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In 2025, the average American traveler spent $2,261 on travel and visited three new places.
And 2026 is set to be an even bigger travel year with beach getaways and road trips leading the charge.
A new survey of 2,000 Americans who travel frequently asked respondents to reflect on their travel experiences. The survey found that, on average, people went on two non-work trips.
Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of CheapCaribbean Vacations, the survey also found the average respondent expanded their map, visiting two new states and one new country in 2025.
When it comes to how Americans actually got around this year, road-tripping ruled.
More than half of respondents said most of their 2025 travel was in a car, compared to 30% who primarily flew domestically, 13% who jetted overseas, and just 2% who went on cruises.
As for the type of trips dominating Americans’ calendars, family ties and low-stress escapes led the way.
The most common type of trip in 2025 was visiting friends or relatives (41%), followed by beach getaways (15%), outdoor and adventure travel (14%), city breaks (11%), and staycations (8%).
Compared to last year, many people were on the move more frequently. Thirty-eight percent said they traveled more in 2025 than in 2024.
And when booking, most relied on online travel sites (30%), with word of mouth (20%) and airline/hotel websites (18%) close behind.
“2025 was a year of genuine exploration,” said Dana Studebaker, Vice President of Marketing, Consumer Brands at CheapCaribbean Vacations. “Travelers sought out joy and connection, and new technology offered things like online personalized tools that made it easy to discover destinations and experiences that fit their vibe and budget.”
Respondents were most likely to spend the year traveling with a spouse or partner (34%) or immediate family (34%), followed by friends (24%).
A smaller portion explored with extended family (13%), traveled solo (11%) or with pets (8%), while just 3% ventured out with strangers they met on apps.
When asked which destinations delivered their best memory of 2025, Americans pointed close to home.
A trip to “a U.S. city” topped the list (21%), followed by beach getaways (19%), small towns (13%), hometowns (12%), and national parks (7%).
Only 6% chose a major international city as their standout moment, and 7% said their favorite memory came from a brand new country.
The average traveler snapped an average of 181 travel photos throughout the year. Packing, however, proved to be a recurring challenge. The most forgotten item was a phone charger (15%), followed by sunscreen (14%), headphones (13%), toothbrushes (10%), and medication (5%). Even passports and IDs were left behind by 3% of travelers.
Emotionally, the travel year left people in a largely positive state. Americans most frequently described their 2025 travel mood as relaxed (23%), grateful (19%), refreshed (13%), or adventurous (13%). Only a small share reported feeling burned out (4%) or exhausted (5%).
Their biggest lessons? Take more photos (16%), “say yes” to spontaneous plans (14%), plan earlier (13%), and pack lighter (10%).
Looking ahead, confidence is high that next year will involve even more travel. Seventy-six percent said they’re very confident they’ll travel more in 2026, with beach getaways (16%) and road trips (19%) topping bucket lists.
Respondents also expect destinations like New York City (21%), Italy (14%), Paris (13%), and Japan (12%) to become the biggest “it spots” of 2026.
And they plan to prioritize couples’ trips (13%), friend group trips (11%), and budget (10%) or all-inclusive beach vacations (8% each) in the new year.
“Heading into 2026, travelers are clearly craving experiences that help them unwind and reconnect,” added Studebaker. “Beach getaways, in particular, continue to offer that mix of ease and true escape, which travelers are looking for as they plan their next adventure. There’s a real desire for trips that feel simple and joyful, the kind where you can unplug, breathe, and come home feeling deeply refreshed.”
America’s 2025 Travel Snapshot
- Spent: $2,261.30
- New states visited: 2
- New countries visited: 1
- Most common method: driving (55%)
- Reason to visit: friends or relatives (41%)
- Most forgotten items: phone charger (15%) and sunscreen (14%)
- Biggest lesson: take more photos (16%)
- Top destinations: a U.S. city (21%) and beach getaways (15%)
Research methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans who travel frequently and who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by CheapCaribbean and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Nov. 17 – Nov. 21. A link to the questionnaire can be found [here].
