OK, we always knew South Dakota is a great place to take a vacation. (We’re just a little biased in that regard.) But now, AAA confirms that a South Dakota vacation is a relative bargain as well.

In the AAA Vacation Costs Survey released today, South Dakota ranked as the fifth least expensive among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The average family of four can expect to pay about $175 a day for meals and lodging in the Sunshine State, according to AAA’s figures.

And South Dakota is apparently in good company. Next door neighbor North Dakota ($158 per day) was the cheapest, followed by Nebraska ($160), Kansas ($166) and Iowa ($170).

At the other end of the scale — the high end — is Hawaii. If you go to the Aloha State, you can expect to plunk down $793 a day. And that’s just for lodging and meals. It doesn’t include airfare, surfing lessons or suntan lotion.

The District of Columbia ($575) was the second spendiest destination, followed by New York ($319), Nevada ($301) and Florida ($289).

The national average, by the way, is $244 per day for meals and lodging.

AAA has been tracking vacation costs since 1950, when the average daily cost for meals and lodging was just $13 a day. (Gasoline in 1950 was 27 cents a gallon.)

If you’d like to see the state-by-state breakdown, click HERE for the AAA press release. You have to scroll to the bottom of the release, then download the spreadsheet and check out the STATES tab.

The site also has all the particulars of how they conducted their survey. Frankly, I think a family could travel in South Dakota for less. For one thing, the survey is based on three full-service meals per day for four people. But so many motels and hotels now have pretty elaborate breakfast buffets.