Methodology: How This Guide Was Produced
Exclusive internal HomeToGo search data was used to collate a list of U.S. beach destinations with notable recorded traveler demand for 2026. A shortlist of 100 destinations in which the median price per person for vacation accommodation was less than $200 per night was then created. In order to rank these beach destinations, five data points were researched: the search volume for vacations in the area, the median nightly price for accommodation, average high temperatures, average visitor satisfaction, and the average distance traveled by vacationers to reach each destination. After obtaining the raw data, each data point was assigned a representative numerical value between 5 and 10, with 5 representing the lowest data point and 10 representing the highest data point. The hypothetical "perfect score" would be 50 out of 50. The following equation was used in order to calculate this for each factor:
Score(i) = 5 · (x(i) - xmin ) / (xmax - xmin ) + 5
Affordability Score: Exclusive internal HomeToGo price data was used to find the median cost per night per person for vacation accommodations in the area during 2026. The area with the lowest median nightly price for vacation accommodations was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining locations were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Prices are subject to change.
Hidden Gem Score: Exclusive internal HomeToGo demand data was used to find the search volume for stays with a check-in date during 2026 in each destination. The area with the lowest search volume was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining locations were awarded a score of 5 or higher.
Local Secret Score: Exclusive internal HomeToGo demand data was used to find the average distance in miles traveled by vacationers to reach each destination, based on searches for accommodation in the area with a check-in date during 2026, to ascertain each area's status as an under-the-radar regional gem. The location with the shortest average distance traveled by visitors was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining locations were awarded a score of 5 or higher.
Temperature Score: Statistics from sources such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were used to find the average high temperatures across April – September (°F) for each destination. The location with the highest average temperature was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining areas were awarded a score of 5 or higher.
Visitor Satisfaction Score: Data from review sources such as Google, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Facebook was used to determine the average visitor rating out of five for each destination. The location with the highest visitor rating was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining areas were awarded a score of 5 or higher.
