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Boarding1now\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Airfare in the United States climbed more than 25% between June 2025 and June 2026, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>, impacted by soaring jet fuel costs and fleet shortages.\u00a0But not all airports are feeling the squeeze. A 2026 report from LocalsInsider.com<\/a>,\u00a0a digital travel platform, highlights the most and least affordable major airports in the U.S., and the numbers show that where you fly can significantly impact your wallet.\u00a0Earning the title of the country’s cheapest major air hub is Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL), with average fares of $261.69\u00a0and a location convenient to several of the Sunshine State’s iconic attractions. Right behind is Orlando International (MCO) and Harry Reid International (LAS)\u00a0in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the most expensive airfare was found at\u00a0Washington-Dulles International (IAD),\u00a0with flights averaging\u00a0$439.39.\u00a0Salt Lake City International (SLC) and Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) rounded out the top three spendy airports.\u00a0<\/p>\n The study analyzed\u00a0federal airfare data from the country’s 50 busiest airports and surveyed 1,500 Americans about their habits, budgets, and toughest travel scenarios.\u00a0Its findings show that 66% of Americans say expensive airfare is the biggest travel stressor,\u00a0and more than half blame rising costs for postponing trips.\u00a0Tourists on the hunt for bargains may want to consider the Southeast for vacations:\u00a0Florida snagged four of the top 10 spots for the most affordable major airports.\u00a0Home to Walt Disney World and miles of coastline with affordable beaches for swimming, Florida<\/a> is a magnet for tourism, attracting competitive low-cost carriers who can keep a lid on airfares.\u00a0JetBlue, Breeze Airways, and Allegiant, for example, are some budget airlines expanding routes out of Fort Lauderdale, per CBS News<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Explore Fort Lauderdale’s paradise and beyond<\/p>\n
Sean Pavone\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n No doubt a stay in Fort Lauderdale \u2013\u00a0with its more than 165 miles of mesmerizing canals\u00a0\u2013 can feel like you’re on a tropical island, but this lush getaway still offers convenient access to must-see sights. This Venice of America is best explored with a hop-on, hop-off tour<\/a>.\u00a0Along the route, visit the\u00a0Hugh Taylor Birch State Park<\/a>, an outdoor mecca with bicycling, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming. Or\u00a0stroll along palm tree-lined\u00a0Las Olas Boulevard, arguably Florida’s most walkable street<\/a>. On this shady thoroughfare, enjoy fine dining, casual cafes, and trendy boutiques.<\/p>\n It’s hard not to visit splashy Miami as well when flying into Fort Lauderdale. In just a 40-minute drive from the airport,\u00a0you can soak up the South Beach sun while riding\u00a0boat and jet ski rentals\u00a0in the warm turquoise waters or people-watch at cafes and snap photos of the pastel-hued Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive. This colorful city also celebrates the arts with a number of innovative museums \u2014 both indoor, such as the contemporary\u00a0Perez Art Museum Miami<\/a>\u00a0and the playful Museum of Sex<\/a>,\u00a0and outdoor, including\u00a0Wynwood Walls<\/a>,\u00a0a legal graffiti park in a burgeoning arts district with dozens of galleries.\u00a0When the sun sets, bask in the electric glow of Miami nightlife, pulsing from\u00a0open-air beach clubs and those that never close, with beats from headliner DJs.\u00a0A\u00a0trip farther south will take you to the must-visit Florida island<\/a> of Key Biscayne, where you can ride a boat to\u00a0Biscayne National Park<\/a>\u00a0to explore the Florida Reef and a marine underworld filled with sea creatures, like manatees, turtles, sharks, and jellyfish, and even a possible shipwreck.<\/p>\n
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