New Study Reveals the Most, Least Expensive Destinations for a Beachfront Stay

by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 11:50 AM ET, Mon July 17, 2023

For many travelers, summer isn't complete until they've had a relaxing beachfront vacation. However, some places allow visitors to stretch their budget further than others.

Travel insights provider Upgraded Points recently analyzed 75 of the most popular beach towns in the U.S., looking at average nightly rates for hotels and vacation home rentals (Airbnb) to determine the places offering the cheapest and most expensive oceanfront stays this summer.

The Hamptons are the least wallet-friendly destination for a beachfront vacation this summer, with Montauk, Southampton and East Hampton, New York ranking as the three most beach towns when it comes to accommodations in 2023.

In Montauk, the average nightly rate for a vacation home tops $1,200 while the average hotel cost comes in at $639 per night. Therefore, the average price of a weeklong stay amounts to a whopping $6,454. However, Southampton and East Hampton aren't far behind with average weeklong stay costs of $6,391 and $6,178, respectively.

Malibu, California ($6,150) and Folly Beach, South Carolina ($5,943) are also among the most expensive U.S. destinations for a beachfront stay.

South Carolina's Kiawah Island ($5,576), Lahaina, Hawaii ($4,946), Laguna Beach, California ($4,564), Key West, Florida ($4,547) and Solana Beach, California ($4,372) round out the list of the 10 most expensive destinations for a weeklong stay on the ocean.

On the other end of the spectrum, Cedar Key, Florida is the least expensive oceanfront destination, with an average nightly home rate of $189 and an average nightly hotel rate of $191 for an average weeklong rate of just $1,330.

Meanwhile, travelers can also find great rates in Ocean Springs, Mississippi ($1,491) and Ocean Shores, Washington ($1,995).

Other places where travelers can find weeklong beachfront stays from under $2,255 include Port Aransas ($2,048) and Galveston, Texas ($2,058), Ocean City, Maryland ($2,097), Pawleys Island, South Carolina ($2,160), San Juan Island, Washington ($2,191), Myrtle Beach, South Carolina ($2,240) and Bar Harbor, Maine ($2,254).