Where Americans are headed in 2026: Top and trending flight destinations
Where Americans are headed in 2026: Top and trending flight destinations
As travelers plan their spring and summer vacations, new data from Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks Report identifies the top destinations Americans are traveling to this year. The analysis, based on millions of bookings and searches collected between December 2024 and November 2025, captures both longstanding favorites and fast-rising travel hotspots.
America’s Most Flown Domestic Destinations
The most popular domestic cities reflect a familiar mix of cultural hubs and warm-weather getaways. According to the report, the top U.S. destinations Americans are flying to include:
- New York
- Orlando
- Los Angeles
- Las Vegas
- Miami
- Atlanta
- Dallas
- Boston
- Houston
- Phoenix
These destinations continue to draw travelers with their mix of entertainment, accessibility, and year-round appeal.
Top International Destinations for American Travelers
Beach escapes, major cultural capitals, and key transit hubs are driving international demand. The ten most popular international flight destinations include:
- Cancun, Mexico
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Tokyo, Japan
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- London, United Kingdom
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Guatemala City, Guatemala
This list reflects a diverse range of travel interests, from short-haul beach escapes across Mexico and the Caribbean to long-haul trips to London and Tokyo.
Trending US Destinations: The Fastest Risers of 2026
Trending destinations are defined by the fastest year over year increases in search activity, highlighting places where traveler interest is rising rapidly. These locations are gaining visibility early in the year and indicate where U.S. travelers are increasingly curious to explore next.
The top trending domestic destinations include:
- Carlsbad, California (+1210%)
- Vero Beach, Florida (+840%)
- Portsmouth, New Hampshire (+440%)
- Taos County, New Mexico (+405%)
- St. Simons Island (+320%)
- San Bernardino, California (+295%)
- Las Cruces, New Mexico (+155%)
- Orange County, California (+150%)
- Morgantown, West Virginia (+30%)
- Maui, Hawai‘i (+25%)
The momentum across these destinations points to growing interest in coastal towns, mountain communities, and second city escapes that offer quieter experiences without sacrificing access to local culture and outdoor activities.
Trending International Destinations
Internationally, American travelers are broadening their horizons with notable year-over-year search increases across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The fastest growing international destinations include:
- Alghero, Italy (+560%)
- Toluca, Mexico (+225%)
- Nha Trang, Vietnam (+185%)
- Naxos, Greece (+160%)
- Hyogo Prefecture, Japan (+105%)
- Ontario, Canada (+85%)
- Minas Gerais, Brazil (+85%)
- Rome, Italy (+60%)
- Guatemala (+45%)
This mix highlights interest in culturally rich and less crowded destinations across Europe and Southeast Asia. Emerging cities in Mexico and Brazil show similar momentum, reinforcing the variety of destinations capturing attention among U.S. travelers this year.
Why These Destinations Matter in 2026
These patterns align with other insights from the 2026 Air Hacks Report, including shorter, more flexible trips and shifting traveler behavior. With travelers heading into the busiest planning months of the year, this combined look at established and emerging destinations provides a useful snapshot of where interest is building for 2026.
Methodology
The most popular and trending destinations are based on searches on Expedia.com from December 2024 to November 2025, compared with those from December 2023 to November 2024.
This story was produced by Expedia and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
