Top US Locations for Spring and Fall Shoulder Season Deals

It's hardly any secret for frequent travelers that shoulder seasons are the best time to score a deal.

If you're not in the know: That's the span of time following a location's peak season and before the beginning of another. It's also the time sandwiched between high-demand holiday travel weeks.

In destinations where the peak season is summer, for instance, its off-season might be fall or winter. 

Now that we've covered those basics, the more important news is that the latest travel data from Dollar Flight Club provides insight into the best locations to score a shoulder season deal for spring and fall 2025.

The report identifies the top three most affordable spring and fall shoulder season locations throughout the United States. Here's a closer look.

Spring 2025 Shoulder Season Deals

For those who haven't planned spring shoulder season travel, Dollar Flight Club suggests mid-April to May "is prime time for scoring cheap flights before the summer rush."

And here are the three most affordable places to go in the U.S. during that time frame, per the Flight Club data:

• Los Angeles (LAX): Shoulder season starting at $90 (average fares near $300)
• Washington D.C. (DCA): Shoulder season starting at $150 (average fares near $340)
• San Francisco (SFO): Shoulder season starting at $130 (average fare of roughly $380)

Why are these three U.S. destinations so cheap, you ask? Kyle Malz, COO of Dollar Flight Club, told TravelPulse several factors are driving the price drops for these specific locations.

"This year, we're seeing especially low airfare to destinations like LA, DC, and San Francisco for a few reasons, including seasonal demands shifting, increased competition in these popular routes and shifts in business travel,"  Malz explained.

Moreover, says Malz, each of these cities tends to experience peak travel during summer and major holidays; therefore, during shoulder season, airlines drop pricing to help fill seats.

"All of these cities are major airline hubs with multiple carriers competing on routes both in and out," Malz continued. 

Added bonus: New low-cost carriers have entered these three markets, creating more competition for travelers and driving prices down. 

Fall 2025 Shoulder Season Deals

Looking ahead to the fall shoulder season, generally from mid-September to October, there are some equally deep bargains to be had. Among the most budget-friendly fall shoulder season routes are: 

• New York (LGA): Shoulder season starting at $140 (average fare of $420)
• Las Vegas (LAS): Shoulder season starting at $170 (average fare of $450)
• Miami (MIA): Shoulder season starting at $190 (average fare of $400)

"For fall, the deals we're seeing are often driven by a mix of post-summer travel slowdowns and the fact that many people hold off on travel until the holidays," explains Malz. "These fall locations experience big drop offs in tourism in the early fall, which leads to slower demand and airlines must price accordingly to increase bookings."

Fall in Miami is shoulder season for instance. But it also happens to be hurricane season there, which makes travelers hesitant to book a trip.

That dip in demand leads to airlines and hotels offering steep discounts to fill bookings, explains Malz."This is great for travelers willing to take the risk," Malz says.

In the case of New York City, meanwhile, fall can be a beautiful time to visit, but airfare stays low because the season lands between peak summer travel and New York City's legendary and highly poplar holiday season.

"Airlines drop the prices here because it's quieter and they want to attract the general leisure travelers," adds Malz. 

And last up, Las Vegas. Early fall in Sin City is still very much off-peak for the typical Las Vegas trip season. The city is not as busy with conventions or holiday travelers this time of year. 

"It's the sweet spot to land cheap airfare because they're boosting booking before heavier demand picks up," says Malz.

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