Two Of America's Most Expensive Vacation Destinations Are In This Unexpected State

If you were to guess the most expensive vacation destinations in the U.S., you might think of Hawaii for its stunning beaches, Florida for its lush golf courses, or Colorado for its picturesque, snow-covered mountains. If you guessed the latter, you'd be right — Aspen, Colorado, does top the list as the nation's most expensive tourist destination, further fueling Aspen's reputation as a high-cost destination. What you probably wouldn't expect to top the list, however, is Alaska. Yet, the Last Frontier, as the state is often referred to, is home to not just one but two of the priciest vacation spots in the country.

A recent study by GOBankingRates revealed the 55 most expensive tourist destinations in the country. To do so, sample itineraries were created for two adults, staying three nights in each location from August 7 to August 10, 2025. The price for accommodations was based on the average of the three cheapest hotels within five miles of each city, while airfare costs were estimated based on flights to the nearest airport. These calculations also accounted for meals at mid-range and inexpensive restaurants, along with six beers and six sodas. Based on the data, two cities in Alaska, which also happens to be one of the most expensive states to live in, ranked as the most expensive vacation destinations in the U.S.: Anchorage, which claimed the No. 3 spot on the list with a total travel cost of $2,294, and Fairbanks, which took No. 5 at $2,157. 

Tourists love Anchorage's beautiful landscapes and vibrant urban culture, while Fairbanks draws visitors eager to see the stunning northern lights. But to get to either place isn't cheap. In fact, high travel costs were largely behind both of these cities ranking so high on the list. For both locations, the cost to fly two adults was just under $1,200 — and that's not including the sneaky ways airlines trick you into spending more money. Aside from Aspen, which charged more than $1,300 for flights, all the other places in the top 10 cost less than $1,000 for air travel.

In contrast to the expensive flights, hotel prices in these two cities were modest compared with the other pricey destinations. For Anchorage, the total hotel cost was $440, while the cost in Fairbanks was $350. For perspective, only one other location in the top 10 — New York City — offered similarly inexpensive hotel stays, totaling $401. Though this study only looked at hotels, you could potentially get an even better deal on accommodations by renting a vacation home, since that is often cheaper than booking a hotel room. The price for meals was also close in both cities. In Anchorage, the cost came in at $600 – in line with Santa Barbara, CA, which came in second place — while the total price in Fairbanks was a bit lower at $563. Domestic beer prices were the same — $8 in both cities — which was higher than in the number one spot, Aspen, and tied with Santa Barbara.