The 12 Most Popular Vacation Towns for Home Shoppers

Whether it’s beautiful beaches, relaxing entertainment or stunning mountain views, who hasn’t enjoyed the perks of a vacation and thought, “Maybe I’ll just move here?” And before you know it, you’re browsing listings and researching how to buy a vacation home.

Falling in love with a getaway destination has been a growing trend among home buyers in recent years, especially as remote work has made it possible for some people to live in places untethered from their office. Mortgage applications for vacation homes increased by 30% from 2019 to 2020 in areas with mountains and coastlines, according to the Zillow® analysis of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data.

By analyzing Zillow page-view traffic, available housing inventory, price appreciation, sales data and other housing metrics that indicated consumer demand in 2022, our researchers have been able to identify exactly which vacation towns have been the most popular for home shoppers. The list may surprise you — some of these destinations may be slightly off the beaten path, but their page view count tells a different story. Note: Zillow defines vacation towns as cities where 33% of the housing units are designated for non-primary use, based on the United States Census Bureau's 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) data.

Read on to learn more about these cities’ amenities and current home values. Fair warning: You may be inspired to pack your bags — and hire a moving truck.

12. Fairplay, Colorado

Population: 718
Nearest Major City: Denver, Colorado (86 miles)
Current home values and trends

To the south of Breckenridge, you'll find the historic mining town of Fairplay. Highways 285 and 24 both pass through this small rural community known for its outdoor appeal. Vacationers choose Fairplay for the ample hiking, hunting, camping and mountain biking opportunities. Want to try your hand at panning for gold or fly fishing? Visit Fairplay River Park.

11. Citrus Ridge, Florida

Population: 49,626
Nearest Major City: Orlando, Florida (33 miles)
Current home values and trends

Also known as Four Corners, Citrus Ridge is a suburban unincorporated community off Interstate 4 near Celebration. The town earned its nickname thanks to the quadripoint where Orange, Osceola, Polk and Lake counties meet. Visitors to this city southwest of Orlando can take water skiing lessons, pick citrus fruits from a local farm or sip local wines on a tasting tour. 

10. Crestline, California

Population: 9,350
Nearest Major City: Los Angeles, California (73 miles)
Current home values and trends

Craving a mountain getaway? Just to the north of San Bernadino, off Highway 18, you'll find Crestline tucked in the San Bernardino Mountains. Vacationers flock to Lake Gregory for boating and swimming with a rugged, snow-capped mountain view. The area boasts ample hiking and biking trails for those who want to log a few miles. For those wanting a slower pace, the historic Old Town area is worth a wander.

9. Saint James City, Florida

Population: 3,551
Nearest Major City: Tampa, Florida (138 miles)
Current home values and trends

South of Saint Petersburg and Tampa, you'll find Pine Island, home to Saint James City. Locals and tourists alike travel the many canals or waterway roads to get around. Visitors can hike at Galt Preserve, get inspired at local art galleries, enjoy a day tour via kayak or sign up for a fishing charter. And, of course, the beaches are always a welcome sight for travelers hailing from inland destinations.

8. Holmes Beach, Florida

Population: 3,132
Nearest Major City: Tampa, Florida (54 miles)
Current home values and trends

Holmes Beach can be found on Anna Maria Island, just off the mainland to the south of Tampa Bay. Travelers from nearby Saint Petersburg travel Interstate 275 to the north before hopping on local roads to get to the beach community. Vacationers who visit Holmes Beach can explore water sports and horseback riding on the beach, or ride the free island trolley and snap away at the beautiful scenery in this small town free of high-rise buildings.

7. Corolla, North Carolina

Population: 648**
Nearest Major City: Virginia Beach, Virginia (105 miles)
Current home values and trends

North Carolina's Outer Banks region is a hot spot for tourists on the East Coast, and the unincorporated community of Corolla is attracting the fourth-largest volume of page views of the vacation towns on our list. Visitors who love wildlife can admire Corolla wild horses roaming free or plan to attend the annual Wild Horse Days celebration in July. Other popular activities for visitors include ghost tours, jet ski rentals, parasailing, surfing lessons and fishing charters.

6. Siesta Key, Florida

Population: 5,416
Nearest Major City: Saint Petersburg (53 miles)
Current home values and trends

This island town hugs the Gulf Coast of Florida, just a 15-minute drive to downtown Sarasota. Siesta Key boasts a free trolley to explore the area attractions, including swimming at the many beaches, fishing at Nora Patterson Bay Island Park, or renting e-bikes, beach wheelchairs and scooters from Ride and Paddle. Those who want to get on the water can also find local paddleboard and kayak rentals.

5. Bonita Springs, Florida

Population: 53,017
Nearest Major City: Miami (133 miles)
Current home values and trends

Located in southwest Florida on four barrier islands, Bonita Springs is considered by many to be a true tropical paradise. The closest larger cities are Cape Coral and Fort Meyers, both to the north. Popular activities include browsing for treats and crafts at the Local Roots Farmers Market on The Promenade, family outings to Movies in the Park at Bonita Springs Riverside Park or simply soaking up the sunshine from the sandy beaches. Other popular attractions include the Gopher Tortoise Preserve and hiking trails at Bonita Nature Place.

4. Longboat Key, Florida

Population: 7,446
Nearest Major City: Tampa, Florida (60 miles)
Current home values and trends

This tropical getaway is located off the west coast of Florida on a barrier island between the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. Nearby cities include Bradenton Beach and Sarasota. Visitors to Longboat Key who desire to play in the ocean can soak up the sun on the many beaches or venture out on a guided kayak tour. Land-lovers might sneak in a leisurely round of golf on a waterfront course or gaze at manatees and sharks at the Mote Marine Aquarium.

3. South Lake Tahoe, California

Population: 21,355
Nearest Major City: Reno, Nevada (62 miles)
Current home values and trends

Last year, South Lake Tahoe was Zillow’s most popular place overall, and it now ranks third on our list. It had the second-highest page view count for listings per day in our roundup of popular vacation towns. As the name implies, this vacation spot is tucked in the Tahoe National Forest at the southern tip of Lake Tahoe. The community is located to the south of Reno, a little over an hour down I-580 and Highway 50, just over the border in California. Visitors to South Lake Tahoe can take in both views of the Sierra mountains and the lake as they ski (snow or water), admire the area waterfalls or lace up their sneakers for the Lake Tahoe Marathon in the fall.

2. Indian Rocks Beach, Florida

Population: 3,740
Nearest Major City: Tampa, Florida (27 miles)
Current home values and trends

Situated on a barrier island on the West coast of Florida, Indian Rocks Beach is considered part of the sprawling St. Petersburg and Clearwater areas. This warm-weather destination is a 30-minute drive from the Tampa International Airport. When exploring Indian Rocks Beach, vacationers flock to the sunny IRB Beach Fest each April and the colorful Christmas Lighted Boat Parade in December.

1. Lavallette, New Jersey

Population: 2,156
Nearest Major City: New York, New York (73 miles)
Current home values and trends

Coming in at number one, the seashore resort town of Lavallette is located on the Barnegat Peninsula, a narrow, scenic land mass that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. This vacation town that's just shy of one square mile in size is less than a two-hour drive from New York City. Visitors enjoy local saltwater fishing, sandy beaches, surfing, swimming, rollerblading and water sports, as well as live music and outdoor movies held on the bay at sunset in the summer months.

Inspired to clear your calendar and arrange a getaway? Who knows, you might just discover that one of these vacation spots is your new dream home location. Learn more about living in a tourist town here.

*Populations are based on the United States Census Bureau's 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) data.

**Population data is sourced from U.S. Beacon, 2000.