Thinking about skipping the airport and staying close to home this summer? Some Californians may not have to travel far for a memorable vacation.
Personal finance website WalletHub recently released its annual ranking of the best and worst U.S. cities for staycations, comparing 182 cities across 41 metrics, including recreation, food and entertainment, and rest and relaxation.
California had a mixed showing in the 2026 rankings. A total of 29 Golden State cities made the list, but only two landed among the top 20 nationwide.
San Diego was California's highest-ranked city, ranking at No. 11 overall with strong marks for recreation and food and entertainment. San Francisco followed at No. 19.
"It's fun to visit an exotic location on vacation, but during rougher economic times, a staycation can save you a lot of money while being just as memorable," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a statement. "Not only do you avoid the cost of overnight accommodations and minimize travel costs, but you can also discover all kinds of fun activities close to home that you might not have tried out otherwise. Plus, you'll feel more rested if you spend less time in transit and more time sleeping in your own bed."
At the other end of the spectrum, several California cities ranked among the nation's worst destinations for a staycation. Santa Clarita ranked No. 171, followed by Oakland at No. 173, Santa Ana at No. 174, Chula Vista at No. 179 and Fremont at No. 180.
Nationally, Orlando, claimed the top spot, followed by Cincinnati, Las Vegas, St. Louis and Honolulu. Pearl City, Hawaii, ranked as the worst place to have a staycation.
These are the cities in California that made the rankings. National rankings are in parenthesis:
See the full list on WalletHub.
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