Metro-East News

Hoping for vacation? Here are the 10 cheapest flights departing MidAmerica booking now

Here are the lowest-cost flights available now from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah.
Here are the lowest-cost flights available now from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah. tmaddox@bnd.com

If you’re looking for a lower-cost plane trip from the metro-east, you can check out destinations including Florida cities, Las Vegas and more.

This summer is expected to be relatively busy for vacations, according to a survey by travel company AAA. The survey, which was taken in January, reported 63% of Illinoisans plan to take two or more vacations this year, with July and August among the most popular months to travel.

But cost can often mitigate people’s ability to travel, with 54% of Illinois survey participants telling AAA inflation will affect their 2024 travel plans.

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport has 10 destinations with one-way airfare under $100, as of Monday. Costs will vary based on travel dates, the prices included below were found by searching “anytime.”

Here’s what to know about the 10 cheapest flights available from MidAmerica, sorted by lowest one-way price.

1. Knoxville, Tenn.

Cheapest one-way ticket: $48

Cheapest round-trip: $98

Nonstop flights from MidAmerica to McGhee Tyson Airport near Knoxville began June 13. Knoxville is located about 180 miles east of Nashville and was the site of the 1982 World’s Fair. The city is also referred to as “Barxville” for its host of dog-friendly activities.

Some of the top attractions in Knoxville include the Sunsphere, Knoxville Museum of Art and Zoo Knoxville.

2. Savannah, Ga.

Cheapest one-way ticket: $55

Cheapest round-trip: $169

Savannah is known for its walkable areas, architecture, history and coastline. You can explore City Market, Forsyth Park and River Street, and there are a number of historic inns where you can book a stay.

3. Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Cheapest one-way ticket: $56

Cheapest round-trip: $156

Popular attractions in Myrtle Beach include the boardwalk, beach, live music and amusement parks. You can take a deep sea fishing or dolphin cruise, catch a show at Alabama Theatre or race go-karts at the Broadway Grand Prix.

4. Tampa, Fla.

Cheapest one-way ticket: $57

Cheapest round-trip: $123

Tampa is home to the Tampa Riverwalk, Busch Gardens amusement park, Zoo Tampa and several parks.

The Tampa Bay area’s Clearwater Beach was lauded as a “can’t-miss beach town” in a recent Southern Living article, and Fort De Soto Park has also been recognized as a top beach.

5. Destin, Fla.

Cheapest one-way ticket: $58

Cheapest round-trip: $117

Destin has plenty of options for fishing, boating, snorkeling and other beach activities. Miramar Beach and Ft. Walton Beach are popular Destin spots, and Big Kahuna’s Waterpark is another family friendly option.

Other cheap flights from MidAmerica

Here’s how the rest of the top 10 cheapest flight destinations compared:

6. Sarasota, Fla.

Cheapest one-way ticket: $59

Cheapest round-trip: $123

7. Orlando, Fla.

Cheapest one-way ticket: $59

Cheapest round-trip: $126

8. Jacksonville, Fla.

Cheapest one-way ticket: $59

Cheapest round-trip: $136

9. Punta Gorda, Fla.

Cheapest one-way ticket: $62

Cheapest round-trip: $126

10. Las Vegas

Cheapest one-way ticket: $63

Cheapest round-trip: $181

How to save money on flights

An article from finance website Nerd Wallet recommends seven tips to save money on flights, including:

  1. Be flexible on dates when possible.

  2. Use points or miles, if you have them, on expensive flights.

  3. Travel in the off-season.

  4. Track flight prices and book when they’ve gone down.

  5. Set up a price alert through Google Flights.

  6. Take advantage of airline sales and deals.

  7. Consider purchasing travel insurance in advance.

Do you have a question about traveling in Illinois for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Metro-east Matters form below.

Meredith Howard
Belleville News-Democrat
Meredith Howard is a service journalist with the Belleville News-Democrat. She is a Baylor University graduate and has previously freelanced with the Illinois Times and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Support my work with a digital subscription
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER