12 Affordable Summer Vacation Spots In New York
The Empire State, with its pricey reputation, is full of priceless nature and affordable attractions you can enjoy in countless ways on a family-friendly summer vacation with unforgettable experiences. Unplug and unwind in tiny cabins or campsites strewn throughout parks, with nights under the stars and morning access to the nearby beaches and mountains. Choose a small town nestled in nature's embrace with fun attractions for every group or summer in the Adirondacks, where everything is leafy green or sparkling and crystal clear. All of these destinations are easily accessible for an escape from Boston, New York City, and Washington, DC. Enjoy memorable activities your whole family will love, and have money left over for those morning latte purchases when school and work start.
Adirondack Mountains
The magnificent Adirondacks in the northern reaches of New York are a picturesque range of forest-scaped mountains. With plentiful alpine lakes and small towns in the creases, the Adirondacks invite summer vacationers of any style and all budgets, with opportunities for everyone to enjoy the matchless high-country glory. From exploring the deep wilderness to climbing and relaxing lakeside, the endless hiking trails and vast waterways await hikers and kayakers for a hot summer getaway from the city. The hills, part of the Canadian Shield, are also popular among the wintering New York holidaymakers.
Find plentiful cottages and Airbnbs from owners headed for their own escapes, along with a ton of camping options throughout the range. Choose a state campground, including tent camping, RVs, and campervan parking with scenery all around, and commence your summer of family-friendly pursuits like waterfall chasing and shoreline strolls, reaping the last benefits of the summer weather. Stay longer for the fall's lovely autumn colors, and return in the winter for amazing skiing. The Mirror Lake Inn family-run property is a great choice for families with kids, with many Adirondacks experiences around, from the Wild Center to a beginner-level nature hike at Prospect Mountain and the swimmable Plattsburgh City Beach.
Fire Island
Fire Island is a fantastic vacation destination for every taste, especially if you are in search of solace at the spectacular hands of Mother Nature on a budget and near NYC. Rent a bike at the Ocean Beach Hardware store, next to the ferry, or BYOB on board to explore the trails near and deep inside the Fire Island. Take hikes along the nature trails through the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness and enjoy the beaches. You can obtain reservations for wilderness and backcountry camping and permits online for overnight stays on Fire Island, including a cost-recovery fee for the sandy-based sites at the Watch Hill zone.
The Surf's Out restaurant overlooking the ocean serves a wide range of comfort foods like burgers, steaks, and sushi. The family-friendly camping zone is only a 1/4-mile walk from the ferry dock and is equipped with east and west camping zones within the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness. It is accessible through Watch Hill, directly across the Great South Bay from Patchogue, and there is and find more camping sites at Smith Point County Park. Find shelters and bathhouses on site and explore the area on foot with the nearby visitor center, marina, general store, and ocean beach access.
Saratoga
This historic New York town is a dream for vacationing families on a budget, with many kid-friendly, inexpensive, or free pursuits. You can choose the Inn at Saratoga, the oldest operating hotel that defines charm and offers free use of bicycles for guests for up to two hours a day from Vintage Roadmaster, or snatch an Airbnb here at a great price. Congress Park is great for biking and strolls, while the town's historic wooden carousel takes you for a spin for just $1.
Get behind the scenes of the Revolutionary War with intriguing facts at Saratoga National Historical Park for free, right where the British surrendered to the American troops in 1777. The Children's Museum at the Lincoln Baths is fantastic for learning over play, while Brown's Beach is only 14 minutes away with a $5 entrance for all-day swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and volleyball in the sand. The town, with cozy cafes and local bars, is great for after-hours fun, whether for a quiet tea time or a nightcap with friends.
Catskill Mountains
The famous Catskill Mountains are an ideal escape from the city's soot and hustle to really unwind before the summer comes to an end. Just a quick trip from NYC, the nature here feels like a whole world away in the embrace of the peaks, with an alpine air and small towns around. Camping during this budget summer getaway costs only around $30 a night, with a wealth of cheap hotels and budget-friendly restaurants. The Catskills, where family fun lives and wholesome entertainment is a step away, brings back nostalgic childhood memories of getting away with your family, like in the 1980s.
Visit the popular Lazy Crazy Acres Farms for pizza parties after strolls and animal interactions, and see 300 more of these free-roaming beasts at Catskill Animal Sanctuary. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds offers family-oriented camping with inexpensive activities like swimming and hiking along varied trails for all levels on revitalizing hikes. Crystal Brook Resort in the Northern Catskills, an affordable German-American resort, lets you taste European culture with nonstop summer fun activities, cuisine, and the Mountain Brauhaus, a Bavarian beer hall with live musical events.
Chautauqua Allegheny
Culture, nature, and fun combine on a vacation to Chautauqua Lake on a budget. The nearby Panama Rocks Scenic Park is a magical family day outing to a certified "Ancient Forest" with 60-foot-high crevices, hidden caves, and passageways. Take nature strolls and relax among trees that are over half a millennium old to gain their strength and knowledge in the fresh air. You can spend the whole day exploring here for only $10 for adults, $7 for kids aged up to 12, and free for kids under five.
Visit Alpacaville to interact with friendly Alpacas, and return to say goodbye for now and at the end of your vacation and shop for their softest wool-made item—a great souvenir. Take the free shuttle service from Chautauqua Suites Hotel & Expo Center to and from the nearby enormous Chautauqua Institution cultural center. It is a glorious place to stay entertained each evening with theater, music, dance performances, art exhibits, and other events to diversify your six weeks of summer.
Glimmerglass State Park
Open year-round, Glimmerglass State Park is a majestic white pine, hemlock, and hardwood forest overlooking the spectacular Otsego River with easy water access. It is a dream come true for outdoor enthusiasts and summer vacationers on a budget. Enjoy days of paddling, swimming, or kicking back along the shores when you set base at the park's campground. The tent and RV site-equipped campground are pet-friendly, with toilets and showers, beach access, and beautiful forest beauty. It allows campfires with firewood sold at the park for unforgettable evenings under the stars and stepping out into fresh-faced nature each morning.
The picturesque wooded trails with wildlife sightings will take you on refreshing strolls with spots for relaxing picnics and soaking up the views under the sunny vibes. Take the Sleeping Lion Trail at Glimmerglass State Park for a scenic photoshoot or visit the past at the Hyde Hall Mansion before sauntering to the shores with killer views of Otsego Lake. or utilize the state boat launch with a ramp on the south end of the lake, which connects to Lake Street in Cooperstown, full of charming small-town pursuits. The park, named after James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales, offers a multitude of outdoor recreational activities, like top-notch fishing on all types of trout and bass, Atlantic Salmon, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Shiners.
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley, an immense land for various outdoor pursuits, offers something for everyone, including beaches, history, fresh-air picnics with open views, and hiking along the varied landscape. Just an hour-and-a-half car ride from NYC to the Hudson Valley, you will be at the mercy of the natural world of spectacular cascades and trails for waterfall chasing. Visit the oldest military posts in America on a hike through nature for different scenery and the Falls Views Park with its four acres of waterfalls, rivers, and trails to stroll hand in hand with your loved ones. The humid air feels heavenly on a hot summer day, with stunning sights at each corner that will quickly fill up your phone's camera.
Pack a picnic to relax and lounge with a fishing rod before making a trip to the French bakery bistro of Cafe Le Perche with farm-to-table snacks and dishes in a rustic setting with a patio that complements the great outdoors around you. Pitch a tent at one of the beautiful Hudson Valley's state parks, ranging from $15–22 per night, like Harriman State Park, 30 miles north of the George Washington Bridge. Beaver Pond Campground, near idyllic Lake Welch Beach, is equipped with showers, laundry facilities, picnic tables, and a fire ring. The Taconic State Park offers a galore of all-level trails, perfect fishing spots, and a breathtaking view of Bash Bish Falls.
Lake George
Lake George, a small lakeside town with glorious mountain views, is easily accessible for summertime vacations on a budget. As a tourist hub, it is laden with cheap attractions for everyone, including outdoor action at Shepard Park. The park has a free entertainment amphitheater scene and hosts great fireworks for unforgettable family times. Enjoy some downtime evenings from your lawn chair or hammock with the sweeping Adirondacks views. Thomas Jefferson said, "Lake George is without comparison the most beautiful water I ever saw." Don't forget your bike when you visit Lake George to explore it all—around the lake and along the renowned Warren County Bikeway that starts right here.
Find the rustic cabin brewery and restaurant of the Adirondack Pub at the heart of Lake George for delectable dinner bites, with the famed Adirondack Brewery next door. The Mohican Resort Motel is only a seven-minute drive to the beach and has its own pools, sports courts, and kids' playground for a resort-style stay at motel prices. The public Million Dollar Beach offers great sunbathing and swimming with views, as well as boating into the sunset on board the vintage Minnie Ha-Ha Paddlewheel. Dive into local history at the nearby 270-year-old Fort William Henry Museum, with both the sail and the real-life recreated fort from "The Last of the Mohicans" at a regular rate of $22.
Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park, with its traversing Genesee River Gorge, is replete with waterfalls along the picturesque river's edge. Stroll the rim of the "Grand Canyon of the East," from one grand drop to the next, and venture into the large surrounding forests. The summer is the perfect time to visit the spectacular Middle Falls, one of New York's finest, when it is at its most extensive from May to October with nighttime illuminations, to hang out as a couple or with your family.
Find a full scope of facilities throughout the park for all groups and levels of comfort, like campsites and cabins, with the outdoors at the doorstep, including hiking, swimming, a playground, and even concessions. Return in the winter when the trails are strategically inlined for adventurous snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobile riding in designated sections.
Niagara Falls State Park
Niagara Falls, one of America's oldest State Parks, is a magnificent natural wonder, welcoming millions of visitors a year for hikes and astounding views of the iconic waterfalls in between two countries. From its awe-inspiring scenery to thrilling attractions and interactive exhibits for families, you can experience it all on a budget summer vacation straight from your dreams. Explore miles of hiking trails and find tons of cool spots for delicious dining to recharge in a family-friendly environment. The adventure-packed experience is available at a 35% discount when you buy a Niagara Falls USA Discovery Pass with admission to attractions like Cave of the Winds, Niagara Adventure Theater, Aquarium of Niagara, and the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center. Visit the Cave of the Winds to navigate underneath the American Falls all the way to the famous Hurricane Deck in a thundering cascade of waters for an unforgettable lifetime experience. Bring a rain poncho and grab those souvenir sandals to save your shoes.
The "World Changed Here" pavilion offers entertaining, educational exhibits on the historical significance of the Falls, while the famous Maid of the Mist boat ride departs from the base of the Observation Tower at Prospect Point into the churning waters of the American and Horseshoe Falls and back. See the evolution of the Niagara River over 12,000 years at the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center on a multi-screen theater and enjoy kid-friendly interactive activities here. Home to all-ages attractions like Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours and the Niagara Aquarium with 1,500 aquatic animals, you can enjoy it all on vacation at one of the many campgrounds and RV parks. HTR Niagara, conveniently located between Niagara Falls and Buffalo, offers everything from luxurious cabin lodging to stylish yurts, spacious RV sites, and cozy tent sites.
Rockaway Beach
Just 50 minutes from the Big Apple by subway, Rockaway Beach is a wonderful place to get away or staycation for budget-restricted families with inexpensive options all around. Enjoy free beach access with a litter of tasty food trucks and cheap attractions for all tastes all summer long. Take a stroll down the beautiful Rockaway Boardwalk with awe-inspiring views in between fun play times along the sandy shores. You can spend several days at the beach, with nearby campsites, RV sites, and on-site cabins, and save even more by packing your provisions along.
Find a private spot for close gatherings and picnics along the beach even in the summer, or try family yoga on the beach or gratis Zumba classes, and watch kid-friendly movies under the stars. Enjoy stepping out to the water in the morning with a cup of java in hand, brewed over a campfire or from one of the food trucks. Visit Tacoway Beach, tucked in the Rockaway Beach Surf Club, a summer-only eatery that is a must-hit for the tacos of your life at only $3.50 and guac for a buck.
Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen State Park is a perfect vacation option for budget travelers with its numerous campsites of all styles. Just a $10 entrance fee per vehicle gives you access to some of the most stunning natural scenery in the Finger Lakes region. Complete with beaches, wilderness areas, and more, you can chase waterfalls among other fun family activities like lakeside strolls, swimming, fishing, and exploring small towns.
Choose a campsite in nature's embrace with the outdoors at hand to enjoy it any way you like. Enjoy a comfortable stay with inexpensive motel options, cabins, or adorable A-frame chalets at the adjacent Seneca Lodge. Visit the Corning Museum of Glass for the regular rate of $22 and for free if you are under 18. You can use one ticket over two days to create something with your kids at a glass-working class and admire all of the mind-boggling glass art and sculptures. Watkins Glen Farm Sanctuary is home to hundreds of cute rescued farm animals.
New York really doesn't have to be expensive, and you can end your summer affordably on a high note. From recreation to the historic small-town culture, businesses, and entertainment, the beaches await scenic relaxation, and remember those spectacular mountain ranges the state is blessed with. Seek alpine lakes along the lush, wooded trails with waterfalls and gorges along the way. Enchanting lakeside towns in the middle of the mountains will inspire you, along with revitalizing nature in the fresh air. Choose a beach town with boardwalks and lighthouses a stone's throw away from the nearest small town for provisions with shops, restaurants, and farmers' markets for fresh finds to keep the costs low.
