On the radio / podcastshow, Clark mentioned these three odd-ball airlines that all have a strategy of 100% non-stops, no hubs / no connections, they fly point-to-point for “family visits and vacations” into and out of secondary airports, and very inexpensively. Oh, also they don’t necessarily fly every day.
Take a look at their route maps. You might luck out. Here is what I found here in Houston:
Allegiant Air - Houston Hobby to Provo UT… wish I had know about this a few weeks earlier, I bought $$$ tickets to Satl Lake City
Avelo Air - Houston Hobby to New Haven CT if I ever then want to go to NYC by train
Not a huge haul for me, but you might be luckier. And luck does play heavily into it.