As summer vacations ramp up, American travelers are staying closer to home. According to new data released by Expedia, domestic travel in 2026 has been booming. However, travelers are trading longer-haul vacations for shorter, easier, more flexible, and more affordable getaways.
Expedia’s new “Unpack ’26 Summer: The Trends in Travel” report found online conversations around domestic vacations have jumped 77% globally over the past year, where interest in U.S.-based trips has doubled. Approximately 63% of American travelers say they’re planning a domestic vacation this summer.
Instead of leaving the country, many U.S. travelers are heading for beach towns, mountain escapes, lakeside retreats, and national parks. Online search results for Florida and California beaches have surged by 50%, while interest in outdoor destinations, such as mountains and lake destinations are up 65% from last year.
Among the destinations seeing a major boost for summer 2026 are places like St. George, Asheville, Bozeman, Providence, and those hotspots in Florida like Bradenton and Siesta Key. Expedia says travelers are increasingly choosing what it is calling a “Stay-Here Summer”, which is vacations built around convenience, proximity, and current cultural trends rather than international trips.
“Hotel Hopping” is one of the trends gaining momentum. Hotel hopping is where travelers split a single vacation across multiple hotels. Some are planning stays around concerts or sporting events, while other travelers are adding mini leisure stays onto business trips or combining road trips with several overnight stops instead of just a single destination.
Books are also shaping travelers’ plans this year. Expedia reports that the social media buzz surrounding “Beach Readaways”, vacations centered around reading and relaxing, has exploded by more than 200% compared to last summer. And the beach destinations connected to this trend are seeing a search demand increase of over 30%.
Interest in screen-inspired travel is very strong among younger travelers. Expedia found that 81% of Gen Z and Millennials say movies and television are directly influencing where they vacation.
Destinations are seeing dramatic spikes tied to pop culture. For example, searches for Yorkshire jumped 60% following the release of the new adaptation of Wuthering Heights. And, Muskoka saw travel interest soar to 110% after the debut of the series “Heated Rivalry.”
Even Rome received a boost after the latest season of Emily in Paris, which expanded its storyline into Italy, with searches for Paris rising 35% in the months after the season premiered.
The report also expects the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup to dramatically reshape travel patterns this summer. Soccer fans are rushing to book trips to FIFA host cities like Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Monterrey. While other travelers are using the opportunity to intentionally head in the opposite direction to avoid crowds and take advantage of lower hotel prices overseas.
Hotel rates across parts of Europe, Asia, and South America are averaging nearly 25% lower this summer due to the growing interest from travelers looking for quieter, value-focused alternatives.
