2024 fall travel trends
Budget-friendly destinations and motivations are top-of-mind this season
Published September 2024
Published September 2024
As we dig out our coats and swap beach blankets for flannels, we teamed up with Allison Worldwide to survey more than 1,000 Americans over the age of 18 to understand where and how people are traveling—and booking vacation rentals—this fall.
Half of U.S. consumers (49%) plan to travel this fall, with Millennials (58%) and Gen Z (53%) being the most likely to travel.
85 percent said they’re taking either a quick (70%) or long (67%) weekend trip this fall.
1 in 5 parents of children under 18 are planning to “let loose” and travel for Oktoberfest (19% vs. 14% NET).
Most travelers are staying within the U.S. (88%). Road trips are also popular, with 76% of travelers driving to their destinations. Many are looking for destinations that are good for road trips, photo-worthy, or offer outdoor recreation (53% and 34% respectively).
Festivals, concerts, and sporting events are significant factors for Gen Z travelers this fall (47%).
Vacation rental bookings can expect to see increased traffic this fall compared to this time last year, with 2 in 5 travelers planning to stay – a roughly 10% jump since fall 2023 (41% vs. 32%).
Significantly more people are citing value as an influence in staying at a vacation rental this fall (71% fall 2024 vs. 57% fall 2023).
Of all generational travelers, Gen Z are most likely to make their vacation rental selection based on price (41%) over location, amenities and design.
Gen Z travelers (35%) place a higher emphasis on communal spaces when booking accommodations, such as those offered by vacation rentals, compared to other generations of travelers (24% NET).
Half all parents with children under age 18 traveling this fall will be choosing to stay in a vacation rental (49%).
More than half of those staying in a vacation rental this fall say they were influenced to do so due to the availability of activities, entertainment and private amenities (57%).
Amenities such as pools or hot tubs are highly desired (43%).
For Gen Z, having access to basic workout equipment is an important factor in their accommodation bookings (27% vs. 17% NET).
77% of fall travelers have shifted their travel behaviors to be more budget conscious, with a rising focus on price monitoring and booking trips when they find a deal (27% 2024, 24% 2023).
Travelers are prioritizing destinations within their budget (47%) and those with children under 18 are the most likely to book travel well in advance to save money (26% vs. 22% NET).
Autumn travelers are particularly likely to head somewhere for at least one winter holiday, such as Christmas or New Years (66%). 1 in 5 of anticipated winter travelers have already booked their travel plans (19%).
*Respondents were given the ability to select multiple options to account for multiple trips during the season.
