Why U.S. Travelers Are Staying Close to Home This Summer

Domestic travel is hot this summer, with many clients choosing to stay close to home rather than journey abroad—some citing global concerns and financial considerations as reasons for adjusting their plans. Veering away from global destinations, travelers are turning their attention to Hawaii, New England and everywhere in between.

Here are some of this summer’s hot spots for domestic travel.

Value-Driven Summer Vacations

According to the U.S. Travel Association, rather than long international vacations, travelers are planning several shorter trips and making more value-driven decisions, meaning many clients may be looking to tick off U.S. states from their list.

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“It’s shaping up to be a very practical summer from a budget perspective,” said Regina Lewis, a travel industry expert, during a segment for KOIN-TV in Portland, Oregon. “If you say, ‘I can’t believe we haven’t been there,’ where’s there? It may be Alaska or Hawaii, but if that’s not in the [financial] cards, it could also be San Francisco or the San Diego Zoo — or even being a tourist in your hometown.”

Once travelers choose their “there,” she added, they can “right-size” the trip to fit their budget — and incidentally, both San Francisco and San Diego are in the top 10 for Google Flights’ trending domestic destinations for summer 2026.

Also literally driving summer vacation planning is the allure of classic road trips, with recent data showing that more than 40% of travelers are planning driving trips to celebrate America's 250th birthday and the 100th anniversary of Route 66. This particular trend  makes the Golden State a perfect choice, especially since Route 66 ends at the iconic Santa Monica pier, says Ryan Becker, senior vice president of communications and strategy at Visit California.

RELATED: It's America’s 250th Birthday — Here Are a Few Ways to Celebrate Across the Country

“It’s an unbelievable time to get out on the open road in California,” he said at a Visit California event. “Highway 1 reopened after three years, so travelers can now do the full through-drive 600 miles up the spectacular California coastline.”

It’s an unbelievable time to get out on the open road in California.

Travelers prioritizing America’s 250th birthday celebrations will likely head to Boston, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. — and clients who visit Philadelphia can see a time capsule placed at Independence Hall, which will remain sealed until the country’s 500th birthday in 2276. However, that’s not the only city marking the momentous national milestone.

For the first time in its 120-year history, the Times Square Ball will drop on a date other than New Year’s Eve, when a custom America250 crystal-covered ball will descend at midnight on July 3 (into July 4) in New York City.

Domestic Luxury Travel

Booking data from host travel agency Global Travel Collection (GTC) shows renewed interest in domestic luxury travel, with summer U.S. hotel bookings among high-value travelers up more than 20% compared to 2025.

“At moments when the world feels uncertain, sophisticated travelers don’t stop traveling; they pivot,” said Angie Licea, president of GTC. “What we’re seeing is a shift toward extraordinary domestic experiences where travelers can stay closer to home without compromising on luxury or discovery.”

To that end, GTC is seeing the highest growth for luxury Hawaiian resorts, particularly Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea on Maui and Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection and Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Hawaii Island . GTC is also seeing increased demand for mountain resorts, including The St. Regis Aspen Resort in Colorado, and Ocean House in the exclusive coastal town of Watch Hill, Rhode Island, which also happens to be the rumored wedding venue of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

[Hawaii] attracts travelers seeking something distinct without leaving the United States.

And Hawaii is capitalizing on the uptick in domestic luxury travel.

During Hawaii Tourism Authority’s 2026 Spring Tourism Update, Aaron Sala, president and CEO for Hawaii Tourism USA, noted that six in 10 Americans are not planning international travel due to cost, safety and geopolitical instability, with 41% of those travelers pivoting toward domestic destinations, a stat that places Hawaii in a unique position.

“We’re not competing as a typical domestic destination,” he said. “We are the ‘domestic exotic,’ and that gives us an opportunity to attract travelers seeking something distinct without leaving the United States.”