Known for its friendly, welcoming spirit, good food and affordability, the Midwest is a great vacation spot. From year-round activities like hiking and boating to exploring historic sites and amusement parks, there’s something for everyone.
But taking time off isn’t always budget-friendly. Expenses add up quickly, so to help find your next cost-effective getaway, GOBankingRates analyzed popular tourist destinations for two adults and three nights. Trip details include airfare, hotel, three meals at mid-range restaurants, 12 meals at inexpensive restaurants, six beers, and six sodas.
Here are the 24 most affordable Midwest vacation spots.
1. Fargo, North Dakota
- Airfare cost for a couple: $865
- Total cost of hotel: $187
- Total cost for all meals: $330
- Total cost for drinks: $51
- Total cost for vacation: $1,433
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2. Cincinnati
- Airfare cost for a couple: $754
- Total cost of hotel: $272
- Total cost for all meals: $360
- Total cost for drinks: $49
- Total cost for vacation: $1,435
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3. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Airfare cost for a couple: $807
- Total cost of hotel: $292
- Total cost for all meals: $324
- Total cost for drinks: $49
- Total cost for vacation: $1,473
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4. Ankeny, Iowa
- Airfare cost for a couple: $833
- Total cost of hotel: $273
- Total cost for all meals: $353
- Total cost for drinks: $46
- Total cost for vacation: $1,504
5. O’Fallon, Missouri
- Airfare cost for a couple: $881
- Total cost of hotel: $244
- Total cost for all meals: $360
- Total cost for drinks: $29
- Total cost for vacation: $1,514
6. Saint Charles, Missouri
- Airfare cost for a couple: $881
- Total cost of hotel: $216
- Total cost for all meals: $375
- Total cost for drinks: $45
- Total cost for vacation: $1,516
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7. Columbus, Indiana
- Airfare cost for a couple: $814
- Total cost of hotel: $295
- Total cost for all meals: $360
- Total cost for drinks: $49
- Total cost for vacation: $1,518
8. Olathe, Kansas
- Airfare cost for a couple: $917
- Total cost of hotel: $236
- Total cost for all meals: $341
- Total cost for drinks: $36
- Total cost for vacation: $1,530
9. Lansing, Michigan
- Airfare cost for a couple: $848
- Total cost of hotel: $241
- Total cost for all meals: $441
- Total cost for drinks: $47
- Total cost for vacation: $1,577
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10. Greenwood, Indiana
- Airfare cost for a couple: $814
- Total cost of hotel: $305
- Total cost for all meals: $420
- Total cost for drinks: $53
- Total cost for vacation: $1,591
11. Eagan, Minnesota
- Airfare cost for a couple: $912
- Total cost of hotel: $205
- Total cost for all meals: $438
- Total cost for drinks: $40
- Total cost for vacation: $1,595
12. Troy, Michigan
- Airfare cost for a couple: $928
- Total cost of hotel: $217
- Total cost for all meals: $435
- Total cost for drinks: $36
- Total cost for vacation: $1,617
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13. Livonia, Michigan
- Airfare cost for a couple: $928
- Total cost of hotel: $194
- Total cost for all meals: $459
- Total cost for drinks: $38
- Total cost for vacation: $1,619
14. Mankato, Minnesota
- Airfare cost for a couple: $912
- Total cost of hotel: $275
- Total cost for all meals: $414
- Total cost for drinks: $43
- Total cost for vacation: $1,644
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15. Kansas City, Kansas
- Airfare cost for a couple: $917
- Total cost of hotel: $230
- Total cost for all meals: $417
- Total cost for drinks: $57
- Total cost for vacation: $1,675
16. Overland Park, Kansas
- Airfare cost for a couple: $917
- Total cost of hotel: $248
- Total cost for all meals: $465
- Total cost for drinks: $51
- Total cost for vacation: $1,681
17. Oshkosh, Wisconsin
- Airfare cost for a couple: $781
- Total cost of hotel: $460
- Total cost for all meals: $396
- Total cost for drinks: $54
- Total cost for vacation: $1,690
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18. Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Airfare cost for a couple: $912
- Total cost of hotel: $323
- Total cost for all meals: $417
- Total cost for drinks: $52
- Total cost for vacation: $1,705
19. Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Airfare cost for a couple: $916
- Total cost of hotel: $387
- Total cost for all meals: $417
- Total cost for drinks: $48
- Total cost for vacation: $1,768
20. Carmel, Indiana
- Airfare cost for a couple: $814
- Total cost of hotel: $387
- Total cost for all meals: $525
- Total cost for drinks: $52
- Total cost for vacation: $1,778
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21. Chicago
- Airfare cost for a couple: $686
- Total cost of hotel: $515
- Total cost for all meals: $546
- Total cost for drinks: $60
- Total cost for vacation: $1,807
22. Cheyenne, Wyoming
- Airfare cost for a couple: $1,111
- Total cost of hotel: $339
- Total cost for all meals: $411
- Total cost for drinks: $32
- Total cost for vacation: $1,892
23. Midland, Michigan
- Airfare cost for a couple: $1,123
- Total cost of hotel: $419
- Total cost for all meals: $390
- Total cost for drinks: $36
- Total cost for vacation: $1,968
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24. Traverse City, Michigan
- Airfare cost for a couple: $909
- Total cost of hotel: $728
- Total cost for all meals: $435
- Total cost for drinks: $36
- Total cost for vacation: $2,108
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 24 Most Budget-Friendly Midwest Tourist Destinations
