Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, has shared early insights from its forthcoming 2026 Summer Travel Index, highlighting the most popular and emerging destinations for U.S. travelers.
The findings show a strong preference for East Coast beach locations, with Myrtle Beach topping domestic search trends. These easy-to-reach seaside spots appeal to families, offering a wide range of activities—from water parks and beach развлечения to cultural attractions and local entertainment suited to all age groups. On the international front, Mexico and Caribbean destinations remain highly favored, with Cancun holding its position as the leading summer destination for the third consecutive year. Its appeal includes exceptional diving and snorkeling opportunities, along with access to renowned cultural landmarks.
Travel choices also vary across major U.S. holiday weekends. For Memorial Day, travelers are opting for short getaways to places like Anaheim, California, and Orange Beach, Alabama. Meanwhile, Independence Day plans lean toward popular beach destinations such as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Clearwater, Florida.
Summer Travel Index 2026: Top Destinations Search data reflects a mix of classic beach retreats and well-known urban hubs. Myrtle Beach leads the list, joined by several Florida coastal destinations. At the same time, iconic cities like New York, Chicago, and Las Vegas remain highly sought after. Internationally, Cancun ranks first among U.S. travelers, followed by Paris and London, underscoring continued interest in Europe’s cultural centers.
Top Domestic Destinations (U.S. Travelers): Myrtle Beach, South Carolina New York, New York Chicago, Illinois Las Vegas, Nevada Ocean City, Maryland Key West, Florida Panama City Beach, Florida Seattle, Washington Clearwater, Florida Nashville, Tennessee
Top International Destinations (U.S. Travelers): Cancun, Mexico Paris, France London, United Kingdom Rome, Italy Bavaro, Dominican Republic Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Barcelona, Spain Palm–Eagle Beach, Aruba Vancouver, Canada Oranjestad, Aruba
Fastest-Growing Destinations (Year-over-Year) Comparative data indicates rising interest in Florida beach towns and Caribbean islands, alongside increased exploration of destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.
Trending Domestic Locations: Orlando, Florida Longboat Key, Florida Pensacola Beach, Florida Baltimore, Maryland Charlotte, North Carolina
Trending International Locations: Green Island, Jamaica The Bight Settlement, Turks and Caicos Kyushu, Japan Bilbao, Spain Tropea, Italy
Memorial Day Travel Trends Search patterns for Memorial Day highlight growing interest in destinations like St. Pete Beach and Orange Beach, as well as culturally rich cities such as Rome and Toronto. Anaheim is also gaining attention as a top choice for extended weekend trips, thanks to attractions like Disneyland Park.
Top Trending Domestic (Memorial Day): Anaheim, California Orange Beach, Alabama St. Pete Beach, Florida Reno, Nevada Virginia Beach, Virginia
Top Trending International (Memorial Day): Rome, Italy Toronto, Canada Porto, Portugal Bavaro, Dominican Republic Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
4th of July Travel Trends For Independence Day, travelers are gravitating toward coastal destinations like Virginia Beach and Panama City Beach, as well as entertainment-driven locations such as Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, home to Dollywood Theme Park.
Top Trending Domestic (4th of July): Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Clearwater, Florida Virginia Beach, Virginia Panama City Beach, Florida
Top Trending International (4th of July): Rome, Italy Bavaro, Dominican Republic Cap Cana, Dominican Republic Palm–Eagle Beach, Aruba Oranjestad, Aruba
Summer Experiences and Activities Travelers this summer are focusing on thoughtfully curated experiences. Cultural and heritage tours are the most popular, followed by outdoor and adventure activities that offer immersive ways to explore destinations.
Popular Experiences Include:
- Cultural tours such as walking tours through New York’s SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown, Las Vegas TV-themed tours, and early-morning visits to Chichen Itza with cenote swims and tequila tastings
- Historical and heritage experiences like underground city tours, guided pub tours in London, and visits to Montserrat Monastery from Barcelona
- Adventure activities including high-speed boat rides on the Thames, cenote exploration tours, and clear kayak excursions in Florida
