Landscape photography is an expensive hobby to take part in. The gear alone can cost thousands of dollars! Add on to this the cost of going to and exploring beautiful locations around the world and things can rapidly become prohibitive. It can also leave your family feeling left out if you are spending the vacation budget on a trip to Iceland, Antarctica, Switzerland, etc…
You should be mindful of a couple of things in landscape photography. Don’t spend too much on gear. Take time and spend a good amount on education to learn the art and technical skills. Leave room in your budget for trips to take portfolio-worthy images!
If you haven’t left much room in your photography budget for trips, or if you want to get the most out of your landscape photography budget I have created a list of inexpensive landscape photography locations. The added perk of this list is that some of the spots are less expensive because they haven’t become popular for landscape photography, but they all still offer plenty of opportunities! Also, some of these locations are going to have some notes on how they could be good for non-landscape photography travelers because it isn’t possible to always have a separate landscape photography vacation aside from the annual family trip!
North America
The United States offers brilliant locations that landscape photographers around the world put on their bucket lists. It is for good reasons that these locations have become as popular as they are now, but with the increasing popularity comes some bottlenecking in locations not being able to handle the volume. This has made many places skyrocket in costs over the last 10 years. So, let’s explore some options to get a little of the best of what the states have to offer while pinching pennies!
Las Vegas (Bryce Canyon, Valley of Fire, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, and Zion)
This major city almost always has cheap flights due to its popularity as a nightlife getaway and gambling. However, it also offers an incredibly centralized location for landscape photography. Right at 2-4 hours from big-name National Parks like Zion, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Bryce Canyon, it is easy to get around the area with a rental car from the airport.
Hotels are incredibly cheap as well. If you decide to commute from the strip you can find hotels well under $100 per night, and just outside of these National Parks you can also find pricing at or around $100 per night as well. Camping is another option with a reserved spot with shower access for $20-50 for individuals and groups respectively.
With so many destinations close by and cheap flights domestically and internationally it is difficult to best this in the United States! If you want to photograph the desert in the American West, this would offer inexpensive access to a little bit of everything this part of the country has to offer, and at the beginning/end of the trip, you can enjoy what Las Vegas has to offer in gambling, shows, and cuisine! (even if it is just an In and Out burger!)
Denver, CO
What makes Denver cheap is flying into the great state of Colorado. The airport sees enough traffic to keep costs lower, but to get the most out of your stay you need to get out of the metropolitan area. Also, you’ll want to avoid resort towns like Vail, Breckenridge, and Winter Park. Opting for camping, YMCA/KOA grounds, and other locations like Frisco that offer Airbnbs and cheaper hotels will keep your costs lower.
Landscape photography locations are everywhere from climbing to mountain peaks to incredible vistas of the Rocky Mountain National Park nearby. Colorado Springs has Pikes Peak which is a good climb and offers beautiful views while accommodations in the city are reasonable. Also, north of Denver lies the college town of Boulder offering a stunning mountainous backdrop. The town of Estes Park is not cheap during peak season in the summer, but has great deals in shoulder seasons!
The San Juan Mountains are quite attainable as a location from Denver. Though, they could also be a place to access from my next destination on my list. In the southwest part of the state, they give access to the wildest part of Colorado’s mountains. There is a good reason this is called the “Switzerland of America” with jagged peaks, mountain streams, wildflowers, and plentiful wildlife.
Albuquerque, NM
This overlooked area of the United States is likely not going to lay dormant for much longer. Primed for a massive influx of visitors with its newly minted National Park in the state’s south-central region, best to get here sooner rather than later! White Sands is not the only thing this destination has to offer though with cheap accommodations all around. Flying into Albuquerque is surprisingly economical as well if you watch for deals.
There is no shortage of locations to list out. The most obvious is White Sands National Park which lies several hours south of Albuquerque. It is the largest gypsum dune field in the world and the views around it are incredible! Mind you, try to ignore its military uses as a missile range, emergency landing zone for the space shuttle, and training flights that pass overhead.
The Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the northeast part of the state are the southern part of the Rocky Mountains. They offer a wide range of wildlife and landscapes from high-desert to evergreen forests and plenty of snow during the winter for a different type of landscape! There is also the Valles Caldera National Preserve with beautiful vistas during the spring along with wildlife and stunning migratory birds in the area during certain parts of the year.
Another area worth noting that is within reach of Albuquerque is the Bisti Wilderness Area. This alien-like landscape is so bizarre yet beautiful in its own way. Although, it is difficult to get to, can be dangerous if unprepared, and somewhat fragile as well. Do your research before going, take water and maps, and tell others what your plan is for each day and where you will be. It also isn’t a bad idea to get a GPS communication device because this is true wilderness!
Gatlinburg, TN
Flying into Knoxville and basing the rest of your trip to the Appalachian Mountains. I would highly recommend this as a Fall location due to the colors of the foliage being spectacular! Even if you didn’t take out the camera once, the drive on some of the roads is worth it alone. It is probably one of those few places I would forgive someone (or myself) for taking a landscape image with a beautiful stretch of road.
The other non-landscape photography perk is being in a German town around Octoberfest. Getting a tasty beverage and enjoying it with a good pretzel or currywurst is not something you’ll see me complaining about! I like this destination because you might be able to justify bringing the family along to a fun experience in town while doing photography in the mornings or evenings. Accommodations are in great proximity to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park as well as the Blue Ridge Parkway and other beautiful areas up and down the Appalachian Mountains.
Calgary, Canada
This central-Canada city might not in and of itself have much for a landscape photographer, but just outside the city lies the Canadian Rockies! If you are up for mountainous landscapes with glacial lakes, frozen methane bubbles, jagged, peaks, and ample wildlife this is likely going to be high on your list.
Be prepared to rent a car (or all-wheel drive vehicle in the winter) for the adventure into the mountains as there are several top-tier parks within a short distance of one another. The locations include icons like Lake Minnewanka, Lake Louise, Abraham Lake, all of Jasper National Park, Mt Sarbach, and so much it likely justifies two trips. I would call it the Las Vegas of the North, minus the casinos, colder, and more precipitation/vegetation!