Travel Budget for Cities inUnited States of America

Hot SpringsWashingtonBig Pine KeyBoca RatonCape CanaveralClearwaterCocoa BeachDaytona BeachDestinDuck KeyEverglades National ParkFort LauderdaleGainesvilleIslamoradaJacksonvilleKey LargoKey WestMarathonMiamiNaplesOrlandoPanama CityPensacolaSaint AugustineSaint PetersburgSarasotaTallahasseeTampaWest Palm BeachAtlantaBlue RidgeCumberland Island National SeashoreJekyll IslandSaint SimonsSavannahValdostaNew OrleansBaltimoreOcean CitySaint LouisAshevilleBooneChapel HillCharlotteChimney Rock and Lake LureDuckDurhamGreensboroNags HeadNew BernRaleighWilmingtonWinston-SalemAtlantic CityCincinnatiColumbusPhiladelphiaBeaufortCharlestonColumbiaGreenvilleHilton Head IslandMyrtle BeachChattanoogaGatlinburgMemphisNashvilleAustinDallasGalvestonHoustonSan AntonioAlexandriaArlingtonCharlottesvilleNorfolkRichmondRoanokeShenandoah National ParkVirginia BeachWilliamsburgMysticChicagoBerkshiresBostonCape CodMartha's VineyardNantucketAcadia National ParkBangorBar HarborKennebunkportPortland, MaineRound PondDetroitMinneapolisNorth ConwayAdirondack MountainsNew York CityThe HamptonsWoodstockClevelandHersheyLancasterLewisburgPocono MountainsPittsburghNewportProvidenceMilwaukeeWisconsin DellsFlagstaffGrand Canyon National ParkPhoenixSedonaBerkeleyBig SurCarmel-by-the-SeaDeath Valley National ParkJoshua Tree National ParkLos AngelesMontereyNapa ValleyPalm SpringsPasadenaSacramentoSan DiegoSan FranciscoSanta BarbaraSanta CruzSanta MonicaSequoia National ParkSonomaSouth Lake TahoeYosemite National ParkAspenAvonBreckenridgeColorado SpringsDenverDurangoVailAlbuquerqueRoswell, New MexicoSanta FeLas VegasRenoEl PasoBryce Canyon National ParkMoabZion National ParkJuneauKetchikanMt. Lassen Volcanic National ParkRedwood National ParkBoulderBoiseSun ValleyGlacier National ParkHood RiverPortlandColumbia River GorgeRapid CityPark City UtahSalt Lake CityOlympic National ParkSeattleCody, WyomingGrand Teton National ParkYellowstone National ParkKauaiMauiOahuBig Island of HawaiiHiloHonoluluDenali National ParkFairbanksAnchorageBeaver Creek
Average Daily Expenses (Per Person)
All Budget Styles


Kansas City, Missouri

How much does it cost to travel to Kansas City?

Average Daily Travel Cost
(per person)
$ 161.48
Accommodation1 $ 88.10
Local Transportation1 $ 43.81
Food2 $ 47.28
Entertainment1 $ 11.10
Communication2 $ 0.00
Tips and Handouts1 $ 0.00
Souvenirs1 $ 31.25
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 $ 0.00
Alcohol2 $ 12.29
Water2 $ 0.00

A large, mid western city that sits on the border between Missouri and Kansa, Kansas City has a population of about 450,000. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it is a surprisingly beautiful city with more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome. Most of the city's suburbs are concentrated in the south but the city is beginning to grow to the north as well. The climate in Kansas City can vary dramatically, in large part because it is so far from any form of water. Winters can range from mild to extremely cold and snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall and quite comfortable but summer months can be incredibly hot and humid.

You'll likely need a car to explore Kansas City at any level. The downtown are does have a bus system, but many of the city's points of interest are outside of the downtown area and not accessible by public bus. Some sights in the area worth visiting are the Historic City Market, the American Jazz Museum, the National World War I Museum, the Liberty Memorial, the Country Club Plaza, and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. If you're in town on the first Friday of a month you can head to the Crossroads Arts District where galleries stay open late and welcome visitors with refreshments.

You'll find some wonderful locally owned restaurants in Kansas City. One local favorite is the barbeque which has it's own regional flavor. Try the "Burnt Ends," a dish you won't find outside the city. The edges of the meat are overcooked which gives them a rich, smoky flavor, although they might be drier and chewy. There are some great diners in town as well if you're looking for an American classic. Some options include Chubby's, Town Topic, and YJ's Snack Bar.


Travel Tips

Kansas City Barbeque!

By Bryan on Nov 5, 2011 in Food
Kansas City has some of the most famous barbeque in America. The locals debate which place serves the best, because different restaurants often have their own flavor, sauce, or style. Either way, you can't go wrong because they take their meat seriously. Kansas City is also home to a particular barbecue dish not often found elsewhere known as "Burnt Ends." These are the overcooked ends and edges of a beef or pork brisket,. They can be dry and chewy, but still have a smoky flavor and can have more flavorful than other cuts. You should definitely give it a try.

If you're looking for a particular place, try one of these:
- Arthur Bryant's: It has pictures on the wall of presidents and other famous people who have visited.
- B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ: in an old roadhouse - all the meats are slow-smoked in a 60 year old pit with apple wood. Live music most nights.
- Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue (4 locations): considered to be the Kansas City area's "High Class" BBQ restaurant.
- Gates: Guy Fieri of the Food Network declared the Burnt End On Bun from this place as his most favorite meal in the country.
- Haywards: the BBQ sauce is one of the most unique in the city. Also known for very juicy Burnt Ends. edit
- LC's: specialties here include sandwiches that feed two and thick cut fries.
- Oklahoma Joe's: on the Kansas side of the city.

Tucson, Arizona

Average Daily Travel Cost
(per person)
$ 157.31
Accommodation1 $ 93.15
Local Transportation1 $ 27.38
Food2 $ 36.33
Entertainment1 $ 16.43
Communication2 $ 0.00
Tips and Handouts1 $ 0.00
Souvenirs1 $ 0.00
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 $ 0.00
Alcohol2 $ 15.71
Water2 $ 0.00
Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.

Sabino Canyon, in the Santa Catalina Mountains, is a beautiful place to visit. Nearby Saguaro National Park is also well worth a visit. Tohono Chul Park is a great place to learn about desert plants and birds, and Mission San Xavier del Bac is also a scenic and unique place to visit. If you're interested in the area's museums, consider visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the Pima Air & Space Museum, the Titan Missile Museum, or Kitt Peak National Observatory.

You'll find a surprising diversity of food options in Tucson, but as expected, Mexican and Southwestern cuisine is some of the best. There are plenty of budget restaurants around town that have everything from hot dogs to tacos, or Thai food. Mid range restaurants generally have a better quality of food, but not always. There are also plenty of places where you can enjoy an expensive, find dining experience that gives you the ambiance of a nice southwestern meal. Surprisingly, there's a very active wine community in Tucson and you will find no shortage of wine bars around town where you can sample some of the finest. There are also some great places to relax with friends if you're simply looking for a great place to grab a cold beer and enjoy yourself.


Travel Tips

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

By Bryan on Oct 31, 2011 in Entertainment
An interesting place to visit is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It's sort of looks like a biosphere. It's part zoo, part natural history museum and part botanical garden. They have tarantulas, bears, coyotes, and scorpions - all the things that live and grow in the Sonoran desert. The Museum is also on the fringes of Saguaro National Park, home to the world's largest forests of Saguaro cacti. You can stop by on your way out to the park.

Eugene, Oregon

Average Daily Travel Cost
(per person)
$ 159.91
Accommodation1 $ 97.48
Local Transportation1 $ 37.42
Food2 $ 40.79
Entertainment1 $ 0.00
Communication2 $ 0.00
Tips and Handouts1 $ 0.00
Souvenirs1 $ 0.00
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 $ 0.00
Alcohol2 $ 0.00
Water2 $ 2.93

At the southern end of the Willamette Valley, Eugene is most recognized as the home of the University of Oregon. It's a smaller city with a liberal population that is generally concerned about environmental issues. A popular experience in Eugene is to go to the Saturday Market, which has been around since 1970 and is the oldest open air market in the United States.

Eugene does have a small airport that is serviced by United Express, America West Express, Horizon Air and Skywest among others. It can also be access by Amtrak trains or Greyhound buses. Once in town, a popular way to explore is on a bike as the city has a great system of bike trails. There's also a decent bus system and you can call for taxis if you find yourself out late at night. Even so, it's easiest to explore the city if you have access to your own vehicle.

Some favorite activities in town include going to see the Eugene Ducks compete in any number of sporting events. The town is also home to the minor league baseball team, the Eugene Emeralds and the minor league hockey team, the Eugene Generals. If you're in town on the first or last Friday of any month you can take part in the First or Last Friday Artwalk when the downtown galleries open their doors and welcome patrons for free. You could enjoy some community theater at the Lord Leebrick Theatre Company or see a concert at WOW Hall.

There are plenty of restaurants around town for all budgets. Many of the cheaper options cater to students and include anything from burritos to pizza or Chinese. You can also plenty of breweries or coffee bars around town if you'd like to soak up some of the local atmosphere.

Surprisingly, there are a couple of hostels in town, but you'll also find some cheap motels and hotels that are good options as well.


Travel Tips

Hiking Trails

By Bryan on Nov 7, 2011 in Entertainment
Eugene has some great hiking and biking trails, such as:

Spencer's Butte is a large butte (hill) south of downtown. The trail head is about 1.5 miles south of the post office on Willimette street. It's easy to miss, but it's on the top of a crest in the road on the left. Look for the parking lot signs and restrooms. The trail up to the summit is about 2 miles each way and about 700 feet in elevation game. The trail is well marked, but towards the summit you'll have to scramble a little.

Skinner's Butte is another hill just north of downtown. It's the original site of Eugene Skinner's cabin (where the name of the town comes from). From the top there's a great view of Eugene as well as the Cascade mountains. A scene from Animal House was also filmed here. Go north on Pearl until you pass the a retirement home on your left, turn left at the next street (between 3rd St. and 2nd St., unmarked) and after about 1/4 of a mile make a right (unmarked). To get there on foot, you can walk up a trail that leaves opposite the train station and next to a Victorian styled house.

The Ridgeline trail system is an extensive set of hiking trails to the south. To get there, drive south on Willamette St. about one mile south of the post office. After 52nd street make a left at the trail head parking lot.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Average Daily Travel Cost
(per person)
$ 24.29
Accommodation1 $ 14.91
Local Transportation1 $ 0.00
Food2 $ 9.38
Entertainment1 $ 0.00
Communication2 $ 0.00
Tips and Handouts1 $ 0.00
Souvenirs1 $ 0.00
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 $ 0.00
Alcohol2 $ 0.00
Water2 $ 0.00


Travel Tips

Things to do in the park

By Bryan on Nov 7, 2011 in Entertainment
I grew up sort of near this park, and it's one of the most beautiful places in the country. The park has miles of hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail which passes through the park. In some places you can get a ranger-guided tours. The allure of this place is the mountains and the forest, and it is best experienced by hiking off away from the road.

It is highly recommended to talk the path to the top of Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park, highest point in Tennessee, and it's also the third highest point east of the Mississippi. To get there from the Sugarlands Visitors Center, go south about 13 miles on Newfound Gap Road (to the Morton Overlook - worth a stop) and then go west 7 miles to the parking lot. Then you must hike up a fairly steep path about half a mile to the overlook. There are somedead trees at the top which died of bug diseases. Visibility at the top has been greatly reduced because of pollution. Morton Overlook (on the route to Clingmans dome) is close to a mile above sea level. It offers some amazing views, plus a sign displaying the Tennessee-North Carolina state border. Also, the Appalachian Trail crosses here and if you sit around for a few days in the summer you might see some hikers pass through. Morton Overlook is one of the best locations in the Smokies to watch the sunset. The easiest waterfall to get to is a 2.5 mile hike, round trip, to Laurel Falls. The trail is paved and fully accessible even to strollers. Inquire at the visitor's center.

US Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) travels north to south through the park and links Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina. This road has some very steep grades and some tunnels as it weaves its way through the mountains. There are many viewing spots and side-of-the-road parking areas offering various views of the park, including the road to Clingmans Dome. Traffic on this road can be fairly heavy during the park's busiest seasons. Timing the leaves changing in the fall can be tricky depending on the weather, but it's worth it if you can see the autumn in the park.

Dayton, Ohio

Average Daily Travel Cost
(per person)
$ 323.20
Accommodation1 $ 250.00
Local Transportation1 $ 25.00
Food2 $ 60.70
Entertainment1 $ 0.00
Communication2 $ 0.00
Tips and Handouts1 $ 0.00
Souvenirs1 $ 75.00
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 $ 0.00
Alcohol2 $ 0.00
Water2 $ 0.00

Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.

Many of the sights in Dayton are centered around the city's role in aviation. Some popular places to visit are the Wright Patterson Air Force Base, the National Museum of the U. S. Air Force, the Huffman Prairie Flying Field & Interpretive Center, the Wright Cycle Company Complex, and the Dayton International Peace Museum. There are also some great activities in the area and if you have time check out the Dayton Opera, the Philharmonic Orchestra, the ballet, or the Human Race Theatre Company. Some popular festivals in the area are the Dayton Air Show and the Greek Festival.

There are some great restaurants around town, some of which have been in the city for decades. Be sure and try out Marion's Piazza which has been an institution in the city for over forty years. The pizza is uniquely cut into many small pieces and it's some of the best. Other options around town are Thai, Italian, Greek, and Chinese. Prices vary, but are generally reasonable. You'll also find some great bars in town that stay open until late in the night. Most of the hotels in town are popular American chains ranging from the Crowne Plaza to the Econo Lodge.


Travel Tips

National Museum of the U. S. Air Force

By Bryan on Nov 8, 2011
If you're interested in flight (and have already seen some of the Wright Brother's sights), check out the National Museum of the US Air Force. Admission is free! It's the world's largest military aviation museum and contains more than 300 airplanes and aircraft that are on display from the beginning of aviation to super modern prototypes. Everything is well maintained and interesting even for non aviation buffs. Amazing highlights include the Stealth bomber and a Mercury era space capsule.

Gold Beach, Oregon

Average Daily Travel Cost
(per person)
$ 363.60
Accommodation1 $ 264.83
Local Transportation1 $ 48.44
Food2 $ 45.81
Entertainment1 $ 112.50
Communication2 $ 0.00
Tips and Handouts1 $ 6.25
Souvenirs1 $ 41.10
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 $ 0.00
Alcohol2 $ 0.00
Water2 $ 0.00


Travel Tips

It's all about the coast!

By Bryan on Nov 7, 2011
This is a beautiful town. US 101 between Gold Beach and Brookings to the south is considered one of the most scenic roads in the area, and has less traffic than up north. Look for turn offs; there are many picnic spots and hiking trails. But turn off the main highway and you’ll find even more things to see. For example, Floras Lake County Park, off 101 just north of Port Orford. Also check out Cape Blanco State Park, the westernmost point in the continental United States, from here you can sometimes see whales migrating out in the ocean. Also there's the Elk River, also marked along US 101. (See Goldbeach.org for more info)

Storm watching is also very popular. Many visitors come to the coast during winter to see the storms, high winds and horizontal rain. Weather in Gold Beach is dramatic, beautiful, and unpredictable. November through February brings the biggest surf, and the most excitement for storm watchers. There are many overlooks, viewpoints and state parks north and south of Gold Beach on Highway 101 that are excellent locations to watch the storms. (Be safe!)

Even the winter is is a good season for the Oregon coast. Beach combing is best when tumultuous seas leave a variety of interesting items on local beaches. Gold Beach enjoys a very temperate climate allowing for outdoor activities even in mid-winter. It's normal to have a storm that is followed by a series of warm, bright and sunny days, with blue skies following. Also, you can whale watch, hike, crab and ride horses. Try the dungeness crabs for a great meal.

There are also lots of art galleries in the town, which is well worth a stroll.

Newton, Massachusetts

Average Daily Travel Cost
(per person)
$ 147.38
Accommodation1 $ 82.38
Local Transportation1 $ 80.00
Food2 $ 25.00
Entertainment1 $ 0.00
Communication2 $ 0.00
Tips and Handouts1 $ 0.00
Souvenirs1 $ 0.00
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 $ 0.00
Alcohol2 $ 0.00
Water2 $ 0.00
Newton, a large suburb of Boston, consists of 13 villages or neighborhoods: Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Lower Falls, Newton Centre, Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newtonville, Nonantum, Oak Hill, Thompsonville, Upper Falls, Waban, and West Newton. It's a good sized city with a population of over 80,000. Each village has its own historical and architectural character. Many of the villages were founded around railroad stations when the Boston & Worcester line opened in 1833 along the north side of the city. Another railroad line started along the south side of town in 1851. It's now the "D" line of the MBTA's Green Line. Walking tours of most villages are available and recommended for history buffs.

Victorian houses and Gothic churches can be seen in Auburndale, Newton Corner, Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, Newtonville, Newton Highlands, and West Newton Hill. Commonwealth Avenue is Newton's large main road winding through the entire city and lined with old historic mansions. It's also the route of the Boston Marathon (as the road leads to Boston). The street was designed by celebrated landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmstead, and has a landscaped mall down the middle of it through the town.

Several popular sights in the area include the Newton History Museum at the Jackson Homestead, Newton Free Library, the Newton Centre, and Boston College. A fun activity is to rent a canoe or kayak at the Charles River Boathouse and spend a few hours out on the water. There are also some movie theaters and plenty of shops in the area.

Restaurants are quite diverse and there are some great locally owned options if you're looking for something interesting. Prices are varying and the quality of the food is generally high, so simply ask a resident where they'd recommend and you probably won't be disappointed. Hotels are also quite diverse with everything from nicer, independent hotels to the typical chain motels you might find anywhere.

Pueblo, Colorado

Average Daily Travel Cost
(per person)
$ 283.93
Accommodation1 $ 276.29
Local Transportation1 $ 0.00
Food2 $ 7.64
Entertainment1 $ 0.00
Communication2 $ 0.00
Tips and Handouts1 $ 0.00
Souvenirs1 $ 0.00
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 $ 0.00
Alcohol2 $ 0.00
Water2 $ 0.00
Pueblo is a surprisingly large community in the state of Colorado that has a population of more than 100,000. Many travelers pass through this area if they're heading into the mountain area from the southeast. It's sits along Interstate Highway 25 and is only forty five miles from Colorado Springs. There's a regional airport in the area as well. In town there is a bus service run by the City Of Pueblo Transit. Rides cost $1.00, but it is highly recommended that you have your own vehicle when visiting town.

There are a few sights and activities in Pueblo, but most visitors do little more than pass through the city on their way elsewhere. If you have some time you can swing by the Buell Children’s Museum, see a concert put on by the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra, visit the Bishop Castle, go ice skating at the Pueblo Plaza Ice Arena, or visit the Steelworks Museum of Industry and Culture. If you need to pick up some items or simply want to do some shopping, the Pueblo Mall has most of the major chain stores you could need.

There are a handful of good restaurants in town and you'll find most of the popular chain restaurants if that's more your style. There are also some good places to grab a drink in the evening including Big Daddy's Sports Bar and Billiards. Most of the budget motels in town are just off the interstate and are chain motels such as the Quality Inn & Suites of the Super 8.

There is a some local character in Pueblo but you have to seek out the locally own restaurants and shops. If you do your homework you can find some interesting places worth exploring around town. Even if you're just passing through town or are hoping to grab a quick bite to eat, find a local restaurant as the food will be better and the atmosphere will be much nicer.


Travel Tips

Buell Children’s Museum

By Bryan on Nov 1, 2011 in Entertainment
If you've got kids, go see the Buell Children’s Museum. It was ranked the Number 2 art museum for kids in the nation. They have interactive exhibits centering around art, history, and science for people of all ages. It's family friendly, fun, and really big.
  • 1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
  • 2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis. For example, the Food daily average is for all meals for an entire day.

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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.