These Are the Most Popular Seaside Cities for the Fourth of July This Year, According to Vrbo
Blame it on the balmy summer weather, the allure of a cookout on the sand, or the magic of watching a fireworks show over the sea, but there’s no better place to celebrate the stars and stripes than by the beach. Naturally, Americans tend to flock to our country’s coastlines during the Fourth of July holiday (more so than on Memorial Day and Labor Day combined, says one survey).
But while every coastal town has its patriotic draws—from festive boat parades to an all-American-themed bash on a historic ocean liner—some escapes seem to be drawing tourists a lot more than others. According to Vrbo, 10 U.S. destinations are topping the trending list for the long Fourth of July weekend and—no surprise here—a whopping nine of them are at the beach. To determine the top 10, the vacation rental marketplace looked at cities that are seeing the largest uptick in bookings.
Related: The 10 Best Little Beach Towns in Florida:
While the nine mega-popular coastal getaways span all three coasts (plus Hawaii), six are located in the South. Florida alone has three trending cities, including Miramar (a suburb of Fort Lauderdale), Panama City Beach, and Fort Walton Beach. Further west on the Gulf coast, Alabama’s Gulf Shores is attracting patriotic revelers with its powder-white beaches and piercing blue seas.
Those flocking from New England, meanwhile, are beelining to the Cape, where festivities include parades and fireworks in addition to a sand sculpture festival and Cape Cod Baseball League games. Out west, surf and sun seekers are toasting independence and warm weather in San Diego.
If you haven’t yet made plans to celebrate the red, white, and blue, Vrbo still has plenty of rentals to go around in these party-centric patriotic cities. Looking to score a deal? Consider Panama City Beach, where the average price per night comes in at $236 for a two-bedroom stay—cheaper than any other trendy escape during the holiday weekend.
See the full list of Vrbo’s top U.S. travel destinations for the Fourth of July here:
Miramar, Florida; Average price per night: $515
Gulf Shores, Alabama; Average price per night: $579
Panama City Beach, Florida; Average price per night: $236
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Average price per night: $268
Hilton Head, South Carolina; Average price per night: $2,905
Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Average price per night: $550
Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Average price per night: $385
Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Average price per night: $441
Maui, Hawaii; Average price per night: $295
San Diego, California; Average price per night: $1,013
