Key Highlights
Branson, Missouri, is the most affordable lakeside city to visit this fall, according to data from Booking.com.
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, and Saratoga Springs, Utah, rank second and third, respectively.
Vergennes, Vermont, is the least affordable lakeside city, with a median price of $1,037 over a five-day period.
2024 Ranking of The Most Affordable Lakeside Towns This Fall
A new study has looked at which lakeside towns and cities are the most affordable to visit this fall, with Branson, Missouri taking first place.
The study, conducted by vacation rental site Lake.com, used data from Booking.com to see which lakeside towns and cities had the lowest median price for a five-day stay over three separate dates in fall.
Branson, Missouri, ranks as the most affordable lakeside city, with a median price of $231 for five days. The Missouri city is known for its variety of live entertainment and music of all genres, but it also has captivating scenic beauty as it is located near three lakes – Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals Lake.
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana follows second, with a median price of $253 for five days. The city is known for its crawfish farming, as well as its Cajun and Creole culture. Alongside a busy historic district, this city has excellent wildlife by Lake Martin.
Ranking third is Saratoga Springs, Utah, with an average price of $264 for the period analyzed. The relatively young city, incorporated in 1997, resides close to Utah Lake.
Highland Park, Illinois ranks fourth, with a median price of $276 over a five-day period. Within walking distance of Lake Michigan, this city is known for its shopping attractions, and it has been the summer home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1936.
Rounding out the top five is Lakeland, Florida, with a median price of $277 for the same time frame. The dominant feature of this Floridian city is the number of lakes close by, with Lake Parker being the largest.
The Top 20 Most Affordable Lakeside Towns and Cities to Visit This Fall
| Rank | Lakeside town/city | State | Median price of a five-day stay $ |
| 1. | Branson | Missouri | $231 |
| 2. | Breaux Bridge | Louisiana | $253 |
| 3. | Saratoga Springs | Utah | $264 |
| 4. | Highland Park | Illinois | $276 |
| 5. | Lakeland | Florida | $277 |
| 6. | South Lake Tahoe | California | $280 |
| 7. | Michigan City | Indiana | $283 |
| 8. | Columbia | South Carolina | $290 |
| 9. | Erie | Pennsylvania | $296 |
| 10. | Grand Rivers | Kentucky | $299 |
| 11. | Glasgow | Delaware | $302 |
| 12. | Lake George | New York | $304 |
| 13. | Lake Havasu City | Arizona | $310 |
| 14. | Ocala | Florida | $311 |
| 15. | Mountain Lakes | New Jersey | $314 |
| 16. | Morristown | Tennessee | $323 |
| 17. | Eureka Springs | Arkansas | $340 |
| 18.(=) | Mount Dora | Florida | $353 |
| 18.(=) | Pittsfield | Massachusetts | $353 |
| 19. | Eustis | Florida | $355 |
| 20. | Hopatcong | New Jersey | $357 |
The Top 20 Expensive Lakeside Towns and Cities to Visit This Fall
At the other end of the scale, Vermont’s Vergennes is the least affordable lakeside city, with an average price of $1,037 for a five-day stay – 348% more expensive than Branson.
Rangeley, Maine, is the second least affordable lakeside town, with an average price of $1,015, while Burlington, Vermont ranks third with an average price of $928.
Speaking on the findings, David Ciccarelli, CEO of Lake.com, said,
“Lake towns and cities are often popular vacation destinations that can see fluctuating property prices and rental rates depending on the season. While summer tends to be peak tourist season, fall often brings lower demand, potentially making lakefront properties more affordable.
“Some lake towns have robust fall tourism markets, driven by factors such as fall foliage, festivals, or outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and even early skiing. This continued attraction keeps the town’s prices high as they draw visitors even after the summer ends.”
The Methodology and Full Data Set
Our Sources
Booking.com
Our Methodology
74 lakeside towns and cities across the US were used for analysis on Booking.com over three separate dates in fall:
- 09/16/2024 – 09/20/2024
- 10/14/2024 – 10/18/2024
- 11/11/2024 – 15/11/2024
The median price was then calculated to create a ranking of lakeside towns and cities that are the cheapest to visit over fall.
If you use this story, please credit and link to https://www.lake.com/ – a linked credit allows us to keep supplying you with future content that you may find helpful.
Full Data Set
US Lakeside towns and cities ranked from most to least expensive for a five-day stay
| Rank | Lakeside towns and cities | State | Median price for a five-day stay $ |
| 1. | Branson | Missouri | $231 |
| 2. | Breaux Bridge | Louisiana | $253 |
| 3. | Saratoga Springs | Utah | $264 |
| 4. | Highland Park | Illinois | $276 |
| 5. | Lakeland | Florida | $277 |
| 6. | South Lake Tahoe | California | $280 |
| 7. | Michigan City | Indiana | $283 |
| 8. | Columbia | South Carolina | $290 |
| 9. | Erie | Pennsylvania | $296 |
| 10. | Grand Rivers | Kentucky | $299 |
| 11. | Glasgow | Delaware | $302 |
| 12. | Lake George | New York | $304 |
| 13. | Lake Havasu City | Arizona | $310 |
| 14. | Ocala | Florida | $311 |
| 15. | Mountain Lakes | New Jersey | $314 |
| 16. | Morristown | Tennessee | $323 |
| 17. | Eureka Springs | Arkansas | $340 |
| 18.(=) | Mount Dora | Florida | $353 |
| 18.(=) | Pittsfield | Massachusetts | $353 |
| 19. | Eustis | Florida | $355 |
| 20. | Hopatcong | New Jersey | $357 |
| 21. | Ogallala | Nebraska | $378 |
| 22. | Santa Rosa | New Mexico | $379 |
| 23. | Big Bear Lake | California | $381 |
| 24. | Holland | Michigan | $393 |
| 25. | Osage Beach | Missouri | $400 |
| 26. | Geneva | New York | $432 |
| 27. | Mountain Home | Arkansas | $447 |
| 28. | Geneva-on-the-Lake | Ohio | $462 |
| 29. | Meredith | New Hampshire | $474 |
| 30. | Klamath Falls | Oregon | $477 |
| 31. | Port Washington | Wisconsin | $478 |
| 32. | Ludington | Michigan | $488 |
| 33. | Okoboji | Iowa | $497 |
| 34. | Lake Geneva | Wisconsin | $502 |
| 35. | Kenmare | North Dakota | $510 |
| 36. | Blairsville | Georgia | $517 |
| 37. | Oxford | Mississippi | $526 |
| 38. | Summersville | West Virginia | $528 |
| 39.(=) | Keene | New York | $542 |
| 39.(=) | Saranac Lake | New York | $542 |
| 40. | Oakland | Maryland | $546 |
| 41. | West Glocester | Rhode Island | $552 |
| 42. | Guntersville | Alabama | $555 |
| 43. | Wolfeboro | New Hampshire | $565 |
| 44. | Wasilla | Alaska | $568 |
| 45. | Marble Falls | Texas | $576 |
| 46. | Lake Placid | New York | $577 |
| 47. | Cooperstown | New York | $593 |
| 48. | Clermont | Florida | $625 |
| 49. | Oswego | New York | $637 |
| 50. | Lake Lure | North Carolina | $651 |
| 51. | Grand Lake | Colorado | $653 |
| 52. | Sandpoint | Idaho | $664 |
| 53. | Bigfork | Montana | $666 |
| 54. | Clarksville | Virginia | $670 |
| 55. | Chelan | Washington | $672 |
| 56. | Aurora | New York | $673 |
| 57. | Kent | Connecticut | $678 |
| 58. | Broken Bow | Oklahoma | $682 |
| 59. | Camden | Maine | $683 |
| 60. | Bayview | Idaho | $691 |
| 61. | Put-in-Bay | Ohio | $709 |
| 62. | Charlevoix | Michigan | $732 |
| 63. | Saugatuck | Michigan | $803 |
| 64. | Greensboro | Georgia | $807 |
| 65. | Grand Marais | Minnesota | $809 |
| 66. | Lake Elmore | Vermont | $812 |
| 67. | Bayfield | Wisconsin | $854 |
| 68. | White Lake | North Carolina | $864 |
| 69. | Greenville | Maine | $912 |
| 70. | Burlington | Vermont | $928 |
| 71. | Rangeley | Maine | $1,015 |
| 72. | Vergennes | Vermont | $1,037 |