Looking to get away for the upcoming holiday weekend? With CheapOair, it’s not too late to book 4th of July travel. And with AAA predicting less people will travel by air this year, now is a better time than ever. 

Less people will be traveling this year thanks to a sharp increase in airfare to popular destinations, and this means two things for savvy travelers: potentially less-crowded airports, and better deals to destinations a little further down on the list of popularity.

Our booking trends showed Chicago to be the most popular destination among CheapOair customers in 2013. Coming in at fifth most popular last year, the Windy City surpassed New York, Las Vegas and even the ever-popular Orlando. Not surprisingly, we also noted a 10 percent increase in roundtrip fares to Las Vegas and a 13 percent increase to Orlando, leading smart travelers to book trips elsewhere.

And their choice wasn’t a bad one. With the cost of a roundtrip ticket to Chicago averaging $390 roundtrip, there is much to see and do for 4th of July to make for a cost-effective trip. A few of our tips to enjoy the long weekend in Chicago without breaking the bank include:

— Navy Pier, no entry fee, enjoy rides and attractions on Lake Michigan and enjoy a spectacular fireworks show on July 4

— Chicago White Sox, tickets from $5-95 depending on seats, will play the Orioles at U.S. Cellular Field on July 4 at 1:10pm 

There were also destinations that saw a decrease in airfare this year. Roundtrip tickets to Denver are just $312, down 1 percent year over year. Remaining a popular destination at number four, features include a downtown art and restaurant scene, and endless possibilities for nature lovers just a short ride outside the city.

For those interested in travel to the Mile High City, favorites in Denver include The Green Russell (1422 Larimer St., reservations by calling 303-893-6505), a prohibition-style speakeasy with decently-priced drinks and food. Outside of the city, Red Rocks Amphitheatre (18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Golden, Colo.) is both a park with hiking and biking trails and an outdoor venue for concerts. The summer schedule can be viewed here.

And lastly, customers looking for the standard beach vacation can find it in Florida. With reasonable fares to Fort Lauderdale, which made the list at number 10, all that separates vacation-seekers from the restaurants on Ocean Boulevard, miles of white sand and the Atlantic Ocean is a $317 ticket from CheapOair.

Top U.S. Destinations and Average roundtrip airfare

1 — Chicago — $390

2 — Orlando — $347

3 — New York — $397

4 — Denver — $312

5 — Las Vegas — $376

6 — Washington, DC — $314

7 — Los Angeles — $441

8 — Boston — $377

9 — Dallas — $336

10 — Ft Lauderdale — $317