9 in 10 Americans Plan to Travel in 2026 But Most Are Staying Home

Rising Costs Push Travelers Toward Domestic Trips

Americans are ready to pack their bags in 2026, but most of them won’t need a passport.

A new survey shows 91% of Americans plan to travel next year, and nearly half want to take more trips than they did in 2025.

The catch?

International travel has gotten so expensive that most people are choosing road trips and weekend getaways instead.

Between a weakening dollar, rising flight costs, and America’s 250th birthday party, 2026 is shaping up to be the year Americans rediscover their own backyard.

Two-Thirds Choose Experiences Over Stuff

The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll for Marriott Bonvoy in late November 2025, found that 67% of Americans plan to prioritize experiences like travel over material purchases in 2026.

More than half said they want to spend more quality time with loved ones, and 46% are looking forward to trying new restaurants and food during their trips.

Relaxation ranked as the most meaningful benefit of travel, with 57% saying rest and recharging is what they value most.

Americans are trading shopping carts for suitcases.

Road Trips and Weekend Escapes Top Wish Lists

When asked what kind of trips they want to take, Americans made their preferences clear. Domestic road trips and local weekend getaways tied for first place, with 44% of travelers choosing each option.

The appeal is simple: you can leave when you want, stop where you want, and skip the airport entirely.

Hotels are adapting too, with 83% of road trippers saying free breakfast is essential and 63% calling a pool a must-have for breaking up long drives.

60% Skipped International Travel in 2025

A separate YouGov report found that most Americans stayed home in 2025.

Six in ten did not travel internationally at all, and among lower-income Americans, that number jumped to 75%.

The reason was cost.

More than 40% of international travelers said rising prices directly changed their plans, while 28% blamed economic uncertainty and shrinking paychecks.

Transportation, food, and hotels were the biggest pain points, with nearly half saying each category felt more expensive than the year before.

The Dollar Lost 10% of Its Buying Power

American travelers heading overseas in 2026 will find their money doesn’t stretch as far.

The dollar dropped about 10% against major currencies in 2025, and foreign exchange experts expect it to weaken further by mid-2026.

That shift is already changing behavior. Another 8% said they are picking countries where the dollar still holds some strength.

About 14% of travelers said they will choose domestic trips instead of international ones because of the exchange rate.

Europe Searches Drop as Americans Look Inward

Travel searches for major European cities have fallen sharply. Athens dropped 41% year over year, London fell 29%, and Paris declined 25%.

At the same time, searches for smaller U.S. destinations exploded. Hayden, Colorado saw a 1,156% increase in travel searches.

Key West jumped 225%, and Bozeman, Montana climbed 109%.

Of the destinations where search volume more than doubled, nearly 70% were domestic spots rather than international.

Millennials Would Give Up Dining Out for Vacation

Among Americans aged 29 to 44, travel is non-negotiable. Seventy percent said they would rather give up eating at restaurants for six months than skip a vacation.

That commitment helps explain why millennials and baby boomers are planning the biggest spending increases for 2026.

Millennials expect to spend about $919 more on travel than they did in 2025, while boomers are budgeting an extra $1,053.

Gen Z is the only generation planning to spend less.

America Celebrates 250 Years in July 2026

The nation’s semiquincentennial will drive millions of domestic trips next year.

Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, is planning months of events including a supersized Fourth of July festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Boston is reimagining its Freedom Trail to include stories of women and people of color. Colonial Williamsburg will host reenactments and a fireworks concert.

New York and New Jersey will welcome the largest gathering of tall ships and naval vessels ever assembled from July 3 to 8.

The FIFA World Cup Arrives on American Soil

Soccer’s biggest tournament comes to the United States in 2026, with matches spread across 16 cities including Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.

One game will be played at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on July 4, America’s 250th birthday.

Cities are already seeing demand spikes, with Indio, Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Toronto trending for event-based travel.

The World Cup alone is expected to bring billions in tourism spending.

Hotels Race to Win Domestic Travelers

With 52% of Americans enrolled in at least one hotel loyalty program, chains are competing hard for domestic bookings.

Nearly half of travelers say loyalty programs help them save money, and 80% believe the perks make travel goals easier to reach.

Marriott launched a New Year’s Eve sweepstakes awarding one million points to five winners. Hotels along major highways are emphasizing free breakfast, pools, and suites for road-weary families.

The message is clear: if Americans are staying home, hotels want their business.

Cost Remains the Biggest Worry for 2026

Despite all the enthusiasm, 72% of Americans say cost is their number one travel concern heading into the new year.

That worry is highest among Gen Z at 76% and millennials at 75%. Travel disruptions rank second at 66%, followed by time constraints and political climate.

If international prices rise further, 21% of travelers say they will cut back on trips entirely, and 20% say they will abandon overseas travel altogether in favor of domestic vacations.

Americans want to travel, but they are watching every dollar.

The Year of the American Road Trip

The numbers point to a clear trend: 2026 will be the year Americans hit the highway.

With a historic birthday to celebrate, a World Cup to attend, and international costs pushing travelers homeward, the country is poised for a domestic travel boom.

From tall ships in New York Harbor to fireworks over Gettysburg to beach weekends in Florida, Americans are finding plenty of reasons to explore without leaving home.

The road is calling, and 91% of Americans are ready to answer.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• DOT wants Americans to stop dressing like slobs at the airport
• Most Americans Are Clueless About These 12 TSA Rules
• How a crumbling New Jersey hangar became a memorial to 42 fallen WWII pilots