How Americans Travel Today: The Data Behind Modern Travel Habits
Americans are still traveling — and they are traveling differently than before.
Domestic leisure travel spending hit $900 billion in 2025. Wellness tourism has surpassed its pre-pandemic levels by a significant margin. And the motivations driving trip decisions have shifted: rest, mental wellbeing, nature, and authentic local experience now rank alongside — and often ahead of — traditional sightseeing.
This report draws on publicly available travel industry data, government spending figures, consumer surveys, and tourism research to examine how Americans travel today — covering trip volume, spending, travel motivations, experience-led trends, wellness tourism, and generational differences.
Key Highlights
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U.S. travel spending reached $1.4 trillion in 2025, according to U.S. Travel Association data
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Domestic leisure travel accounted for $900 billion of that spending — projected to reach $909 billion in 2026
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Domestic leisure travel is the only major travel segment currently above 2019 levels on an inflation-adjusted basis
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56% of Americans say their top leisure travel motivation is to rest and recharge
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Other leading motivations include spending time in nature (37%), improving mental health (36%), and taking "me time" (20%)
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87% of global travelers like to leave room in their itinerary for unexpected local discoveries
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76% say they are likely to do something adventurous or outside their comfort zone while traveling
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83% of Millennial and Gen Z travelers prioritize unique, authentic experiences over popular tourist attractions
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Wellness tourism expenditures reached 136% of their 2019 level in 2024 — outpacing overall tourism recovery
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Wellness tourism is projected to grow 9.1% annually, reaching $1.38 trillion by 2029
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58% of travelers say they would pay for a vacation whose sole purpose was to extend their lifespan and wellbeing
Travel Remains a Major Part of the U.S. Economy
Travel is one of the largest consumer spending categories in the United States — and it continues to grow.
U.S. Travel Association data shows total U.S. travel spending reached $1.4 trillion in 2025, with domestic leisure travel accounting for $900 billion of that figure.
Domestic leisure travel spending is projected to reach $909 billion in 2026.
Notably, domestic leisure is the only major travel segment where spending is currently above 2019 levels after adjusting for inflation — a sign of just how resilient leisure travel has proven even amid broader cost-of-living pressures.
Domestic Travel Continues to Grow
Domestic trip volume is also moving in a positive direction.
U.S. Travel Association forecasts show domestic person-trips grew by an estimated 1.9% in 2025 and are projected to grow by 2.0% in 2026.
Domestic leisure travel volume is forecast to grow by 2.1% in 2026. Domestic business travel is forecast to grow by 2.8% over the same period.
The steady growth suggests Americans are continuing to prioritize travel despite higher prices and wider economic pressures — treating it as a non-negotiable part of their leisure lives rather than a discretionary luxury to cut.
Americans Travel Primarily to Rest and Recharge
When asked why they travel, Americans are increasingly clear about what they are looking for.
Hilton's 2026 travel research found that 56% of respondents say their number one leisure travel motivation is to rest and recharge.
Other leading motivations include spending time in nature (37%), improving mental health (36%), and taking intentional "me time" (20%).
Rest and recovery have moved from afterthoughts to primary travel motivations — reflecting a broader cultural shift in how people think about time away from everyday life.
Experience-Led Travel Is Reshaping How Trips Are Planned
Travelers are increasingly building trips around what they will do, not just where they will go.
American Express's 2026 Global Travel Trends research found that 87% of global respondents like to leave room in their itinerary for unexpected local discoveries. 76% say they are likely to do something adventurous or outside their comfort zone while traveling.
Among Millennial and Gen Z respondents specifically, 83% say they prioritize unique, authentic experiences over popular tourist attractions. 79% are likely to seek out local workshops or destination-specific activities. 82% say learning a new skill while traveling creates a more memorable experience.
The shift is meaningful. Travelers — especially younger ones — are not simply consuming destinations. They are seeking experiences that feel active, personal, and worth remembering.
Food and Local Discovery Are Central to Modern Travel
Local culture — particularly food — has become one of the most important drivers of travel experience.
American Express found that 89% of Millennial and Gen Z respondents say it is important to leave room in their itinerary to enjoy local snacks and food. 60% of global respondents say they often or always purchase local food items specific to the destination they are visiting.
66% cite trying items not available at home as a key reason for seeking out local food. 45% say supporting local businesses is also a factor.
Food has become a lens through which travelers access place, culture, and community — and it is increasingly built into how trips are planned from the outset.
Wellness Travel Has Outpaced Overall Tourism Recovery
Wellness tourism has not just recovered from the pandemic — it has surpassed it.
Global Wellness Institute data shows wellness tourism expenditures reached 136% of their 2019 level in 2024. Wellness tourism trips reached 133% of 2019 levels. By comparison, overall tourism recovered to just 110% of 2019 expenditures and 101% of 2019 trips.
Wellness travelers made 1.24 billion wellness trips globally in 2024.
The sector is projected to grow 9.1% annually, reaching $1.38 trillion by 2029.
The figures show that wellness travel is not a niche category returning to normal — it is a category that has meaningfully expanded its share of the overall travel market.
Health and Longevity Are Emerging Travel Motivations
Some travelers are taking the wellness connection even further.
Booking.com found that 58% of travelers say they would pay for a vacation whose sole purpose was to extend their lifespan and wellbeing. 60% reported interest in longevity retreats or travel experiences designed specifically around long-term health.
These are still emerging motivations rather than mainstream ones — but they reflect a direction of travel in how people think about the purpose of a trip and what they want to get out of it.
Younger Travelers Are Reshaping the Market
Millennial and Gen Z travelers are driving many of the most significant shifts in how travel looks and feels.
American Express data shows that 83% of Millennial and Gen Z respondents prioritize unique, authentic experiences over popular tourist attractions. 86% say they are likely to do something adventurous or outside their comfort zone while traveling.
79% seek out local workshops or destination-specific activities. 82% say learning a new skill while traveling makes the experience more memorable.
Younger travelers are moving travel away from passive tourism and toward something more participatory — experiences that involve doing something, learning something, or connecting with somewhere in a meaningful way.
What the Data Shows
Modern American travel is driven by more than destination choice or trip frequency.
It is shaped by rest, recovery, nature, local culture, wellness, and the desire for experiences that feel authentic rather than generic.
Domestic leisure travel continues to grow and leads all major travel segments in spending. Wellness tourism has expanded well beyond pre-pandemic levels. And younger travelers are setting a clear direction — toward trips built around connection, discovery, and personal experience.
For anyone covering travel, leisure, or consumer behavior, the data points to a market that has evolved significantly — and is continuing to evolve.