If you’re among the 43% of Americans who say they’ll spend their tax refund on travel, you might as well book a trip that gives you the best bang for your hard-earned buck. For a peaceful and affordable getaway, there are several destinations that offer great deals and few crowds until—and for some places, well beyond—Memorial Day weekend.
Whether you choose to hop a ferry to Block Island or Martha’s Vineyard, bike between North Fork vineyards and pristine beaches or pitch a tent on a secluded lake, plan a budget-friendly shoulder season escape with the help of these five guides.
Block Island
For two nights at the Blue Dory Inn: $270 now vs. $650 later
North Fork
For one night at the Blue Iris Inn: $245 now vs. $590 later
Martha’s Vineyard
For one night at The Madison Inn: $89 now vs. $289 later
Catskills
For one night at The Graham & Co: $99 now vs. $185 later
17 Camp Sites
For unlimited nights from $0 with campsites all to yourself now vs. crowds and RVs later
Photos: Don & Suzan Weller, ReefTECK, Block Island Tourism Council, Kate’s Lazy Meadow, Suzanne Russo, Bruce Tuten
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram