Summer vacation in the US set to top $6K for a family of 4 — these are the most expensive cities

Summer travel is right around the corner — and it won’t be cheap.

Having to deal with the challenging reality of rising fees and fewer flight options as jet fuel prices soar, travelers are scrambling to figure out where they can book a vacation this summer without it costing an arm and a leg.

While figuring out your summer travel plans, if you’re at all considering a nature-filled trip this upcoming season, you might want to cross Anchorage, Alaska, off your list.

For a seven-night vacation in the middle of June (12th to the 19th), for a family of four, you’re easily looking at a bill of $6,861 — with a breakdown of over $2,000 for meals, almost to $2,000 for hotel accommodations, and over $2,000 for airfare, according to a new study from Money Lion.

For New Yorkers, a day trip to Central Park might seem more feasible — but not for out-of-towners.

These days, a week-long trip to the Big Apple during that same popular travel week will set back a family of four, $6,839, with meals, hotel and airfare costing $3,360, $1,706 and $1,435.

Santa Barbara, California, ranked as the third most expensive family travel destination, costing $6,323, with a breakdown of $2,800 for total meals, $1,335 for hotel, and $1,843 for flights.

And two Florida cities rounded out the top five most expensive travel spots — historic Key West ($6,303) and good ole Miami ($6,279).

The good news is that there are still plenty of affordable offerings for a domestic summer getaway, as pointed out by Money Lion.

To brush up on your family’s Civil War knowledge, hop on a flight to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as Money Lion found it to be the most affordable destination to travel to this summer, only costing $3,138 in total, with meals costing $1,862, $602 for a hotel and under $500 for airfare.

Clearwater, Florida, took the No. 2 most affordable travel spot, which can cost a family of four for a mid-June vacation, $3,276. Meals? $2,093. Hotel? $506 Flights to get there? $436.

A trip out west to Glendale, Arizona, will cost you just under $4,000, with meals coming in at around $1,631, $499 for your stay and $1,515 for flights.

Charleston, West Virginia ($4,060) and Cincinnati, Ohio ($4,108) round out the top.

The 10 most expensive US travel destinations

1. Anchorage, Alaska, $6,861
2. New York, New York, $6,839
3. Santa Barbara, California, $6,323
4. Key West, Florida, $6,303
5. Miami, Florida, $6,279
6. Hilo, Hawaii, $6,207
7. Atlanta, Georgia, $6,179
8. Honolulu, Hawaii, $6,114
9. Boston, Massachusetts, $6,062
10. Kailua, Hawaii, $6,012

The 10 most affordable US travel destinations

1. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, $3,138
2. Clearwater, Florida, $3,276
3. Glendale, Arizona, $3,905
4. Charleston, West Virginia, $4,060
5. Cincinnati, Ohio, $4,108
6. San Antonio, Texas, $4,159
7. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,  $4,189
8. Orlando, Florida, $4,192
9. Nashville, Tennessee, $4,203
10. Branson, Missouri, $4,249