WalletHub recently published its findings on the best places to celebrate the 4th of July this year. Independence Day is one of the biggest holidays of the year in the United States with parades, barbecues and fireworks. WalletHub compared the 100 largest US cities based on their balance between vacation cost and enjoyment, using a data set of 18 key metrics ranging from average beer and wine prices to the length of fires. artifice through the weather forecast.
New York City was ranked the third best place to celebrate this year, thanks to high rankings in the Celebrations (#2), Activities & Attractions (#2), and Safety (#3) categories. Still, it’s one of the least affordable, so unless you’re planning a day trip, celebrating in the Big Apple will be very expensive.
Equally expensive is a celebration in Washington, DC, which came in 11th place overall. However, a trip to the capital is an incredibly fitting way to spend the day celebrating our nation’s independence. For history buffs, the extra madness may be worth it; the capital ranked among the best in the Celebration and Activities and Attractions categories.
Several Texas cities stood out in WalletHub’s data. Dallas (#8), San Antonio (#9), Houston (#15), and Austin (#21) all ranked first overall. Dallas came in with the fourth best celebration and Houston was the second most affordable, with the third lowest average prices for 3-star hotels.
Laredo, Texas also stood out in several individual categories. It has the fifth lowest average price for beer and wine, the fifth cheapest 3 star hotel and the fifth most affordable place to celebrate.
Las Vegas ranked fourth overall, but came out on top in several of the individual metrics, including best weather forecast, fewest impaired driving deaths, and least expensive 3-star hotels. It also ranked first in the Affordability category. It also had strong showings in the Celebrations and Activities & Attractions categories, which should come as no surprise, since Vegas sure knows how to throw a party. It’s also relatively safe and there are plenty of great deals on flights to and from the city.
Los Angeles has been ranked as the best place to celebrate the 4th of July, with San Francisco coming in second place. Los Angeles also came out on top in the Celebrations category, and San Francisco ranked No. 1 in the Activities and Attractions category and tied for best weather forecast for July 4th. San Diego also had an impressive performance in 7th place.
Unfortunately, these three cities fared poorly in the Affordability category. If you’re looking for an affordable option in California, San Jose is a good choice. It comes in at a respectable 17th place overall, but is ranked 10th most affordable. Fresno also has the lowest average prices for beer and wine, which equates to big savings if you’re planning a get-together with friends or relatives.
Regardless of the city, however, Americans are reconsidering their travel budget. According to WalletHub analysis, Americans plan to spend $9.5 billion this year on food for Independence Day celebrations, which includes about 150 million hot dogs, and another $3 billion in beer and wine. About $2.7 billion will be spent on fireworks.
The holidaymaker recently quizzed Americans on their July 4 plans and how inflation is affecting them. Although almost 40% of respondents planned to do nothing at all, compared to last year’s survey, there was a 5% increase in the number of people planning to travel. That being said, WalletHub found that 62% planned to spend less money compared to last year and The Vacationeer found that 64% of respondents said their plans were affected by inflation.
“Unfortunately, only 63% of Americans feel financially independent this 4th of July. While this is a step up from the 56% who felt financially independent last year, there is still a significant portion of the population that lacks financial freedom,” said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. “The country has recovered from much of the financial damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in terms of employment, but high inflation and the potential for a recession have continued to make the difficult life for many Americans.”
Even if you’re traveling in your own vehicle, planning your parking ahead can save you money. There are many parking places to find apps where they offer a huge discount if you reserve it in advance, especially in some dense urban areas. Event and Entertainment: Normally during these holidays, many destination communities organize and offer free events open to the public; enjoy it.” especially in some dense urban areas. Event and Entertainment: Normally during these holidays, many destination communities organize and offer free events open to the public; enjoy it.” especially in some dense urban areas. Event and Entertainment: Normally during these holidays, many destination communities organize and offer free events open to the public; enjoy it.”
—For full rankings and data, see WalletHub’s report here .
