Spring Break Savings Tip: Fly Into a Busy Airport

Updated 05/15/17

Looking for a family spring break destination with affordable airfare? One trick is to choose a vacation spot near a busy airport.

Airlines set prices using surge pricing, which means they are determined by supply and demand. Some destinations with smaller airports receive a huge influx of travelers during spring break, which makes airline seats scarce, which in turn drives up prices.

On the other hand, if you choose a destination near a busy airport, the spring break crowds barely make a dent in the overall air traffic, and airline ticket prices stay relatively flat.

Here are destinations within easy reach of the busiest US airports:

01 of 07
Atlanta

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Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) is the busiest in the country, which keeps flights into the Athens of the South impervious to any spring break traffic bumps.
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02 of 07
Chicago

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America's second busiest airport is Chicago O'Hare (ORD). World-class museums and other attractions make the Windy City a slam dunk for family getaways.
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03 of 07
Los Angeles

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So many flights go in and out of LAX every day that the increased spring break demand makes little difference to prices. Top attractions include Hollywood, museums, beaches, and the zoo.
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04 of 07
Dallas

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Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the fourth busiest airport in the nation, which insures that spring break airfares to Big D won't jump up.
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Continue to 5 of 7 below.
05 of 07
Denver

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Fancy a late-season family ski trip? Denver International (DEN) is the nation's fifth busiest airport and Mile High City is within an easy drive of many ski mountains.
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06 of 07
New York City

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Coming in at number 6 is John F Kennedy International (JFK). Like Chicago and Los Angeles, the Big Apple sees such constant inbound and outbound air traffic that spring break demand has little impact.
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07 of 07
San Francisco

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California's second busiest airport is San Francisco International (SFO), which puts you at the doorstep of the City by the Bay and the whole Bay Area.
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