the music festival is held in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park and brings a long list of notable artists and performers to the city.  

When to Go: September
The median ticket price to West Palm Beach drops to a yearly low of $294 in September, while the median hotel price is $198. September is the start of hurricane season in the region, but it is also said to be the best time to visit if you want to avoid crowds and steep prices, while still enjoying nice weather: The daily temperature is between the mid-60s to high 80s. 

When to Go: September
September is among one of San Antonio’s busiest months (and also one of its hottest with temps between 69 and 90 degrees). But it will also be the least expensive time to purchase an airline ticket to the city, with a median price of $324. The median hotel price is $144.

When to Go: September
Another trending Hawaiian destination for 2019, Kailua is located on the west coast of the Big Island and is home to Hulihee Palace, a former royal vacation home dating back to 1838. There are also plenty of white-sand beaches here where visitors can snorkel, sunbathe and swim to their heart’s content. Median airline ticket prices during September are $536, while the median hotel booking price is about $323. 

When to Go: September
Luckily the best airline prices are somewhat after its muggiest time of year. September is shoulder season in Savannah, a time when the crowds and the temps begin to decline. Also, noteworthy, the Savannah Jazz Fest takes place in September. The median airline ticket price for the month is $333. The median hotel price is $226.  

When to Go: September
New Mexico’s largest city, Albuquerque’s history dates back to 1706, when it was established as a Spanish colony. Today visitors and explore its Old Town where there are historic adobe buildings, museums, and shops. The median airline ticket price will be $345. The median hotel price will be about $185.  

When to Go: October
How does October in Maui sound? Not bad right? The good news is the median airline ticket price is at its lowest at $587, while the median hotel price will be $139. Time to start researching all things Maui.

When to Go: October
By some accounts, fall is one of the best times to visit Charlotte, thanks to the crowds thinning and the weather becoming more tolerable (less humid). October will also bring the lowest airline ticket prices of the entire year with a median price of $351, while the median hotel price is $142.  

When to Go: October
Santa Ana is the gateway to the Southern California tourist destination of Anaheim, where top attractions such as Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm draw countless visitors. The median airline ticket price to the city will drop be at its lowest in October at $334, while the median hotel price will be $185.

When to Go: October
Located just south of Tampa, Bradenton offers much more than just beaches and sunshine, though those are reason enough to visit. The city’s Riverwalk is a popular stop as is its Village of the Arts, a working artists community. The median ticket price to visit the city in October is $441, while median hotel cost for the month is about $241.