Cheapest Cities to Fly Into in the US

One of the easiest ways to cut the cost of any domestic trip is to fly into a cheaper airport instead of the most obvious one. Major hub airports like LAX, JFK, and O’Hare are convenient — but they’re also expensive. Meanwhile, secondary airports just a short drive away often have significantly lower fares, cheaper parking, and less chaos. Knowing which cities consistently offer the cheapest flights can save you $50 to $200 on a single ticket.

Here are the cheapest cities to fly into in the US, based on consistently low average fares and strong budget airline presence.

1. Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS)

Las Vegas is almost always one of the cheapest cities to fly into in the country, and it’s not even close. McCarran International (now Harry Reid International) is served by virtually every major and budget airline — Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, Delta, United, American — and the competition keeps fares low year-round. Even during busy periods, you can often find round-trip flights to Vegas from most major US cities for under $150.

The real trick is that even if Las Vegas isn’t your final destination, flying in and driving to somewhere nearby (Utah’s national parks, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley) can be dramatically cheaper than flying into a smaller regional airport. A flight to Vegas plus a rental car is often $100–$150 less than flying directly to St. George or Flagstaff.

If you do fly into Flagstaff or St. George, see our companion directory for free things to do in Flagstaff and free things to do in St. George.

Best budget airlines here: Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant
Pro tip: Tuesday and Wednesday flights to Vegas are often 20–30% cheaper than weekend flights

2. Orlando, Florida (MCO)

Orlando is one of the most-flown-to cities in the US, and that volume drives prices down. With Disney World, Universal Studios, and a massive convention industry, airlines constantly compete for seats — which is great news for budget travelers. You can regularly find round-trip flights to Orlando from the Northeast and Midwest for under $120.

Orlando is also a great gateway to the rest of Florida. Flying into MCO and driving to the Gulf Coast beaches (about 90 minutes to Tampa or St. Pete) is often far cheaper than flying directly into Tampa or Fort Myers. Budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier are heavily present here, and Southwest’s lack of baggage fees makes it a strong option for families.

Best budget airlines here: Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, Avelo
Pro tip: January through early February is the cheapest time to fly into Orlando — after the holidays and before spring break

3. Denver, Colorado (DEN)

Denver International is a major hub that consistently shows up on lists of the most affordable airports in the country. Frontier Airlines is headquartered here, which creates strong competition and drives prices down across all carriers. Southwest also has a large presence at DEN. For travelers heading to Colorado for hiking, skiing, or road-tripping through the Rockies, Denver is almost always the most affordable entry point.

From Denver, you’re within two hours of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Springs, and the start of some of the best mountain drives in the country. Flying into DEN and renting a car gives you access to an enormous amount of affordable outdoor adventure.

Best budget airlines here: Frontier, Southwest, United (hub)
Pro tip: Avoid flying into Denver the week of ski season holidays (Christmas, Presidents Day) — prices spike dramatically

4. Phoenix, Arizona (PHX)

Phoenix Sky Harbor is another consistently affordable airport with heavy budget airline competition. It’s the main gateway to the Southwest — Sedona, the Grand Canyon South Rim, Scottsdale, and Tucson are all within easy driving distance. Southwest has a massive operation here, and American Airlines uses it as a hub, both of which keep prices competitive.

Spring and fall are the sweet spots for cheap Phoenix flights — summer is brutally hot (and fares drop as a result), but March through May and October through November offer great weather at reasonable prices. If you’re planning a Southwest road trip, Phoenix is one of the best and cheapest places to start.

Best budget airlines here: Southwest, Frontier, Spirit
Pro tip: Summer flights to Phoenix are often extremely cheap — if you can handle 110°F heat, you’ll pay very little to get there

5. Baltimore, Maryland (BWI)

If you want to visit the Washington DC area or the Mid-Atlantic without paying DC prices, fly into BWI. Baltimore/Washington International is Southwest’s largest hub on the East Coast, which alone makes it one of the cheapest airports in the country to fly into. Fares to BWI from most US cities are significantly lower than flights to Reagan National (DCA) or Dulles (IAD).

From BWI, you’re 45 minutes from downtown DC, an hour from Annapolis, and a short drive from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The MARC commuter train runs directly from BWI to DC’s Union Station for about $9 — so you don’t even need a rental car if DC is your destination.

Heading to Annapolis after landing at BWI? See our companion directory for free and cheap things to do in Annapolis.

Best budget airlines here: Southwest (dominant), Spirit
Pro tip: Always check BWI before booking DCA or IAD — the savings are often $50–$150 per person

6. Fort Lauderdale, Florida (FLL)

Fort Lauderdale is to Miami what BWI is to DC. Flying into FLL instead of MIA can save you $50–$100 per person, and you’re only 30 miles from Miami. Spirit Airlines uses FLL as a major hub, and Southwest, JetBlue, and Frontier all have strong service here. If you’re cruising out of Port Everglades (one of the busiest cruise ports in the world), FLL is your airport.

Fort Lauderdale also has excellent beaches of its own, and the city is far more laid-back and affordable than Miami for lodging and food. Many budget travelers skip Miami entirely and base themselves in Fort Lauderdale — you get the South Florida experience at a noticeably lower price point.

Best budget airlines here: Spirit (hub), Southwest, Frontier, JetBlue
Pro tip: Uber or Lyft from FLL to Miami Beach runs about $30–$40 and is often faster than dealing with Miami traffic from MIA

How to Find the Cheapest Fares to These Cities

Use Google Flights first. Set your destination to the city, then use the calendar view to see which dates are cheapest. The color-coded calendar makes it instantly obvious which days have lower fares.
Search flexible dates. Being even one day flexible can sometimes save $30–$80 on a ticket.
Check budget airlines separately. Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant don’t always show up fully on aggregators. Check their websites directly after doing your initial search.
Set fare alerts. Google Flights and Hopper both let you track a route and notify you when prices drop.
Fly Tuesday or Wednesday. Midweek flights are almost always cheaper than weekend flights on domestic routes.

Bottom Line

The cheapest flight isn’t always to the most obvious airport. Las Vegas, Orlando, Denver, Phoenix, Baltimore, and Fort Lauderdale consistently offer some of the lowest domestic fares in the country — and flying into one of these cities instead of a nearby major hub can put real money back in your pocket. Do a quick comparison before you book, and you might be surprised how much you save just by landing somewhere different.

Photo credit: Giulia Squillace on Unsplash