The average price of a 7-day trip to Washington is $1,335 for a solo traveler, $2,041 for a couple, and $4,004 for a family of 4. Washington hotels range from $66 to $307 per night with an average of $105, while most vacation rentals will cost $180 to $530 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to Washington (from all airports) are between $701 and $1,084 per person for economy flights and $2,201 to $3,404 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $50 to $102 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.
See below for average, budget, and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.
The Cheapest Times to Visit Washington
On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to Washington and stay in a Washington hotel:
- January 15th to March 11th
- April 16th to May 6th
- August 6th to November 18th
The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Washington is usually mid to late September.
Average Washington Trip Costs
Average Solo Traveler
The average cost for one person to visit Washington for a week is $1,317-$2,477($188-$354 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $50 to $102 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $427 to $941 for economy
Lodging: $90 to $119 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room
or $112 to $137 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Average Couple’s Trip
The average cost for a couple to visit Washington for a week is $2,102-$4,132($300-$590 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $101 to $204 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $855 to $1,882 for economy
Lodging: $90 to $119 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room
or $112 to $137 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Average Family Vacation
The average cost for 4 people to visit Washington for a week is $4,125-$8,048($589-$1,150 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $201 to $408 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,710 to $3,764 for economy
Lodging: $180 to $238 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms
or $168 to $204 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental
Traveling Cheap to Washington
How cheap can you make a vacation to Washington? The cheapest trip to Washington is about $134 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 1% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $20 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $56.
Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.
Budget Solo Traveler
The lowest cost for one person to visit Washington for a week is $938-$2,197($134-$314 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $25 to $50 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $427 to $941 for economy
Lodging: $56 to $66 per night for one 1-star hotel room
or $121 to $151 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Budget Couple’s Trip
The lowest cost for a couple to visit Washington for a week is $1,541-$3,481($220-$497 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $50 to $99 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $855 to $1,882 for economy
Lodging: $56 to $66 per night for one 1-star hotel room
or $121 to $151 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Budget Family Vacation
The lowest cost for 4 people to visit Washington for a week is $3,075-$6,500($439-$929 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $99 to $198 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,710 to $3,764 for economy
Lodging: $112 to $132 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms
or $181 to $225 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental
Overall it is very difficult to travel to Washington cheaply.
The Cost of a Luxury Washington Trip
There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in Washington.
Luxury Solo Traveler
The high-end price for one person to visit Washington for a week is $2,675-$10,126($382-$1,447 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $101 to $205 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,062 to $2,367 for first class
Lodging: $151 to $307 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room
or $531 to $1,054 per night for a preferred vacation rental
Luxury Couple’s Trip
The high-end price for a couple to visit Washington for a week is $4,451-$13,927($636-$1,990 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $203 to $410 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $2,124 to $4,733 for first class
Lodging: $151 to $307 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room
or $531 to $1,054 per night for a preferred vacation rental
Luxury Family Vacation
The high-end price for 4 people to visit Washington for a week is $8,888-$24,730($1,270-$3,533 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $405 to $821 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $4,247 to $9,467 for first class
Lodging: $301 to $613 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms
or $793 to $1,586 per night for a preferred vacation rental
Washington Hotel Prices
The cost of staying in Washington is much higher than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in Washington due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.
Washington Lodging Cost by Star Status
The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.
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Prices are based on Washington hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.
Vacation Rental Prices
The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.
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There are a healthy amount of vacation rentals serving all budgets in Washington.
Flight Costs to Washington
Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $1,084 average in late July to a low of $701 in mid to late September. Median flight price is $706. These prices are based on millions of flights. For Washington our data includes hundreds of originating airports, and dozens of airlines. The area has more variance in price compared with other locations.
Average Flight Cost by Season
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Average Flight Cost by Day of Week
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The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Tuesday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In Washington, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $383, so you can easily save about 55% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.
Daily Expenses Budget
Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around Washington can easily cost $371 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $25 per person. Private tours can cost $742 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.