With summer just around the corner, TripAdvisor has once again put together its yearly Summer Travel Index, revealing the top and trending summer destinations for U.S. travellers. In 2026, Myrtle Beach in California and Cancun in Mexico came out as the most popular summer destinations.
In order to get a feeling of summer travel trends among U.S. travellers in 2026, TripAdvisor analysed searches on its platform made between 1 February and 10 April 2026 for travel between 1 June and 31 August. Based on the data, the travel company noted the popularity of East Coast beach destinations for domestic travel in 2026.
Picture this: It's summer time. The weather is perfect. You're kayaking in Santorini watching the sunset. Life is good. pic.twitter.com/AQSEldGPws
— Tripadvisor (@Tripadvisor) June 19, 2025
Myrtle Beach in South Carolina came out at the top of the list. With its wide range of family-friendly attractions, its numerous options for golf enthusiasts, and its outdoor opportunities, it is not hard to understand the potential attraction of the city to domestic travellers. However, with New York chosen as the second most popular destination in the list, it is clear that travellers have not yet lost their appetite for more classic city trips.
Most popular domestic summer destinations for 2026:
- 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
Internationally speaking, travellers once again show their love for beach destinations and cities alike. Cancun in Mexico came out at the top of the most popular international summer destinations for U.S. travellers, with an interesting mix of culture and food, of relaxation and adventure. The next three top destinations are Paris, London, and Rome, as U.S. travellers keep showing their interest in traditional European destinations.
Most popular international summer destinations for 2026:
- Cancun, Mexico
- Paris, France
- London, United Kingdom
- Rome, Italy
- Bavaro, Dominican Republic
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Barcelona, Spain
- Palm and Eagle Beach, Aruba
- Vancouver, Canada
- Oranjestad, Aruba
In its Summer Travel Index, TripAdvisor also mentions a list of destinations showing the fastest Year-on-Year growth concerning travellers’ searches on its platform. Those top trending destinations give an idea of what the next years might bring for the travel industry. And while Florida leads the list of trending domestic destinations, the list of international searches shows that travellers are looking to get off the beaten track.
Top 5 trending domestic destinations:
- Orlando, Florida
- Longboat Key, Florida
- Pensacola Beach, Florida
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Charlotte, North Carolina
Top 5 trending international destinations:
- Green Island, Jamaica
- The Bight Settlement, Turks and Caicos
- Kyushu, Japan
- Bilbao, Spain
- Tropea, Italy
Although TripAdvisor did not share the details of the data it collected, rising costs and geopolitical tensions are likely to push U.S. travellers towards domestic destinations instead of going on international trips. According to a recent report by the European Travel Commission, while 82% of Europeans are planning to travel this spring and summer, nearly 90% intend to stay within the continent, partly due to the aforementioned reasons.
