Holiday travel trends 2026 are already taking shape, and the story is simple: more of you want to be somewhere else for the holidays, but you want to get there for less. From Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26 through New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1, 2027, this season looks set to reward travelers who plan early, drive more and pick their dates with care.
AAA’s official 2026 holiday forecasts are not out yet (last year’s arrived in mid-November and December), so the best guide right now is last season’s record-setting data plus fresh booking surveys from this fall. AAA counted a record 122.4 million Americans traveling over the 2025 year-end holidays, Deloitte found that 54% of Americans planned to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January, and a new AAA survey released in September 2026 shows that waiting for a better deal usually backfires. Here are the seven holiday travel trends 2026 is bringing, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, and what each one means for your plans.
1. More Travelers, Tighter Budgets
The first of the holiday travel trends 2026 travelers need to know is a split between desire and dollars. In its 2025 Holiday Travel Survey, Deloitte found that 54% of respondents intended to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January, up five percentage points from the year before. At the same time, the average holiday travel budget fell 18% to $2,334.
The reason is not hard to find. Deloitte reported that 31% of respondents said their financial situation was worse than a year earlier, up from 26% in 2024. Deloitte Vice Chair Kate Ferrara summed it up: “Many Americans are planning fewer flights and hotel stays, with tighter wallets in tow.”
What this means for you: Expect busy roads and airports even if prices soften. Set a firm trip budget first, then choose dates and destinations that fit inside it, not the other way around.
2. The Holiday Road Trip Rules
If you are driving to see family this year, you will have a lot of company. AAA’s year-end holiday travel forecast projected 109.5 million people traveling by car between December 20, 2025 and January 1, 2026, which is 89% of all holiday travelers. By comparison, AAA expected about 8.03 million domestic air travelers over the same stretch.
Deloitte’s survey shows the shift away from flying too: 47% of travelers planned to fly on their longest trip of the season, down from 55% the year before. Among those choosing to drive instead of fly, 57% said they were doing it to save money.
Long winter drives mean chilly gas-station stops, early starts and hours in the passenger seat. That is where a heavyweight layer earns its spot on the back seat. Our premium travel hoodies are made for exactly this kind of trip, warm enough for a frosty 6 a.m. departure and comfortable enough to nap in somewhere around mile 300.
What this means for you: AAA’s guidance for the year-end period is to hit the road before 10 or 11 a.m. or after 9 p.m., and to avoid 12 to 8 p.m. on weekends and 1 to 7 p.m. on the busiest weekdays. Plan your departure around those windows and you will spend less of your holiday in traffic.
3. Waiting for a Deal Is Costing Travelers
Among all the holiday travel trends 2026 has shown so far, the clearest is that the “wait and see” approach does not pay. A AAA holiday travel survey released September 14, 2026 found that 49% of respondents had delayed booking a trip and ended up paying more than if they had booked earlier. Fifteen percent said they paid significantly more.
Why do people wait? In that survey, 41% pointed to budget concerns, 36% were holding out for lower prices, 26% were waiting for friends or family to commit and 24% were worried about weather or travel disruptions. Only 26% said they start planning holiday trips in September or October. In other words, AAA’s own spokesperson warns that holding out for a better deal often does not pay off.
What this means for you: If your dates are locked, book now. AAA points out that booking early gets you more flight options, better hotel availability and more time to compare prices. Set fare alerts for the rest, but do not let a hypothetical deal cost you a real one.
4. Off-Peak Holidays Go Mainstream
Off-peak dates are one of the holiday travel trends 2026 travelers can use to their advantage. More travelers are shifting their trips to the days just before or after the big holiday weeks. In the same September 2026 AAA survey, people who prefer off-peak holiday travel cited lower prices (51%), fewer crowds (49%) and less travel stress (33%) as the main reasons.
The 2026 calendar helps. With Christmas and New Year’s Day both falling on a Friday, you get two natural long weekends to work with, and the quieter days between them are prime territory for a shorter, cheaper trip.
What this means for you: Compare a few different date combinations before you book. Leaving a couple of days early, or celebrating with family the weekend after, can save money and a lot of stress.
5. Sunshine, Theme Parks and Caribbean Escapes
When Americans do travel for the holidays, they chase warm weather. AAA’s top domestic year-end destinations for 2025 were Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Anaheim/Los Angeles and Honolulu, with Tampa, New York City, Maui, Dallas/Fort Worth and Las Vegas rounding out the top ten.
Internationally, the list leaned heavily toward the Caribbean and Mexico: Cancun, Punta Cana, Cozumel, San Jose (Costa Rica) and Puerto Vallarta led the way, followed by San Juan, Nassau, Rome, Aruba and Sydney.
For many travelers, those trips are about heading home as much as getting away. If you are flying back to see family in Mexico, the Dominican Republic or anywhere else you call home, our Flag & Country Pride collection is an easy way to rep your roots at the airport and at the holiday table, and it makes a thoughtful gift for the relative who never stops talking about the old country.
What this means for you: Warm-weather hubs fill up first. If you want the beach, book flights and lodging now and consider nearby airports or smaller towns for better rates.
6. Gen Z and Millennials Take Over the Holidays
Deloitte found that Gen Z and millennials were expected to make up half of the holiday traveling public for the first time. They are also the most budget-conscious: surveyed Gen Z travelers planned to cut their holiday budgets by 31% year over year. Boomers were the only group planning to spend more, with a 4% increase.
Deloitte also found that 26% of respondents qualified as luxury travelers, meaning they had recently stayed at hotels charging $400 or more a night on at least two leisure trips. The result is a split season, with a large group of cost-cutters on one side and a steady slice of big spenders on the other.
What this means for you: If you are traveling on a tight budget, look at shared rentals, staying with friends or road-tripping with a group to split costs. Put the savings toward one standout experience instead of spreading it thin.
7. AI Planning and Working From the Road
The way you plan a holiday trip is changing fast. Deloitte reported that GenAI use in travel planning was expected to reach 24% of holiday travelers, up from 16% in 2024 and 8% in 2023. At the same time, many travelers are bringing work along: Deloitte’s “laptop luggers,” who plan to work during their travels, expected to take 2.3 trips and spend $3,283 on their longest trip.
What this means for you: Use AI tools to compare dates, map drive times and build a rough itinerary, then double-check prices and policies on the official sites before you pay. If you are working remotely during the holidays, confirm Wi-Fi before booking and block off real time to enjoy the trip. For more seasonal context, see our breakdown of fall travel trends 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest holiday travel trends 2026 will bring?
The biggest holiday travel trends 2026 will bring are strong demand with tighter budgets, a heavy shift toward road trips, earlier booking, off-peak travel dates and warm-weather destinations. Deloitte found 54% of Americans planned to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January, while average budgets fell 18% to $2,334.
When should I book holiday travel for 2026?
As soon as your dates are set. A September 2026 AAA survey found that 49% of respondents who delayed booking ended up paying more, and AAA notes that booking early gives you more flight options and better hotel availability.
How many people travel over the year-end holidays?
AAA projected a record 122.4 million Americans would travel between December 20, 2025 and January 1, 2026, with 109.5 million going by car and about 8.03 million flying domestically. AAA released that forecast on December 10, 2025, so expect the 2026 numbers around the same time.
Sources and Further Reading
- Deloitte: While Holiday Travel Intent Rises, Planned Spending Hits Turbulence (November 2025)
- AAA Year-End Holiday Travel Forecast (December 2025)
- AAA: Floridians Begin Making Holiday Travel Plans (September 2026)
The 2026 holiday season is shaping up to be busy, budget-minded and road-trip heavy. Book early, travel a day or two off-peak, and pack the layers and pieces that make the trip feel like yours. 👉 Explore travel-inspired streetwear at Around The World In A Rush ✈️🌍
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