The 10 Cheapest Places to Travel in December, According to Kayak

December may be one of the most festive times of year to travel, but between holiday airfare and peak-season hotel rates, it can also be one of the priciest. Fortunately, choosing the right destination can make a big difference.

To find some of the most affordable places to visit this December, Kayak analyzed average round-trip economy airfare from U.S. airports alongside average nightly hotel rates for travel between Dec. 1, 2026, and Jan. 2, 2027. Myrtle Beach came out on top, with an average round-trip flight and one-night hotel stay totaling just $501. Southern cities dominate the list, with Atlanta, Houston, and Jacksonville rounding out the top four, while Florida and Texas together account for more than half of the destinations.

Timing can help stretch your budget even further. "For Christmas travel, the booking sweet spot is historically four to seven weeks before departure," Kayla Deloache, Kayak's travel trends expert, tells Travel + Leisure . "And flying Christmas week instead of the week before can save you up to 18% on domestic flights."

With that in mind, here are the 10 cheapest places to travel this December, according to Kayak—all with average round-trip airfare and a one-night hotel stay under $600.

01 of 10

Myrtle Beach, SC

Average airfare: $387
Average nightly rate: $114
Total average flight and hotel cost: $501

Myrtle Beach may be best known as a summer vacation spot, but there's plenty of reason to visit once beach season winds down. December brings a festive makeover to the Grand Strand, the 60-mile stretch of coastline that includes Myrtle Beach and its surrounding communities, with Winter Wonderland at The Beach , The Great Christmas Light Show , and Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens. Between celebrations, play a round of mini golf—there are dozens of courses to choose from, including Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Golf —or book a stay at a resort with an indoor water park, like Dunes Village Resort . December may be too chilly for an ocean swim, but mild temperatures still make it pleasant to walk the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and enjoy the coast without the summer crowds.

02 of 10

Atlanta, GA

Average airfare: $365
Average nightly rate: $159
Total average flight and hotel cost: $524

Home to one of the world's busiest airports, Atlanta is an easy December getaway from cities across the country. Once you arrive, the holiday calendar is packed: IllumiNights at the Zoo fills Zoo Atlanta with hundreds of glowing animal lanterns, and the Atlanta Christkindl Market brings German-style shopping and treats to the city. You can also catch A Christmas Carol at the Alliance Theatre . When you need a break from the holiday programming, Atlanta's relatively mild December weather makes it comfortable to walk the BeltLine , grab a bite at Ponce City Market , or explore Piedmont Park .

03 of 10

Houston, TX

Average airfare: $403
Average nightly rate: $127
Total average flight and hotel cost: $530

December in Houston comes with a few only-in-Space-City experiences. At Space Center Houston, Galaxy Lights lights up rockets and spacecraft, while downtown's City Lights Holiday Magic spreads across 11 locations, including an outdoor ice rink at Discovery Green . Houston is also a city worth visiting for the food scene alone. Stop for fajitas at The Original Ninfa's on Navigation , Vietnamese-Cajun seafood at Crawfish & Noodles , or West African dishes at ChòpnBlọk .

04 of 10

Jacksonville, FL

Average airfare: $392
Average nightly rate: $140
Total average flight and hotel cost: $532

As the largest city by land area in the contiguous U.S., Jacksonville offers all kinds of December getaways. Its 22 miles of coastline stretch from lively Jacksonville Beach to the quieter shores of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach , with mild afternoons well suited to seaside walks even if it's too chilly for a swim. The holiday celebrations extend to the coast, too. At Jacksonville Beach's Seawalk Pavilion , the free Deck the Chairs display transforms lifeguard chairs into elaborate holiday decorations. Farther inland, Colors of the Wild fills the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens with glowing lanterns inspired by wildlife and nature.

05 of 10

Chicago, IL

Average airfare: $354
Average nightly rate: $183
Total average flight and hotel cost: $537

Winter is part of the appeal of visiting Chicago in December, when crowds are smaller, and hotel rates are better than during the peak summer season. Skate at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park, browse the German-style Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza, or see more than three million lights at Lincoln Park Zoo's ZooLights , which offers free admission on select Mondays. Finally, if you need a break from the cold, head indoors for The Nutcracker by the Joffrey Ballet .

06 of 10

Fort Myers, FL

Average airfare: $435
Average nightly rate: $110
Total average flight and hotel cost: $545

Warm days and relatively dry weather make December a great time to be outdoors in Fort Myers . Spend a day at the beach, search for shells along the Gulf Coast, or follow the boardwalks through Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve , a 3,500-acre wetland ecosystem where you may spot turtles, alligators, and wading birds. For a dose of holiday spirit, head to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates , where the historic homes and gardens are decorated with thousands of lights for the annual Holiday Nights celebration.

07 of 10

Long Beach, CA

Average airfare: $376
Average nightly rate: $169
Total average flight and hotel cost: $545

Long Beach can get overshadowed by nearby Los Angeles, but it has plenty to offer as a vacation destination on its own. For starters, the city has its own airport, so you can fly directly into Long Beach and avoid the trek from LAX. Along the waterfront, tour the historic Queen Mary , a retired ocean liner permanently docked in the harbor, or visit the Aquarium of the Pacific . If you're able, plan your trip around festive programming like the Naples Island Christmas Boat Parade , which brings illuminated boats to the neighborhood's canals, and the Sugar & Spice Holiday Dessert Festival , which offers a delicious mix of desserts, entertainment, and holiday shopping.

08 of 10

Austin, TX

Average airfare: $384
Average nightly rate: $181
Total average flight and hotel cost: $565

December brings a festive streak to Austin without taking away from what the city does best. The Austin Trail of Lights transforms Zilker Park with millions of lights, while the Blue Genie Art Bazaar is a good place to shop for locally made gifts from hundreds of regional artists. Mild winter days leave time for the outdoors, whether you walk the trails around Lady Bird Lake or brave a dip in Barton Springs Pool , where the spring-fed water stays around 68 to 70 degrees year-round. After dark, head to Sixth Street for the bars and live music venues that keep Austin buzzing well into the night.

09 of 10

Orlando, FL

Average airfare: $388
Average nightly rate: $188
Total average flight and hotel cost: $576

Few destinations go all out for the holidays quite like Orlando . Walt Disney World rolls out elaborate decorations and seasonal entertainment, while Universal Orlando celebrates with Grinchmas, its holiday parade, and Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Outside the theme parks, Dazzling Nights fills Harry P. Leu Gardens with immersive light displays, and nearby Celebration hosts Now Snowing , a free event with nightly artificial snowfall and carolers; ice skating is available for an additional fee. If your schedule is flexible, aim for early December, before the Christmas and New Year's rush brings some of the year's biggest theme-park crowds—and higher rates.

10 of 10

Dallas, TX

Average airfare: $386
Average nightly rate: $189
Total average flight and hotel cost: $575

Dallas has no shortage of memorable holiday traditions. At the Dallas Arboretum , Holiday at the Arboretum fills the gardens with elaborate seasonal displays, while Galleria Dallas celebrates with a towering indoor Christmas tree, skating shows, and a backflipping Santa named Missile Toes. For something completely different, make the roughly 35-mile trip to the Fort Worth Stockyards , where Christmas in the Stockyards on Dec. 5 features a holiday parade, Cowboy Santa, and armadillo races. The historic district also hosts twice-daily cattle drives, making the trip worthwhile even beyond the festival.

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