Explore the best places to buy a vacation home and make a smart investment. Discover top locations now and start planning your perfect getaway!
Dax Janel Valencia
If you’re looking to invest in real estate soon, consider the best places to buy a vacation home, which include North Myrtle Beach, SC, and Gatlinburg, TN. Park City, UT, and Los Angeles, CA, are other excellent choices.
Buying the best investment properties you can afford in one (or more) of these areas makes for a wise choice, as they’re among the country’s top vacation home destinations.
The number of people who prefer vacation rentals is also on the rise. In a 2024 CivicScience survey, 17% of the participants said they plan to stay in a vacation rental, up from the previous year’s 14%. If you want to generate extra income, you can use your vacation home as a seasonal rental.
Knowing more about vacation home buying and the top spots for rentals can help you make a more informed decision as to where you should spend your money.
Is It a Good Idea to Invest in a Vacation Home?
Yes, provided you choose wisely and ensure you invest in affordable vacation homes that align with your current budget and long-term financial and investment goals.
As a Yahoo article points out, there are at least seven good reasons to invest in a vacation home now. It’s a long-term investment that builds equity over time. It can also diversify your portfolio and let you generate passive income when you rent it out to vacationers during times you don’t use it.
Where Is the Best Place to Own a Vacation Home?
The best place to own a vacation home depends on what exactly you plan to do with it. If your top priority is to have a second home where you, your family, and friends can holiday together, consider purchasing somewhere you love spending time in, not just now but in the many years to come.
However, if you want to earn passive income from your vacation home, too, you must also account for the area’s visitation rate and rental demand. If you only consider your personal preferences and needs, you may have a hard time attracting guests to the property.
What Else Should You Look for in a Vacation Home?
Ideally, you should buy a vacation home in an area close to essential services, such as:
- Law enforcement
- Fire department
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Veterinarians
- Pharmacists
It’s also wise to have property management solutions, including house cleaners, nearby. Factoring all these in is particularly crucial if you’re purchasing a vacation property far from your primary residence.
Suppose you’re looking into buying a vacation home in Park City, UT, but you live in Los Angeles, CA. In this case, you’d want to partner with reliable and professional house cleaning services Park City trusts.
Doing so can help ensure your vacation property stays in tip-top condition even if you’re not physically there to look after it.
Which Are the Best Places to Buy a Vacation Home in 2026?
There are many, but a top contender is North Myrtle Beach, SC, a family-friendly beach destination. There’s also Gatlinburg, TN, a resort town that serves as a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains.
Park City, UT, a year-round mountain resort city, and Los Angeles, CA, Southern California’s cultural and commercial hub, are other prime options.
North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The birthplace of shag dancing, North Myrtle Beach is a sun-soaked destination that boasts luscious white sand beaches, warm and pleasant summers, and mild winters.
It’s part of the Grand Strand, which welcomes over 17 million visitors yearly, per tourism organization VisitMyrtleBeach.com. With such a high visitation rate, it makes for a great place to own a vacation home rental.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Gatlinburg, TN, is the primary gateway to the most-visited national park in the U.S., the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). According to the National Park Service, GSMNP saw over 12 million visits in 2024 alone.
Gatlinburg is a year-round mountain resort itself, boasting diverse attractions and numerous recreational opportunities, from hiking to wildlife viewing and camping. Come winter, it’s the only place in Tennessee where folks can enjoy winter sports like skiing and snowboarding.
Park City, Utah
Park City was once a historic silver mining town. Today, it has become a world-class mountain resort destination that offers year-round outdoor fun, including hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding.
The city is also a hub for the arts, culture, and dining. It’s among North America’s most accessible mountain resort destinations, too, as the Salt Lake City International Airport is just about 38 miles away.
Los Angeles, California
LA is undoubtedly one of the most popular vacation retreat spots, given its ranking as the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”
As the Griffith Observatory explains, it’s a “paradise of idyllic weather,” is home to over 100 museums, and boasts a rich history. The place where it stands now had its first inhabitants roughly 10,000 years ago. The city itself is over 240 years old, with its year of establishment being 1781.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Better to Rent or Buy a Vacation Home?
It depends on your budget, lifestyle preferences, investment goals, and how often you use a vacation home. While renting is no doubt more flexible and costs less, once you’ve spent the money on it, it’s gone.
Conversely, owning a vacation home is a long-term investment asset, as its value can appreciate. It can also give you back money if you rent it out to travelers or for extended holidays.
What Are Other Good Places to Buy a Vacation Home in 2026?
If you want a beachfront property in a place with a warm, welcoming small-town vibe, consider Gulf Shores, Alabama. If you want a little more action while also enjoying beautiful white sand beaches and a nearly year-round paradise-like weather, Florida’s Panama City Beach can be a good option.
Conversely, majestic forests, rolling hills, stunning waterfalls, and pretty lakes are things the Poconos in Pennsylvania has to offer. Here, you can enjoy year-round outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and camping.
Consider Investing in a Vacation Home in 2026
From North Myrtle Beach to Gatlinburg, Park City, and LA, these are among the best places to buy a vacation home in 2026. Other great choices are Gulf Shores, Panama City Beach, and the Poconos.
Have a look at our other latest news updates and real estate and lifestyle guides for more informative reads like this.
This article was prepared by an independent contributor and helps us continue to deliver quality news and information.
