Ropin’ in reasonable prices at a dude ranch

Families all over America are searching for a reasonably priced summer vacation within the United States. They couldn’t do better than to book themselves into a Western-style dude ranch, which offers daily horseback riding, simple food and accommodations -- and almost universal satisfaction for the parents and kids lucky enough to enjoy this unique form of American leisure.

Here are a dozen dude ranches that charge $1,050 or less per week for an adult; most charge considerably less than that for children.

* Rancho de la Osa Guest Ranch, Sasabe, Ariz.; (800) 872-6240, www.ranchodelaosa.com. Elegant 1920s Southwestern ranch, gourmet food, surrounded by 130,000 wildlife acres. Summer weekly rate: $900 per adult, double occupancy.

* Ironhorse Ranch, Tombstone, Ariz.; (520) 457-9361, www.ironhorseranch.com. Old West-like ranch, near historic Tombstone; riding certification programs. Summer weekly rate: $860 per adult, double occupancy.

* Southern Cross Ranch, Madison, Ga.; (706) 342-8027, www.southcross.com. Year-round, pool, mountain biking, more than 100 horses. Weekly rate: $665 per adult, double occupancy.

* Happy Hollow Ranch, Howell, Mich.; (517) 546-3351, www.zfarms.com. Bunkhouse lodging, two-acre lake, fishing, berry picking. Daily rate: $125 per person, double occupancy.

* Laughing Water Guest Ranch, Fortine, Mont.; (800) 847-5095, www.lwranch.com. Kids’ programs, cattle drives, square dances, close to Glacier National Park. Weekly rate: $625 per person, double occupancy.

* Parade Rest Guest Ranch, West Yellowstone, Mont.; (800) 753-5934, www.parade-rest-ranch.com. Fly-fishing, hot tub, free airport transfers, western cookouts. Daily rate: $138 per adult, single or double occupancy.

* Spur Cross Ranch, Golconda, Nev.; (800) 651-4567, agonline.com/SpurCross. Ranch at 4,300-foot elevation; cabins, open spaces. Weekly rate: $800 per person, double occupancy.

* Flying L Guest Ranch, Bandera, Texas; (800) 292-5134, www.flyingl.com. Roping, swimming, golf, bike riding, family programs. Summer daily rate: $113 per person, double occupancy.

* Dixie Dude Ranch, Bandera, Texas; (800) 375-9255, www.dixieduderanch.com. Built in 1901, Dixie Dude Ranch is another Texas hill-country facility. There are barbecues, campfires, cabins and dancing. Weekly rate: $660 per adult, double occupancy.

* Twin Elm Guest Ranch, Bandera, Texas; (888) 567-3049, www.twinelmranch.com. Hayrides, outdoor chuck-wagon meals, river tubing. Daily rate: $100 per adult.

* TX Ranch, Lovell, Wyo.; (406) 484-6415, www.txranch.com. Working cattle ranch, 39,000 acres, mountain vistas. Summer weekly rate: $1,050 per adult. Participants camp at cow camps.

* Allen’s Diamond Four Ranch, Lander, Wyo.; (307) 332-2995, www.diamond4ranch.com. At 9,200-foot elevation, this ranch offers great scenery. It has cabins, natural history hikes and other activities. Summer weekly rate: $895 per adult.