OUTER BANKS, N.C. (WNCT) — A recent study from Optimos Travel has revealed that the Outer Banks are the least expensive vacation destination in America.

A full day of vacation in the Outer Banks will set you back about $177, making it the least expensive travel destination in America. A week-long stay would cost around $1,237 or $3,247 for a family of four.

Number two on the list is a little higher on the East Coast and is relatively the same price-wise as the Outer Banks. The daily cost of visiting Charleston, WVa., is about $177. Staying here for a week would cost around $1,242.

Rounding out the top five in order are Helen, Ga; Tybee Island, Ga; and Gatlinburg, Tenn. Gatlinburg is the most costly out of the five at $193 per person per day.

From Optimos Travel:

10 Least Expensive Vacation Destinations in the U.S.

RankDestination NameTotal Cost/Day/personCost for 7 days Trip/personCost for a family of 4/day
1Outer Banks, North Carolina1771237463.982
2Charleston, West Virginia1771242418.042
3Helen, Georgia1851297458.333
4Tybee Island, Georgia1861305463.822
5Gatlinburg, Tennessee1931350494.820
6Sedona, Arizona1981384468.000
7Cape Cod, Massachusetts2071447535.222
8Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 2091463526.931
9Bend, Oregon2141499537.500
10Monument Valley, Utah2181529545.556

1. Outer Banks, North Carolina

We ranked Outer Banks as the least expensive destination, where the allure of the Atlantic meets affordability. With the lowest accommodation costs at $91.44, plus meals at $60 and attractions adding up to $11.27, the daily cost per person is a mere $177. 

A week-long stay here costs $1,237.024 per person, making it an irresistible offer for a family of four at just $3,247.9. This proves that paradise doesn’t have to cost a fortune.