Fireworks over Basin Harbor, Vermont.
Want to get away for the Fourth? Haven't even started planning yet? Not a problem.
The window of cheap airfare may have closed. But great hotels in great destinations are still available, often at great prices.
The average hotel rate in the U.S. for the Fourth of July weekend is up 11% over this time last year, according to HotelTonight. But that increase isn't evenly distributed. Some destinations are still great deals, even three days out.
A gorge in White River Junction, Vermont.
The average rate for a hotel room in White River Junction this weekend is $134, according to HotelTonight. That's a 34% decrease since last year, and a great deal for one of the coolest small towns in the country.
White River has outdoor activities, like hiking, camping and canoeing, and also an adorable city center for relaxing this Independence Day.
The Berkshires are popular in the summer and the fall, when the leaves go crazy. But popularity isn't driving prices in 2015, at least. Hotel rates in the Berkshires are down 29%, with an average of $180, compared to last year.
The average nightly rate is $147, or 17% less than last year.
The Poconos have an amazing number of outdoor activities, and the forecast for the Fourth of July — low 80s and partly cloudy — is just right for spending time in nature.
The average rate on HotelTonight for this oh-so-American town is $153, 12% less than last year.
Williamsburg offers a chance to get a dose of history along with your Fourth of July celebrations.
Fireworks over Chapel Hill, July 4, 2009.
At $108, average rates in Chapel Hill are down 12% compared to 2014.
Since it's a college town, summer is a great time to take advantage of the charms Chapel Hill has to offer — with no students to get in your way.
Looking for a beach getaway? Rates in Tampa Bay were down 20% from last year, averaging $180.
Durango is a tad more expensive than a lot of the other cities, with an average rate of $215. But that's 14% lower than last year, so it's still a good deal if this is where you want to spend Independence Day.
The charming city has a roster of Fourth of July activities planned for Saturday, from a morning 5K run to an evening parade. And, of course, fireworks.
For serious savings — at least, not counting your gambling money — head to Vegas. The average rate is down 39% compared to last year.
With a good amount of luck, maybe you can win back the rest of the cost at the tables.