The 20 Most Affordable U.S. Destinations for a Fall Getaway

Fall is here, ushering in a brand-new season for travelers to enjoy. From coast-to-coast, and north to south, cities across America offer something unique for travelers to adore, including fall festivals, music events, and lengthy hiking trails to explore, all covered in a blanket of colorful fall foliage. And the mild temperatures that come with autumn make sightseeing in some of America’s hottest towns (both literally and figuratively) a lot more enjoyable. 

To help travelers plan their fall getaways, we asked Priceline to pull together data on the 20 most affordable U.S. locations to visit this season, with results based on nightly hotel rates at properties with three or more stars. Pack your fall travel essentials and check out the best places to explore that won't break the bank.

Miami

Visitors will find a fantastic fall travel destination in Miami. The Florida city is as vibrant as they come and offers travelers a chance to extend their summer vacations and relax on sugar sand beaches lapped by gin-clear waters just a little longer. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $174

Atlanta

Atlanta offers visitors plenty to see and do throughout the fall, including apple picking just outside the city center, as well as a plethora of fall festivals to attend. Don’t miss the Yellow Daisy Festival, one of the best craft fairs in America, and the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival for something tasty to eat and drink. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $172

Indianapolis

Make your way to Indianapolis this fall for great deals and a great time. The city hosts its farmers market throughout the season, as well as several pumpkin patches that will help you find the perfect gourd. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $171

Orlando

Home to one of the best amusement parks on Earth, Orlando makes for an excellent fall family escape. And, because this now marks the region’s shoulder season, you’ll likely be able to find great deals on rental cars and reservations too. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $167

Tampa

Florida, it seems, is the place to be for excellent fall travel deals, including great rates in Tampa. Not only can travelers come to get a little sun, but they can also explore the area's amusement parks and take part in Fall Fest, a festival celebrating all things autumn. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $166

Milwaukee

Feel the fall air by making your way to Milwaukee this season. There are a ton of activities to try in and around the Wisconsin city, including hiking through Grant Park to see the fall foliage and finding plenty of apple orchards to pluck the fruit from or just to enjoy a homemade apple pie. 

Average nightly hotel rate:$163

Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale is a fall lover’s paradise. With warm days and cool nights, it’s got a little bit of everything, including festivals galore. Head out for a hike on its expansive public trail system, and stay for its fantastic Halloween events, including the Spooktacular Balloon Festival, where each balloon comes filled with candy for trick-or-treaters. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $163

Reno, Nevada

Looking for even more spectacular fall foliage with great hotel deals to boot? Make your way to Reno. Not only are there endless hiking and biking trails to explore under the changing fall leaves, but it’s also the best time of year to come to the region and try your hand at fishing as the Truckee River is cock-full of trout this time of year. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $162

Dallas

Come visit the third-largest city in Texas for a whole lot of fall fun. Here, visitors can explore the gorgeous city with comfortable temperatures hovering in the high 60s to mid-70s. Don’t forget to stop at the Dallas Arboretum to see the spectacular fall blooms and to see its renowned pumpkin show. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $157

Albuquerque

Didn’t get enough of the balloon-centric activities in Scottsdale? Then make it a fall travel double feature by booking a second trip to Albuquerque. Here, visitors can enjoy all the festivities at the  Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, including catching a ride in a balloon to see the fantastic fall colors from above. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $156

Houston

If visiting Texas’ third-largest city wasn’t thrilling enough, then maybe visiting the state’s largest city, Houston, will do the trick. Make your way to the sprawling city this fall for both great deals and great times at events like the Texas Renaissance Festival and the Southern Smoke food festival. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $154

Phoenix

Phoenix offers plenty of seasonal delights for travelers to explore this autumn, along with hotel prices that will make you smile. Head to the Arizona city to revel in the fun at the Arizona State Fair, Oktoberfest, and to dig into the delights at the annual Garlic Festival. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $154

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

One more place in Florida deal lovers will adore this fall? Fort Lauderdale. The city by the sea offers travelers another warm weather respite from the cool fall temperatures and has plenty of things to do in between sessions of sitting by the shore. That includes the Halloween theme weeks at Flamingo Gardens and the city’s Annual Halloween Bar Crawl.  

Average nightly hotel rate: $153

San Jose, California

Shoulder season is a spectacular time to make your way to northern California, specifically to the city of San Jose. The city, nestled in the foothills of Silicon Valley, is a stellar place for tech lovers to visit this season to check out the ever-popular Tech Interactive for its annual events like Tech or Treat. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $150

Arlington, Virginia

Explore the awe-inspiring show put on by Mother Nature every fall in Arlington. The county is chock full of fantastic places to see the changing colors, including the walking trails at the Long Branch Nature Center, Mount Vernon Trail, and at the Potomac Overlook Regional Park 

Average nightly hotel rate: $144

Bloomington, Minnesota

Bloomington, Minnesota, is another splendid place to see fall colors, however, here, we recommend spending a little time inside, at the Mall of America, to be precise. The massive shopping space has a ton of fall events on deck, including an Underwater Pumpkin Carving at Sea Life and the building-wide Mall-O-Ween festivities. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $141

Jacksonville, Florida

Explore even more beachside fun in Jacksonville, Florida. The city, which sits along the Atlantic coast, hosts fun events throughout the year, but that’s especially true in the fall. During the cooler season, visitors can check out Jacksonville’s 5th Annual Oktoberfest, listen to the music at the A Taste Of Blues Festival, and take part in River City Pride. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $128

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Anyone looking for festivals on top of festivals should book a trip to Oklahoma City this season. Not only will visitors find great hotel rates, they’ll also find super fun festivals like the Oklahoma State Fair, the Fiestas de las Américas, which celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, and Red Earth FallFest Parade & Powwow, which honors the Indigenous communities that call the surrounding region home.  

Average nightly hotel rate: $115

Kissimmee, Florida

You didn’t think we were done with Florida just yet, did you? Kissimmee offers travelers the chance to head to the Sunshine State in the fall and find accommodations for under $100 per night. While there, travelers can check out nearby favorite amusement parks and experience their bountiful fall festivals, like Legoland Florida Resort’s Brick-or-Treat event and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $99

Laughlin, Nevada

Last, but certainly not least, on the list is Laughlin, Nevada, which offers travelers the best deals of all this fall season, with average nightly hotel rates at just $97 per night. The city, which sits just a short drive away from its larger neighbor Las Vegas, offers similar fun at its casinos but also offers abundant outdoor activities to enjoy all season long, too. That includes the nearby Colorado River Heritage Greenway Trail or exploring the haunting Oatman Ghost Town just a 30-minute drive away. 

Average nightly hotel rate: $97