AAA has released its 2008 Vacation Costs Survey, and South Dakota is ranked the fifth least expensive place in the United States to take a trip. That’s the same ranking we had last year.

AAA estimated that lodging for two adults in South Dakota last year cost on average $109.09 per day. Meals were $65.74, and the total per-day travel cost was $174.83.

I don’t feel real bad about losing out to the four less-expensive states — North Dakota ($158.75), Nebraska (159.65), Kansas ($164.62) and Iowa (169.81). North Dakota has a pretty active tourism industry, but the others are hardly destinations. And Iowa has to pay film producers to make movies there.

The others in the list of 10 lowest-cost desinations are Alabama, Arkansas, Minssippi and Kentucky.

It’s kind of interesting to look at the 10 most expensive vacation places. Hawaii is incredibly expensive — $792.76 per day. And that doesn’t count airfare.

After that comes the District of Columbia ($574.74), New York ($319.86), Nevada (300.84) — that one surprised me, because I always thought Vegas was a bargain subsidized by gambling — Florida ($288.75), Massachusetts ($286.70), Rhode Island ($286.54),  California ($285.54), Delaware ($283.66) and New Jersey ($281.01).

Who goes to New Jersey on vacation? Or Rhode Island for that matter.

When you combine vacation costs with vacation things to do, I think South Dakota hits the top of the curve. But I’m a little partial to this state.