Thanksgiving travel can get pricey fast, but some cities still keep the cost of getting there and sleeping there fairly low. KAYAK looked at average round-trip airfare plus one hotel night for Thanksgiving 2026, and ten places came in at $630 or less.
The list includes theme park towns, music cities, beach spots, and even one international surprise. Some are warm, some are chilly, and a few are full of holiday tradition.
Each pick below shows the KAYAK average and a few ideas for what to do once you land. Keep in mind that these numbers cover only flights and one hotel night, so food, tickets, and getting around will add to the final bill.
Orlando, Florida
Here is the headline number: $529. That is KAYAK’s lowest average for airfare plus one hotel night, and it puts Orlando in first place for Thanksgiving 2026.
Theme parks are the obvious draw, but they are not the only option. You can stroll around downtown Orlando and Lake Eola Park, or visit entertainment districts like Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk without buying theme park admission.
By Thanksgiving, the city has moved into the holiday season, so decorations and seasonal entertainment add extra things to see. That makes it a handy pick for families who want warm weather without planning a beach trip.
Keep the budget in mind, though. The $529 figure covers the average flight and one hotel night only.
Theme park tickets, meals, and other vacation costs are not included, so plan for those before you book.
Nashville, Tennessee
Music City keeps its price tag friendly in KAYAK’s 2026 data. The average airfare plus one hotel night comes to $590, which sits below many traditional holiday destinations.
Live music is the main attraction. Lower Broadway is packed with honky-tonks and performance venues, while the 12South neighborhood offers a calmer mix of restaurants, coffee shops, and local shopping.
History fans can visit the Country Music Hall of Fame during Thanksgiving week. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day itself, so plan your visit for the days around it.
That detail makes Nashville a better fit for people staying several days rather than flying in only for the holiday. It is an easy place to mix sightseeing, food, and music into one long weekend.
San Francisco, California
Cheap and San Francisco rarely share a sentence, so $599 for the average flight plus one hotel night is a pleasant surprise. That is the figure KAYAK reports for Thanksgiving 2026.
Many of the city’s best experiences do not need a ticket. You can walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, explore Chinatown, wander the waterfront, and take in views from the famous hills.
Thanksgiving also lands as the city begins shifting toward Christmas. Union Square typically becomes a center of holiday activity, and Golden Gate Park offers plenty of room for walking and sightseeing.
If you have always written San Francisco off as too expensive, this could be the year to take another look.
Los Angeles, California
Variety is the big selling point in Los Angeles, where KAYAK puts the average round-trip flight plus one hotel night at $603.
A Thanksgiving getaway here might mean an early walk on Santa Monica Beach, an afternoon in Venice, or sightseeing around Hollywood. Southern California weather is a bonus while much of the country heads into winter.
The city also hosts its annual Turkey Trot in downtown LA on Thanksgiving morning, and restaurants across the metro area traditionally offer holiday menus.
The area is huge, so transportation and parking can add a lot to the final bill. Treat the KAYAK number as a starting point instead of a full trip budget.
Even so, the low flight-and-hotel average makes LA a notable holiday option for 2026.
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City is the only international stop in this Thanksgiving top 10, with an average airfare and hotel price of $610.
Thanksgiving is not a national holiday in Mexico, so travelers can skip the traditional holiday routine. Instead of planning around turkey dinners, you can explore neighborhoods like Roma and Condesa, spend time in Bosque de Chapultepec, and visit museums.
The food scene is one of the most celebrated in the world. Street food, neighborhood taquerias, bakeries, markets, and traditional restaurants give you choices across many budgets.
For Americans who want to turn the long weekend into an international getaway, Mexico City may be the most interesting option on KAYAK’s list.
Boston, Massachusetts
New England has deep ties to the story behind Thanksgiving, which makes Boston a natural fit. KAYAK estimates the average round-trip airfare plus one hotel night at $613.
Much of central Boston can be explored on foot, including Beacon Hill and parts of the Freedom Trail.
If early colonial history interests you, Plymouth is about 40 miles south of the city. It is home to Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Patuxet Museums, which share both Indigenous Wampanoag history and the experiences of English colonists.
By late November, Boston is also beginning its Christmas-season change. Add walkable neighborhoods, fall scenery, and seasonal events, and it is one of the most Thanksgiving-friendly cities in the ranking.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Boston and Las Vegas tie at $613, yet the two could hardly be more different.
Vegas is built to keep running through holidays, which suits travelers who do not want a quiet Thanksgiving weekend. Resorts, restaurants, shows, and entertainment venues offer plenty to do.
You can also find activities that skip gambling and pricey tickets. The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens remains one of the Strip’s best-known free attractions, and walking through the major resorts can be an outing on its own.
The city is famous for elaborate buffet dining too. That makes it an unconventional but fitting stop for anyone who sees Thanksgiving as a reason for an oversized feast.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Most places farther north cannot promise a beach on Thanksgiving. Fort Lauderdale can, and KAYAK’s average airfare plus hotel price is $616.
The long Atlantic shoreline is the obvious attraction. The city is also known for its extensive canal network, waterfront neighborhoods, and boating culture.
Las Olas Boulevard offers a walkable stretch of restaurants, galleries, and boutiques. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park adds green space just steps from the ocean.
If you want to trade coats and gray November skies for palm trees and coastal scenery, Fort Lauderdale stands out as one of the strongest warm-weather choices on the list.
Chicago, Illinois
Cold weather does not slow Chicago down at Thanksgiving. KAYAK’s average for flight plus one hotel night is $616.
A top reason to visit is the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, a long-running tradition with performers, floats, marching bands, and giant balloons along State Street.
The Christmas season is already underway by then. Christkindlmarket brings German-style holiday stalls to downtown, and seasonal lights and decorations begin appearing around the city.
You can balance paid attractions with free sightseeing at Millennium Park, Cloud Gate, and parts of the Chicago Riverwalk. For travelers who want a getaway that feels like the start of the holidays, Chicago is hard to beat.
San Diego, California
San Diego closes out KAYAK’s top 10 at $630 for airfare and one hotel night. That is the highest price on this list, yet it still falls below the $650 mark.
November weather is a big part of the appeal. Rather than planning around indoor activities, you can explore the coastline, walk around La Jolla, spend time near the harbor, or visit the beaches.
Balboa Park is another strong Thanksgiving-week choice. Its historic architecture, gardens, walking paths, cultural institutions, and open public spaces make it easy to spend several hours there without buying admission to every museum.
For travelers craving ocean views and Southern California weather over the break, the extra dollars may be well spent.
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