The top 20 most popular summer destinations in America, based on TripAdvisor's hotel pricing report

Updated

Summer has a special meaning in everyone's heart.

For some, the best part of the season is loading up the car with beach chairs and driving to the shore. For others, its all about counting down the minutes to when it's warm enough to find a perfect clearing to camp.

But while certain places can feel distinctly your own, there are some U.S. hotspots that are just general crowd-pleasers when the temperatures start to soar.

TripAdvisor, the travel planning and booking site, released its 2017 Summer Vacation Value Report, highlighting the top 50 domestic destinations for U.S. travelers this summer based on the greatest spike in seasonal hotel booking interest and pricing.

With its proximity to both Philadelphia and New York City, it is no wonder that Jersey Shore beaches make up a large portion of popular summer hotspots in America. Three beach towns in the area landed in the top 10 -- pretty good for the fourth smallest state.

Wildwood Crest took the No. 1 spot on TripAdvisor's list this year, beating out more well-known haunts like Virginia Beach and Montauk.

Unlike many of its Jersey Shore counterparts, you don't need a costly beach pass to enjoy Wildwood Crest's coastline, allowing you to get the most out of your budget. Instead, you can spend the extra money at the legendary 38-block boardwalk that connects Wildwood Crest with its two sister towns, Wildwood and North Wildwood. Three amusement piers feature over 100 rides, including a wooden roller coaster and beachfront waterparks.

If you tire of the sensory overload, head back over to Wildwood Crest's chilled-out, squeaky-clean beaches for a classic day of fun in the sun. The plethora of activities guarantees a good time for even the pickiest of travelers.

Peek at the gallery above to see TripAdvisor's top 20 most popular summer hotspots, and to see if your favorite destination made the full list of 50, click here.

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