Why We Did This Study
Travel costs are one of the biggest factors shaping how, where, and when people travel. But “average hotel price” can feel vague and misleading. So at Navigatorian, we decided to get specific.
We pulled data from Booking.com, sampling 100 highly rated three-star hotels in every U.S. state for the same travel scenario: one guest, one night, weekday stay (October 21–22). By keeping the filters consistent—USD pricing, hotel-only listings, 3-star category, and sorting by property rating (high to low)—we created a fair, apples-to-apples comparison.
In total, we analyzed 5,000+ hotels to calculate each state’s average price, cheapest hotel, most expensive hotel, and overall price gap. The patterns that emerged surprised even us.
The Big Picture: America’s Hotel Price Landscape
When we crunched the numbers, we found that a 3-star hotel in the U.S. averages $142.83 per night. But averages only tell part of the story. Prices range from just $96.94 in Florida to $244.63 in Hawaii—a difference of nearly $150 per night between the cheapest and priciest states.
What this means in practical terms: depending on where you travel, the exact same star rating could cost half as much or twice as much.
Here’s what else we discovered:
The median price across all states is $132.13, showing most states cluster close to the middle.
Half of the states fall between $123 and $153, meaning the majority of America lives in that price band.
But outliers like Hawaii, Vermont, and Massachusetts push the national average up.
Cheapest vs. Most Expensive States
Our ranking uncovered clear winners and losers for budget-conscious travelers.
Top 10 Cheapest States (Avg 3★ Hotel Price)
Florida — $96.94
Georgia — $103.75
Oklahoma — $109.32
Michigan — $110.37
Pennsylvania — $111.77
North Carolina — $116.63
Maryland — $116.84
South Dakota — $117.30
Nebraska — $118.11
Wisconsin — $118.37
Top 10 Most Expensive States (Avg 3★ Hotel Price)
Hawaii — $244.63
Vermont — $224.78
Massachusetts — $196.41
Ohio — $196.07
Rhode Island — $189.33
Alaska — $186.95
New York — $186.09
Maine — $179.33
New Hampshire — $174.59
Kentucky — $165.18
Our takeaway? Florida stands out as the only state under $100, while Hawaii costs more than 2.5x as much on average.
Extremes: From Bargains to Blowouts
The state averages are eye-opening, but the extremes tell an even richer story.
Nationwide Cheapest Hotel: Motel 6 Montgomery, Alabama — $34
Nationwide Most Expensive Hotel: Petite Retreat at Kahana Falls, Hawaii — $999
Widest Price Gap: Hawaii — a jaw-dropping $934 difference between its cheapest and most expensive options.
Tightest Price Gap: Pennsylvania — just $104 between its lowest and highest listings.
These numbers highlight how some states (like Hawaii) offer everything from budget basics to ultra-luxury stays, while others (like Pennsylvania) maintain more predictable mid-range pricing.
What This Means for Travelers
So what should travelers take away from this study?
Budget Hunters: Head south or Midwest. Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma consistently deliver 3-star stays under $120.
Luxury Skew States: Hawaii, New York, and Alaska are tricky—yes, you can find cheap stays, but sky-high listings pull the averages way up.
Predictable Pricing: States like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Georgia offer tighter spreads, meaning you know what you’ll pay before you arrive.
High-Variance Markets: Hawaii and Alaska are wildcards, with spreads of hundreds of dollars. Researching specific hotels matters more here than relying on averages.
Why Our Study Matters
Most “average hotel price” stats you see online lack transparency—where did the data come from? Which hotels were included? What time of year?
By setting consistent filters and analyzing every state individually, our study shows what travelers can realistically expect when searching for a 3-star hotel in the U.S. this fall. It’s not just about averages—it’s about understanding the range of possibilities that can make or break your trip budget.
When we started this project, we expected differences across states. But we didn’t expect to see such huge swings—from $34 budget motels to $999 luxury retreats—all within the same star rating.
Our conclusion is simple: the same star rating doesn’t mean the same wallet impact. Location matters, and travelers who plan smartly can save hundreds.
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📩 Have feedback or want access to the full dataset from this study? Write to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you.