The best winter holiday destinations in the U.S. if you're looking for a good value

Winter is coming...and we need to find the best place to hunker down for a vacation. Whether it’s escaping the cold or seeking it—ski resort versus beach, chairlift versus towel—WalletHub has us covered with their study that shows us the best places to go. This winter is supposed to have more snowfall than usual and possibly some colder-than-normal temperatures. That’s according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, information which ran with the headline “Winter Wonderland!”, so it might be a good idea to book that travel now before you find yourself snowed in and shivering (or maybe that’s what you’re traveling for). However, New England and the Atlantic Corridor are supposed to experience milder temperatures than usual; do with that information what you will!

WalletHub looked at 70 U.S. destinations that are both inexpensive and easy to reach, sorted them as warm or cold, and then analyzed them based on 37 metrics. Those metrics included things like weather predictions, how safe it is to fly to the destination, and what’s there to experience. The study focused less on scenic beauty and more on financial draws and how convenient it is to get to the location.

For cold weather, Atlanta won, although we think of Georgia as a warm state, because it’s got lots of attractions to visit and tons of cold-weather activities—plus low travel costs and hassles.

For warm weather, Texas and California swept the list, with four and three results respectively. We’re a little surprised that Florida’s beaches didn’t even appear on the list.

Here are a few fun takeaways: you can expect to pay an average of $400 for a flight to a cold destination, while one to a warm winter destination is more like $503, lasts longer and has more connections. The lowest three-star hotel room cost for a cold destination can be found in Chicago, where it can be a jaw-dropping $39; the highest cost is Worcester, MA, where it’s $135. In warm destinations, the lowest three-star hotel room is $50 in San Antonio, while the highest is $196 in Honolulu. Interested in tracking down a plethora of restaurants on your trip? Chicago has the most per square root of its population, while Bridgeport, CT, has the least, while for warm destinations, Miami’s got the most and Deltona, FL has the least.

Ready for the overall results?

Best cold-weather, value destinations for winter 2023

1. Atlanta, GA
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Chicago, IL
4. New York, NY
5. Denver, CO
6. Cincinnati, OH
7. St. Louis, MO
8. Kansas, MO
9. Philadelphia, PA
10. Boston, MA

Best warm-weather, value destinations for winter 2023

1. Las Vegas, NV
2. San Diego, CA
3. Austin, TX
4. Dallas, TX
5. San Antonio, TX
6. Charleston, SC
7. San Francisco, CA
8. Houston, TX
9. Phoenix, AZ
10. Los Angeles, CA