Save Money With a Staycation

Takeaways: Save Money by Planning a Vacation Close to Home

• A staycation is a way to take a vacation without the two biggest travel costs: Flights and hotels.
• Three days gives you time to relax and fit in several activities while spending less money and taking less time off from work.
• Washington and Oregon summers are full of free and low-cost entertainment, including free museum days, library attraction passes, outdoor concerts and movies, art walks and state park free days.
• Plan your spending before the fun starts. Estimate costs ahead of time, save weekly toward the total and set limits (like a per-meal cap).

Feel like exploring, but don't have the budget for a full-on vacation? A staycation is one way to rest, recharge and sightsee in your hometown with a lower price tag than traveling.

Instead of paying for flights and pricey hotels, you can explore local attractions, parks, restaurants and events, often for a fraction of the cost of traveling. It can be as short as a day or as long as a week.

A three-day staycation is a popular sweet spot, giving you time to relax and enjoy a few activities without much expense or time off work.

From free outdoor activities to lake days and live music, here's how to plan a summer staycation anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, from Portland to Seattle to Spokane and beyond.

1. Be a Tourist in Your Hometown

Websites like Visit Seattle, Visit Spokane and Travel Portland offer local guides, deals and experiences to help you plan.

• Visit local landmarks: Make a list of the attractions you've been driving past for years. These are the big ones in your area like Seattle Center or Pike Place Market, Riverfront Park in Spokane or Multnomah Falls near Portland. Consider looking into Citypass for Seattle to bundle attractions and save on admission.

• Enjoy free and discounted museums: Many Washington and Oregon museums offer free or reduced admission on certain days each month for some visitors such as children, active-duty military and veterans, or those receiving food assistance. Check individual museum websites or your city's tourism site for schedules. Or research BECU member discounts, such as 10% off Pacific Science Center admission.

Your local library is worth a stop, too: Many Washington and Oregon libraries offer free or discounted passes to museums, attractions and state parks.

2. Make a Splash with Summer Water Activities

Washington summers are made for the water. Depending on where you live, you can:

• Visit a waterpark: No need to fly across the country for a waterpark. Several Washington waterparks (with amusement parks) can be found from Tukwila to Birch Bay to Lake Chelan. Just type "Waterparks near me" into your favorite maps app. For something even less expensive, look for city pools with toddler splash pads and big-kid water slides. They're numerous in Washington and Oregon.

Even a single morning by the water can make a weekend staycation feel like an escape.

3. Enjoy Local Arts and Entertainment

Support your local arts scene while giving your brain a mini-vacation.

• Follow the art: Many cities and towns host free monthly art walks — like First Friday in Spokane, and First Thursday in Portland's Pearl District — where you can explore local studios and meet artists.
• Check out your city culture: Review your city's summer events calendar for street fairs, night markets and cultural festivals. County and state fairs run throughout the Pacific Northwest in late summer.

4. Explore Local Food and Drink

Foodie staycations are easy to budget for. Set a per-meal spending limit before you go so the fun doesn't outpace your plan, or mix splurges with smart buys.

• Visit a farmers' market or night market: Browse Pike Place Market or the Ballard Farmers Market in Seattle, the Scale House Market or Kendall Yards Night Market along the Spokane River, and Portland Farmers Market near PSU.
• Pick your own summer produce: U-pick opportunities are in season throughout the Pacific Northwest from berries west of the Cascades (such as Sauvie Island near Portland) to the farms near Spokane and Yakima, known for a variety of produce.
• Go on farm and lavender visits: Working farm tours and animal sanctuaries make easy half-day trips, especially with kids.
• Plan a food truck crawl: Map out the food trucks near your home and have your own tasting festival. Portland, in particular, offers food carts in pods, or groups of food trucks centered around picnic tables or other communal seating. Every member of your group can order whatever they're in the mood for.
• Make dining your destination: Pick a neighborhood you never eat in and try a new-to-you restaurant.

5. Find Activities for Every Age

If your family loves sports, there's no need for expensive tickets or gear.

• Catch a minor league game: Summer baseball is a budget-travel classic. Teams like the Tacoma Rainiers and Everett AquaSox offer live-game energy at a fraction of major league prices. The Portland Pickles baseball team puts a maximum priority on fun, with themed nights.
• Get out and play: Get your heartrate up at public golf courses, disc golf, pickleball courts and bike trails — like the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle or the Centennial Trail in Spokane — as healthy, cheap or free ways to spend a summer afternoon.
• Hike and picnic in a park: Convenient trails are found throughout local, state or national parks in Washington and Oregon. Depending on where you live, trails and picnic spots may be just minutes away.
• Beat the heat indoors: On triple-digit days or surprise stretches of rain, bowling alleys, arcade bars, mini golf, escape rooms, climbing gyms and roller rinks offer air-conditioned fun for the whole family.

Tip: Most Washington and Oregon state parks require a pass for parking, and the annual pass usually costs less than paying per visit if you'll visit several parks over the summer. Oregon also offers a multi-day or annual Oregon Coast Passport for the region's popular beaches. Washington State Parks also offers park-free days throughout the year, so check the current schedule before you go.

Staycation Budget Tips

Staycations can save you money but watch out for overspending. Pay attention to ticket prices, entry fees, tours, restaurant bills and transportation expenses for your activities.

A little planning can go a long way to prevent you from running up your credit card and having to pay it off with interest.

Save for Your Staycation

Ideally, you already have a separate budget for spending on fun. If not, here's how to save for your upcoming staycation.

• Plan what you're going to do and how much it's likely to cost.
• Figure out how many weeks you have until your staycation starts.
• Divide the total cost by the number of weeks.
• Save that amount each week.
• Have fun!

To get started, open a vacation savings account or money market account and automate savings. A savings account or money market account can help your balance grow faster. Tax refunds, bonuses and cash gifts can fast-forward your travel timeline without touching your regular budget.

Or keep funds separate from everyday savings with BECU Envelopes. Envelopes make savings accounts easier to grow and harder to dip into.

Bank the Difference

If you've successfully pulled off your staycation, here's a way to start saving for next year: Estimate what a full vacation would have cost, subtract your actual staycation cost and transfer the difference straight into savings.

A staycation now, with a well-budgeted vacation later, is a travel strategy your wallet can get behind.

Staycation FAQs

What is a staycation? 

A staycation is a vacation spent at home or close to home, usually within driving distance. Instead of paying for airfare and hotels, you spend your time exploring local attractions, parks, restaurants and events, making it one of the most affordable ways to take a break. A staycation typically costs a fraction of a traditional vacation because you eliminate airfare, lodging and a rental car. 

What are some free summer staycation ideas in the Pacific Northwest? 

Free options across Washington and Oregon include beaches and lake days, free museum admission days, outdoor concerts and movie nights in city parks, art walks, farmers markets, self-guided walking tours and state park free days. Some Oregon and Washington public libraries also lend free passes to local museums and attractions.

How do I make a staycation feel like a real vacation? 

Treat it like a real trip: Set an out-of-office reply, skip chores and errands, plan an itinerary in advance, and try new-to-you activities in your own city. Even small touches like eating out for breakfast, taking a tour, or booking one night at a nearby hotel helps your time off feel like a getaway.

Related Content