Good news for Disney goers. A recent study by WalletHub determined Orlando as the No. 1 travel spot in the United States for 2025, beating out 99 other metro areas in cost and convenience, affordability, and number of attractions and activities.
“When picking a summer travel destination, it’s easy to focus just on the types of activities you want to do or certain cities you’ve always wanted to see," WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said. "However, choosing a destination that’s not only entertaining but also affordable is important when travel, dining and activity costs have surged so much in recent years. It can also allow you to have a longer, more relaxing trip.”
According to the study, Orlando earned a top overall score of 68.34. Known for Walt Disney World, the city ranked first for activities, 10th in local cost, and 11th for attractions.
Orlando also ranked 24th for travel costs and hassles, 50th for safety, and 62nd for weather.
In addition, WalletHub highlighted Orlando's cheap flights and amenities for visitors not looking to break the bank. They include:
- The shortest flights to Orlando from other major cities have zero connections and cost as little as $322
- The lowest nightly rate for a three-star hotel room in the city is only $42
- The metro area's affordable, high-quality restaurants
- Orlando's abundance of water parks, boat tours, ice cream shops, coffee shops, shopping centers, and spas
The rest of the top 5 metros included Atlanta, Georgia; Washington, D.C; Honolulu, Hawaii; Austin, Texas; and Cincinnati, Ohio. Other notable Florida metros that made the list were Miami, which placed ninth, Tampa, which ranked 12th; and Jacksonville, which placed 25th.
On the other side, three California metros ranked in the bottom three: They were Bakersfield, Oxnard, and San Jose. McAllen, Texas; and Bridgeport, Connecticut; finished out the bottom five.
