WalletHub ranked the best U.S. destinations for winter travel by evaluating affordability, weather forecasts, likelihood of flight cancellations and the number of attractions each city offers.
The overall top five winter destinations, listed from highest to lowest rank, are Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Cincinnati; and New York City.
Atlanta, Cincinnati and Chicago score particularly well for low travel costs and fewer travel hassles. Cincinnati ranks highest for affordability among the cities evaluated.
New York City leads in total attractions, followed by Chicago, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon. For cold-weather activities specifically, Chicago takes first place, with Atlanta, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Portland rounding out the top five.
WalletHub’s study also highlights warm-weather destinations for travelers seeking milder conditions during the holiday season. These warm-weather cities were assessed using similar criteria, including affordability and the number of attractions available.
The top five warm-weather destinations, in descending order, are Las Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles, San Diego and Dallas.
Dallas and Las Vegas perform well for low travel costs, as do Houston, Austin and Charleston, with Dallas noted for high affordability.
Travelers will find the most activities in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas and Orlando. For warm-weather activities in particular, WalletHub recommends Honolulu, Orlando and San Francisco.