Oct 6, 2026

3 Budget-Friendly Family Getaways Compared -- Which One Gives You the Most for Your Money?

A family getaway doesn’t have to mean spending thousands of dollars on airfares, hotels and restaurant meals. Camping, a staycation or off-peak travel can all create lasting memories while saving you money.

However, the least expensive isn't always the best deal. The real question is what your family gets for each dollar spent, including accommodations, food, transportation, activities and the quality of the experience.

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MoneyLion compared three budget-friendly family getaways to see how the costs and experiences stack up.

Camping

Estimated cost for a family of four: $1,000 for five nights
Experience quality: 4/5

Camping eliminates the cost of airfare and lodging and replaces them with a campsite fee and groceries. KOA's 2026 Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report found that average household camping spend was $203 a day in 2025, up $47 in two years. A family that already has basic camping gear can spend way less.

The only tradeoff is convenience and less comfort. You’ll spend more time setting up the camp and preparing meals. However, for families that enjoy being outdoors, those aren't necessarily drawbacks.

Staycations

Estimated cost for a family of four: $100 to $400 for a weekend
Experience quality: 3.5/5

Like camping, staycations remove some of the biggest costs of getting away, such as airfare, gas, hotels and possibly several restaurant meals.

Instead, take a weekend and do the things you and your family normally don’t have time for. Visit a local attraction, spend the day at a museum or park, try a new restaurant or make your home a movie-and-game haven.

The hardest part is feeling like you’re on vacation. If parents spend the weekend doing laundry and running errands, the family may not feel like they really got away.

Off-Peak Destinations

Estimated cost for a family of four: $2,800 to $3,000 for seven days
Experience quality: 4.5/5

Traveling during shoulder season can mean reduced accommodation costs and smaller crowds. But don’t assume that every fall or spring getaway will automatically be cheaper. Expedia’s fall travel outlook found that prices for lodging in the fall are up 20% and prices for flights are up 2% on average in top U.S. destinations versus the summer.

But there are still a few places where you can get a good deal. According to Expedia, if you fly to Aspen, Colorado, after summer, you'll save an average of 45% on lodging and airfare combined versus peak rates; Anchorage is about 40% cheaper and San Diego about 15%.

Weather is less predictable, and attraction hours may be shorter, but for families with scheduling flexibility, it’s the closest thing to a full vacation of the three.

Which One Wins?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on what a family cares about most. If you already have basic camping gear, camping is the best bang for the buck in terms of time spent outdoors. Staycations are the biggest guaranteed savings. Off-peak travel keeps the entire vacation experience intact while cutting the two expenses that drive up the cost of every trip.

In the course of the same year many families will do all three: A shoulder-season trip for the big vacation, a camping weekend for a quick reset and a staycation when the calendar won't allow either.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

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Written by

Lydia Kibet

Edited by

Zuri Anderson