It’s Your Last Chance to Take a Summer Vacation

#Summer 2025 is passing quickly! The long days and warm weather will soon be a memory, and the time to take advantage of them with a summer #vacation is dwindling. Nonetheless, there’s still time to schedule a getaway.

Time off is crucial to preserving one’s physical and mental health, says AFC Urgent Care. Those who skip #vacations are at a higher risk for heart attack, anxiety and depression. And those who take vacations are often less stressed and more attentive to their own well-being.

You might be worried that the stress and expense won’t be worthwhile, but “a memorable summer vacation doesn’t require months of planning or thousands of dollars,” says Yahoo! “With a little creativity and flexibility, you can find affordable ways to explore new places.”

Depending on your tolerance for car travel, roadtripping can be one of the cheapest ways to enjoy a change of scenery. Pack the car, the family and a few snacks, and you can be somewhere new in a matter of hours. Check Google Maps for places within a preferred distance from your home base, or visit Roadtrippers.com to access complete planning tools. A simple search can help chart your route and highlight points of interest, restaurants, hotel accommodations and campsites, and more.

Another way to have a cheap #getaway is to share costs with friends. Split multiple ways, an Airbnb or VRBO rental can make even exclusive locations affordable. Start texting your travel companions; you never know who might be willing to take a few days off.

With schools starting earlier every year, crowds start to ease at the end of August, Frommer’s says, and you may be able to save on flights and hotels during the “shoulder” season. Or you might be able to land a cheap flight to a fully off-season location in Mexico or the Caribbean.

Don’t despair or wallow in the fear of missing out. There’s still time to set aside a day or three to see something new, take a hike, go to the beach and otherwise shake off the same-old, same-old routine. Your health will benefit!

Camp Out for a Thrifty Summer Getaway

The inflation caused by pandemic-era supply-chain disruptions is rapidly easing. Travel costs are down about 2% from last summer, according to NerdWallet, but leisure is likely competing with necessities for a share of your family’s disposable income.

For those who want to get away from it all while keeping #costs in check, there’s a time-tested alternative: camping. If you enjoy nature and are willing to “rough it” just a little bit, it offers plenty of bang for your #summer #vacation buck.

“Camping is the best way we can think of to make possible that family vacation when budgets are stretched so tight,” says Family Outdoors. “The cost of almost any campground will be significantly less than the cost of even a basic hotel room.”

Every state in the union has local, state and national parks that permit camping, so you can drive to your chosen spot and pitch a tent. You can search for the ideal campground by location and amenities at ReserveAmerica.com.

You could soon be paddling a canoe or kayak on a scenic waterway, hiking into a primeval geological formation, seeing unusual flora and fauna, or simply splashing around and cooking out with the kids. You can even camp near a major attraction such as an amusement park and visit it while saving on hotels.

The definition of “roughing it” differs from person to person, of course. Seasoned backpackers prefer the backwoods, carrying only what they need. Others are good with car camping — loading up equipment and parking at the site — or hike-in sites. If you’re anything like us, minimum requirements will include a shower, toilet and a source of clean water.

For more money, you can rent an RV or go “glamping” in an established yurt, cabin or lodge. But #thriftier options abound for when you have a reasonable amount of time and don’t want to spend a lot of #money. Whatever you choose, it’s the memories tat will be priceless.

Grab a tent, pack up the family and take off on an adventure! There’s only so much time left to enjoy the summer.