The Most Budget-Friendly Beach Getaway in Every State (How Many Have You Visited?)

The top beach destinations in the U.S. can be incredibly pricey in the summer (some are expensive year-round).

If you want to enjoy a beach vacation and get ahead financially, you have plenty of options all over the country.

Here are the top budget-friendly beach vacation destinations in each state.

Located at the end of Highway 59 in Gulf Shores, this public beach is a great place to kick back whether you’re staying for the week or the day.

Guests can sunbathe, play beach volleyball, hit outdoor bars, and much more along miles of white, sandy shores while keeping more money in their wallets than they would if they traveled further away.

It may surprise those who know little about the Last Frontier, but Alaska has some solid beach options, including Homer Spit, a 4.5-mile-long peninsula that juts into Kachemak Bay.

The beach area is filled with things to do, whether you’re looking to check out local businesses, shop, fish, or simply hang on the beach and enjoy the stunning scenery.

Lake Havasu State Park offers dozens of campsites, beachside cabins, boat ramps, picnic areas, and more.

Hikers, campers, or those simply hoping to take in the beautiful shoreline can enjoy ultimate relaxation in the area without overspending.

Located on Lake Catherine in Hot Springs, this state park has a full-service marina where guests can purchase drinks, snacks, and fuel for their boats.

The park also has campgrounds, cabins, and even a rentable yurt. There’s no shortage of things to do on the water or in the beautiful surrounding trails.

Not far from hotspots like Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach, Dockweiler State Beach is a lesser-known option where guests can enjoy a stunning 3.7 miles of oceanfront.

With bike trails, picnic facilities, fire rings, and proximity to Los Angeles International Airport, Dockweiler is a great option for those looking to wander a bit off the beaten path.

There’s plenty to do at Denver’s Cherry Creek State Park, whether you’re looking to camp out for the weekend or just spend a few hours.

This includes fishing, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and jet skiing. Camping is also popular, but guests should make reservations in advance.

Hammonasset Beach State Park includes more than two miles of beach where guests can enjoy a stunning shoreline, boardwalk, and more.

The park is also home to a massive campground, where guests can choose from more than 500 campsites.

A beautiful park with a rich history sits at the mouth of Delaware Bay.

Cape Henlopen State Park offers more than six miles of coastline where guests can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, and more.

The area also has hiking and biking trails and nearby campgrounds and cabins.

A lesser-known but still stunning Florida beach, St. George Island State Park is located in the Gulf of Mexico.

Whether you’re looking to swim, sunbathe, fish, hike, camp, or simply enjoy the natural wonders, the park is a great option and far less crowded than other Florida hot spots.

Driftwood Beach is one of several located on Jekyll Island, just off the coast of Georgia. The beach gets its name from the stunning ancient driftwood that line its waterfront.

In addition to the beauty and serenity of the beach and surrounding area, the driftwoods make for incredible photo ops.

Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area on the Big Island offers beautiful beaches, picnic areas, a coastal trail for hiking, and breathtaking views.

Those hoping to stay in the park can rent cozy A-frame shelters that can sleep four.

Sometimes called the “Caribbean of the Rockies,” you have to see the glittering blue water of Bear Lake to believe it.

The lake is partially located in Idaho (the other part is in Utah), and visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, and more.

The state park also features massive campsites that welcome thousands every year.

This state park is located along more than six miles of Lake Michigan in northern Illinois. Visitors can swim, boat, picnic, hike, and/or camp among carefully preserved natural beauty.

Those hoping to camp on the park’s grounds should make reservations in advance.

Located on State Road 49 in Porter County, this state park features more than three miles of beach along southern Lake Michigan.

Guests can enjoy swimming, hiking, picnicking, fishing, a nature center, or simply take in the area's natural beauty.

Those looking to camp out in the area should consider making a reservation.

Iowa’s Lake McBride State Park is a great option for a day trip or a long weekend away.

Guests can enjoy swimming, kayaking, paddling, fishing, and other activities in the lake and on the many hiking trails.

The park has two campgrounds, one with modern amenities and one without.

Milford Lake, the largest in Kansas, offers more than 160 miles of shoreline where guests can sunbathe, swim, boat, fish, observe or photograph wildlife, and more.

The park is also home to campgrounds, cabins, RV sites, and a resort.

There’s plenty to do in Kentucky Dam Village, whether you’re staying for the day or the week.

A “public-access” sand beach on Kentucky Lake offers swimming, but guests can also fish, boat, bike, and hike on more than 100 miles of surrounding trails.

There is a lodge, cottages, and campgrounds in the area for guests hoping to stay a while.

Not far from New Orleans, Holly Beach — also known as the Cajun Riviera — makes for a great day trip.

A tranquil and remote environment makes it the perfect destination for those looking to bask in the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico without the crowds.

Just a few miles from Downtown Bath, Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg offers a popular beach where guests can swim, surf, stroll, enjoy stunning wildlife, and more.

The park’s proximity to Bath (just 14 miles down Route 209) means there’s no shortage of things to do (and great places to grab a lobster roll).

Located on Assateague Island, this state park is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Sinepuxent Bay on the other.

Two miles of oceanfront allow ample space for visitors to swim, sunbathe, surf, and more. The park also has 342 campsites, with electrical hookups available in specific areas.

While many are drawn to the beach, salt marshes, and beautiful protected lands of Horseneck Beach State Reservation every year, it’s still a budget-friendly spot for a tranquil beach vacation.

Guests can swim and soak up the sun along the miles-long beach, and those looking for cheap digs nearby can hit up local campgrounds.

With three miles of shoreline, six miles of hiking trails, and plenty of campgrounds to choose from, Warren Dunes State Park along the shore of Lake Michigan is ideal for a cheap beach vacation.

Those not totally sold on camping can check out the park’s mini cabins.

The Park Point Recreation Area is located at the end of Minnesota Avenue and stretches between Lake Superior and Duluth Harbor.

While it’s a popular summer destination with plenty of room for swimming, sunbathing, grilling, boating, and more, financially savvy guests can also score some great deals in the area.

Located along the Gulf of Mexico, Gulfport Beach offers serene views, many shops and restaurants, and proximity to many other fantastic beaches on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.

Those looking for a bargain should see if they can land discounts or promotions at rentals in Gulfport or Biloxi.

Located off Route 36, Long Branch State Park offers a swimming beach on the Long Branch Lake shoreline, campsites, a dock for fishing, a marina, picnic sites, and more.

With hiking trails, boats and tubes for rent, and much more, there’s plenty to do whether you’re coming for a few hours or a few days.

Plenty of people head to Whitefish Lake State Park just to take a dip in the beautiful and secluded lake.

However, there are many other activities to partake in — from hiking and biking to paddleboarding and water skiing.

The park also has 25 campsites with a mix of tent-only, bike sites, and RV sites.

Lake McConaughy, also known as “Big Mac,” is the largest reservoir in Nebraska and a hotspot for fishing.

The recreation area is also known to locals and visitors alike as an incredible place to swim, boat, water ski, picnic, hunt, camp, and much more.

Visitors can find beautiful beaches with clear water, stunning rock formations, space to hang out (or veg out) among the cedars and pines, and more on Lake Tahoe’s eastern shores.

Sand Harbor State Park makes for a beautiful beach getaway, and for those who are into theater, it's also home to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival every summer.

Another beautiful state park with plenty to do and plenty of campgrounds (with full RV hookups), Hampton Beach boasts miles of stunning Atlantic Ocean shorefront.

It’s a great option whether you’re looking to swim, fish, picnic, or pull up the RV and stay a few days.

A lesser-known destination than many Jersey Shore hotspots, Island Beach State Park offers a more tranquil experience, stretching 10 miles between the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay.

Visitors can land a deal by looking for lodging in the area, and it’s just a short drive from the lively beach and boardwalk of Seaside Heights.

Elephant Butte is New Mexico’s largest state park and includes something for visitors of all sorts.

Catch some rays beside the lake before taking a dip, hop on a jet ski, or glide along the water in a sailboat.

The park also has an incredible 173 campsites, with several equipped with RV hookups.

On the western point of Fire Island, Robert Moses State Park offers a nearly five-mile shoreline, plenty of beach shops and concessions, picnic areas with grills, golf, and more.

It’s located at the end of the Robert Moses Causeway and can be accessed by car or from the Babylon train station for visitors hoping to shop around for cheap accommodations nearby.

About 18 miles from Wilmington, this family-friendly beach with small-town vibes is a great place to spend an afternoon or a long beach getaway.

It’s also home to one of the oldest fishing piers along the Atlantic Coast, boasts an oceanfront park, and is close to the state aquarium at Fort Fisher.

Lake Metigoshe State Park lies along the U.S.-Canada Border. Guests can play around (or fish, canoe, or kayak) in the park’s many small lakes or enjoy miles of hiking trails.

For bargain travelers, the park has over 100 campsites, plus cabins, lodges, and even dorms that guests can rent for cheap.

There’s plenty to do at Maumee Bay State Park, from golfing to hiking through scenic meadows and wetlands.

There are also two beaches where visitors can swim: one along Lake Erie’s shore and the other at the park’s inland lake.

The park also has a resort, cabins, and campgrounds for stays at all price points.

There’s plenty for outdoor enthusiasts to get into at Oklahoma’s first and largest state park, from hiking along miles of beautiful trails to fishing to swimming in the stunning Lake Murray.

Guests have their choice of bargain lodging options, with both campgrounds and cabins inside the park.

You may know the beach (and its famed Haystack Rock) from its role in the 1980s classic “The Goonies,” but Cannon Beach has plenty to offer visitors beyond nostalgia.

The landscape and views of the coastline are stunning, there’s a vibrant village by the sea, and guests will have plenty of incredible dining and accommodation options to choose from.

Presque Isle is the only real “seashore” in Pennsylvania (it’s technically a lakeshore, but visitors can certainly get a beachy experience).

The coastline that stretches into Lake Erie offers plenty of opportunities to swim, boat, fish, and more.

The park has no campgrounds, but visitors can land bargain accommodations nearby.

Just 35 miles south of Providence, the beach at Scarborough offers more than 2,000 feet of oceanfront and is an excellent spot for swimming, picnicking, sunbathing, fishing, and more.

There are plenty of hotels in the area at a variety of price points so that bargain hunters can shop around.

A bit more off the beaten path than other Myrtle Beach destinations, the state park offers quiet, stunning greenery and nature trails, as well as the sun, sand, and surf visitors expect from the area.

The area has campgrounds and a huge selection of hotels, so guests can shop around for deals.

Located in Yankton along the Missouri River, Lewis and Clark Recreation Area is a great place to swim, hike, bike, bird watch, and more.

The area has campgrounds as well as cabins and lodge suites for guests.

Reelfoot Lake is technically a flooded forest formed when earthquakes hundreds of years ago caused the Mississippi River to flow backward for a time.

Today, it’s a unique and beautiful environment perfect for fishing, boating, wildlife watching, camping out, or simply enjoying the massive shoreline.

Padre Island is a narrow barrier along the southern coast of Texas. The beautiful coastline is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, camping, or simply enjoying the white sandy beach.

Primitive camping is available both on and off the beach, and an RV dump station and water station are available to all campers staying in the park.

In the middle of the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island has beautiful sandy beaches, hiking and biking trails, and plenty of wildlife like free-ranging bison and bighorn sheep for enthusiasts.

Those looking to travel on a budget can pick one of many campgrounds to stay at.

Alburgh Dunes is one of the longest beaches along Lake Champlain.

Camping in the park is not permitted, but guests can enjoy the shoreline, picnic areas, grills, and more every day in the summer from 10 a.m. to sunset.

Guests should also check out the winding “beach road,” a short but stunning path between the dunes and the wetland.

There are plenty of natural wonders to enjoy on Assateague Island — and guests can swim, sunbathe, hike, bike, fish, and even take a beach horseback ride (seasonally).

The island, just off the East Coast, is partially in Maryland and partially in Virginia. If you want to camp out for a few nights, you’ll have to head to the Maryland side.

This stunning seaside town has something for everyone — whether you’re looking to simply enjoy the beauty of the Pacific, do some golfing or bowling, or try paddle boarding or kayaking.

There are many accommodations to choose from, ranging from campgrounds to ocean resorts.

Tygart Lake and the surrounding park lie in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. Guests can enjoy the massive lake's coastline, swim, kayak, boat, fish, and much more.

Camping, cabins, and lakeside lodging are available to accommodate visitors on all budgets.

Harrington Beach’s shoreline stretches more than a mile along Lake Michigan, offering ample space for beachgoers to swim, sunbathe, and picnic.

The surrounding park also has hiking trails, campgrounds, and an observatory where guests can enjoy monthly public astronomy programs.

A small site packed with outdoor fun, Hawk Springs is great for swimming, boating, fishing, and more.

The area also has two dozen primitive campsites, picnic areas, fire rings, a boat launching ramp, a playground, and facilities for camping.

Pro tip: Whenever you're traveling, you may want to take your best travel credit card with you so you can earn the right rewards for your trip.

Savvy travelers can soak up the sun without overspending at one of these amazing (and cheap) beach destinations in every corner of the country.

You can also avoid wasting money on pricey hotels by sleeping on (or around) the beach in your tent and avoid the crowds that gather at summer hotspots at any of these bargain waterfront destinations.