It’s still possible to plan a spring-break getaway from Northwest Arkansas National Airport, but it’s a good bet that most people have made those plans by now.
With that in mind and the end of the school year not so far off, we’re focused on what an early summer trip could be. It’s a great way to kick off the summer.
We focus on June because it’s a great time for a week-long trip as a family reward for the completed school year.
We suggest our five favorites. If the airfare isn’t the same when you go to verify our information, it’s because we checked airfares on the morning of March 5. Airfares change often, and they can rise as more people snap up the best deals.
Moreover, the booking window does matter. Some travel-focused websites suggest flights for summer travel should be booked 60 to 90 days before the flight departs. We’re just entering that window now, but it’s best to figure it out by the end of March.
All of these recommendations assume there’s no significant rise in COVID-19 cases in each of these destinations so it’s important to keep that in mind.
These are in rank order, meaning the one at the top is what we’d consider the best option for family travel in June.
Chicago
American Airlines and United Airlines fly nonstop from XNA to America’s best big city. It’s United that has the best June fares at $208 roundtrip. You can leave XNA on any Saturday in June and return either the following Friday or Saturday for that $208 price. Hotels can be expensive downtown, so consider staying in a hotel way out by Chicago O’Hare in Rosemont, and take the train (the Blue Line) to the downtown Loop. You’ll save a fortune. Don’t rent a car, either. Using the trains in Chicago is part of the big-city experience.
Denver
Frontier’s flights to Denver in June aren’t the outstanding $100 to $150 roundtrip that you’ll see at other times of the year, but $218 on June 2-9 is good for summer travel. Family travel to Denver offers expansive options. You can stay in the city (but don’t), or you can make the drive to the mountains in the rental car part of the experience (do this). You’ve got a whole week, so there’s no reason to stay in one place for too long.
Tampa
The Gulf of Mexico side of Florida has multiple nonstop options from XNA, meaning there’s competition for your business. Allegiant flies to St. Petersburg/Clearwater and Punta Gorda further to the south. But we’d go with Breeze Airways nonstop to Tampa for $128 roundtrip. You’ll get to try out the airline’s swanky new Airbus A220, which starts flying in May. The flight leaves June 6 and returns to Arkansas on June 13. A rental car is necessary.
San Antonio
Getting to the city with the Alamo is a brutal 10-hour drive from Northwest Arkansas, and your family will be so zonked by the time you arrive. Go with Breeze Airways, which flies there nonstop from XNA to San Antonio on Mondays and Fridays. Go June 20-27 and it’ll be $117 roundtrip. What to do? The Alamo is required as is a rental car. San Antonio’s SeaWorld isn’t to be confused with Orlando’s Disney World, but it’s a solid amusement park. It doesn’t cost as much, either. The Riverwalk is great.
Fort Lauderdale
Allegiant’s fare is terrific throughout June, leaving on a Thursday and coming back a week later. We spotted a $109 roundtrip price of you go June 2-9. You will need to rent a vehicle to get around, and hotel prices run $275 to $400 a night in the best coastal spots. Go inland to a familiar franchise hotel like Candlewood Suites or Hyatt Place and you’ll save at least $125 a night, but maybe $175 if you play it right.
