Portland, Maine, Among Top 10 Best ‘Staycation’ Cities in America

Anyone that has looked at prices for flights, hotels and rental cars recently knows that traveling on a vacation is ridiculously expensive right now.

The inflation in travel costs is leading a lot of people to look for more affordable ways to rest, relax or just have fun while "vacationing" closer to home.

With that in mind, WalletHub has released their "Best and Worst Cities in America For a Staycation" list for 2026.

And Portland, Maine, has found itself amongst the top 10 best cities in the nation for a "staycation". Here are the reasons why.

WalletHub Ranks Portland, Maine, Second-Best in the Nation For Recreation

The biggest reason why Portland, Maine, is considered an elite spot for a "staycation" is all the recreation the city offers.

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WalletHub's methodology puts heavy weight on walkability, some Portland, Maine, excels in.

But Portland also offers lots of designated trails for both walkers and bikers. The city's recreation score gets boosted thanks boat tours and access to islands off the coast of Portland as well.

And then there's the shopping. Portland is home to dozens of unique and quaint shops that also boosted its recreation score.

Portland, Maine, only ranked behind Honolulu, Hawaii, in recreation according to WalletHub.

Portland, Maine, Fared Well in the Food and Entertainment Category As Well

Unsurprisingly, another category in WalletHub's rankings where Portland, Maine, ranked well was food and entertainment.

Portland, Maine, USA downtown city skyline at dusk.

That category puts weight on how many quality restaurants, coffee shops, ice cream shops and the diversity in those offerings are available per capita.

Where Portland, Maine, struggled in this category is nightlife. While having escape rooms and a bowling alleys helped, the lack of dance clubs and small concert venues left Portland ranked 37 out of 165 cities.

Portland, Maine, Gets Crushed in the Rest and Relaxation Category

Portland, Maine, likely would have ranked in the top 5 best 'staycation' cities had it not been for the rest and relaxation category.

Portland, Maine, got crushed thanks to the cost factor of visits to places like a beauty salon, massage parlor, or a spa and wellness center.

Portland, Maine, also got dinged for having a lack of public beaches.

Portland ranked 86 out of 165 in rest and relaxation.