Holiday travel trends for 2026 show rise in road trips and mountain destinations

The 2026 holiday travel season is seeing a mix of trends as many Americans choose not to travel for Thanksgiving or Christmas amid steep ticket prices driven by a jet fuel shortage, according to reports from mercurynews.com and morningjournal.com.

A recent study cited by both outlets found that 55% of Americans are not traveling at all during the holidays. Among those who do travel, road trips have become especially popular as a cost-saving measure.

Travelers are also opting to stay closer to home, with mountain towns and cabin-country escapes dominating the fastest-growing destinations for Thanksgiving 2026, according to a holiday travel report from the vacation rental metasearch engine Home to Go.

Leavenworth, Washington, a Bavarian-themed Alpine village in the Cascade Mountains, saw a 347% year-over-year increase in search interest. Boone, North Carolina, experienced a 275% rise, while Jackson Hole, Wyoming, known for its skiing and proximity to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, rounds out the top three Thanksgiving destinations.

For Christmas travel, the Home to Go report indicates international destinations are leading, with seven of the top ten trending locations located outside the United States. These insights are based on traveler search data for stays during the holiday weeks.

TravelPulse also consulted travel advisers to provide additional forecasts on holiday travel trends and top destinations for 2026, highlighting the evolving preferences of holiday travelers this year.