U.S. Leisure Travel Spending to Hit Record $5,704 Per Household in 2026

In Brief: Projections indicate a substantial increase in leisure travel spending in the United States, with an expected average of $5,704 per household by 2026, marking a historic high.

U.S. Leisure Travel Spending to Hit Record $5,704 Per Household in 2026 – Image Credit MMGY

U.S. leisure travelers are planning more trips and higher spending in 2026, with increased use of AI tools for travel planning, according to MMGY’s latest research.

U.S. leisure travel demand is projected to remain strong in 2026, with annual household travel spending expected to reach a record $5,704 and an average of 3.87 vacations planned per household over the next 12 months, according to the Spring Edition of MMGY’s Portrait of American Travelers report.

Based on a survey of more than 4,500 U.S. adults, the report finds that 67% of respondents expect to take a trip in the next six months, and 56% plan to spend more on travel than in the previous two years. Both figures are increases over the previous quarter.

International travel intent is at its highest level since before 2020, with 36% of respondents planning to travel overseas in the next six months.

Half of U.S. leisure travelers surveyed have used AI tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini to plan their trips, with adoption led by Gen Z (76%) and Millennials (68%).

Domestic travel demand remains strong, with Hawaii, Florida, and California identified as the top states travelers want to visit.

Travel inspiration sources include articles (44%) and social media posts (36%), while 38% of respondents cite a desire for change and adventure as a motivation for travel.

The report also includes analysis on loyalty, sustainability, and generational travel trends. The Spring Edition of the Portrait of American Travelers is now available for purchase or as part of MMGY’s subscription research platform.