Richmond Is the 27th-Best U.S. City for Staycations in 2026

Richmond, Va., is the 27th-best U.S. city for staycations in 2026, according to a new WalletHub report that analyzed more than 180 cities using 41 key metrics. They ranged from walkability and the number of cultural attractions to average restaurant prices and summer weather. 

Millions of Americans will travel this summer, but inflation is causing 51% of people to scale back spending and choose more budget-friendly vacations, such as staycations. The good news is you don't have to go far to enjoy a lot of the benefits of a trip. 

“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 fun, relaxing and memorable,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Not only can 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 otherwise never try. Plus, you'll feel more rested if you spend less time in transit and more time sleeping in your own bed.”

In-Depth Look at Richmond

Richmond is an appealing city for a staycation because it's a great place for a culinary adventure. The city ties for first place for the availability of affordable restaurants with at least a 4.5-star rating, and it's also in third place for the number of coffee and tea shops per capita, as well as 18th for the number of ice cream and frozen yogurt shops. It's the 48th-most walkable city, too, so you could make your own walking tour of historical landmarks.

Richmond does have some shortcomings as a staycation destination, though. For example, the city only ranks 158th in the country for its summer weather. In addition, it ranks 134th for movie costs and 153rd for bowling costs, so certain recreational activities can be pretty expensive.

Since everyone has a different idea of a fun and affordable staycation, there are a lot of different factors at play. The study analyzed 41 different metrics grouped into three main categories.

How Richmond Ranks in Key Categories

• 26th for recreation
• 25th for food and entertainment
• 98th for rest and relaxation

This puts Richmond in 27th place overall out of the 182 cities in WalletHub's study.

Best Cities for a Staycation

The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.