17 Best US Family Vacation Spots to Get Everyone Off Their Phone and Spending Time Together
From Cape Cod to Charleston, these destinations promise fun for the whole family.
Every few years, my immediate family likes to plan a multigenerational trip where we can meet up for a week and enjoy our time together. For someone like me who lives in a different city from all but one of my family members, this trip is a great chance to catch up with everyone outside of my usual holiday season visits. One of our favorite parts, though it can be challenging, is picking a destination. Finding a family vacation spot in the US that has enough to entertain our group of 11 spanning the ages of 3 to 75 is fairly difficult (so far we've enjoyed locations like Tybee Island, Georgia, and San Juan , Puerto Rico), especially when you take into account the variety of tastes, lifestyles, and age-appropriate interests. Sticking to a domestic location can mean one less travel obstacle to navigate, and luckily, there are plenty of kid-friendly (and parent-approved) spots right here in our own backyard.
From wandering around Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort in Florida to splashing on the beach in San Diego , there are so many excellent kid-friendly destinations for the whole family reachable without a passport. These locations make it easy to find a spot the whole family will enjoy. While you can't avoid the inevitable back-and-forth over which restaurant or activity to pick each day, you can be sure that the locations below will impress fussy toddlers, angsty teens, and tired adults alike. Read on for 17 of the best family vacation spots in the US, nature lovers, city dwellers , history buffs, skiers , and beach bums will all find a little something to enjoy.
Yes, there are some great family-friendly all-inclusive resorts in the US for those who have enough on their plate without planning every detail of the trip. Whether you're looking for something relatively more affordable like Mohonk Mountain House , or want to splurge on a special stay for the whole family somewhere a bit more pricey, there are some great options all over the country to consider.
What are the most affordable family vacation spots in the US?
There are some excellent affordable vacation spots for families in the US . San Diego is a great pick for those who prefer cities and beach activities. Orlando is another relatively affordable option when it comes to flights and hotels, but keep in mind that the activities (like theme park tickets) can add up.
In Albuquerque, tickets for museums and cultural centers can be quite budget-friendly, as are flights and accommodations. However, those who are headed to the New Mexico city for the hot-air balloon festival should expect steeper prices and more difficult reservations.
Those with school-aged children will likely want to book far in advance (up to nine months ahead of a trip) to ensure that you'll be able to get hotel rooms and activities squared away for high season travel during summer, spring break, or winter break. On average, domestic trips, like the ones above, require less lead time, but since families may only be able to travel during high seasons, want to stay in specific suites or larger room configurations, or have theme park and activity tickets to score, planning ahead as far in advance as possible is wise.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Kimberly Wilson .
