staycation

American  

[stey-key-shuhn] / ˌsteɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a vacation spent at home or near home, doing enjoyable activities or visiting local attractions.

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staycation British  

/ ˌsteɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. informal a holiday in which leisure activities are pursued while staying at one's own home

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Etymology

Origin of staycation

First recorded in 1940–45; stay ¹ + (va)cation

Explanation

A staycation is relaxing at home or in your own town over a break from work or school. If it's too expensive — or stressful — to go on a long road trip or fly somewhere and stay in hotels, your family might choose to staycation instead. The word staycation is a blend of stay and the last part of vacation. It’s a vacation where you stay at home. You might just hang around the house reading a good book or playing games. Or you might visit local sites that you never seem to have the time to go to — like the zoo, an amusement park, or a museum. Staycations can be a lot of fun, and relaxing, too, because you can avoid travel headaches (like flight delays) and sleep in your own bed every night.

Example Sentences

In April, her family will take a staycation in their hometown of Las Vegas, instead of a planned road trip to Yosemite National Park.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026

Gifts here should improve daily life: nicer linens, a staycation, or an upgraded alarm clock to make hitting snooze more pleasant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

Later this month my family is going on a quick staycation at Wyndham Hotel, booked entirely with my generous friend’s points she offered us, since they are due to expire at the end of June.

From Salon • May 28, 2025

"We are pushing the staycation model a lot, and we are trying to invite people to discover their own countries and to avoid the flights when it's possible."

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2023

Children shrieked and splashed in the water, and a couple on an anniversary staycation floated at the edge of the hotel pool, nursing their blended beverages.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 17, 2023