This year’s hottest destination for kicking off summer? Las Vegas. Reservation data in TripIt, one of the world’s highest-rated travel planning apps, shows that Sin City claims the top spot for Memorial Day weekend flights. But that’s not all: Vegas was also the number one destination for flights in April—and it will be for all of May and June, as well.
It’s not hard to see why. In addition to its undisputed reputation for world-class entertainment and nightlife, Las Vegas is hosting Electric Daisy Carnival—North America’s largest electronic dance music festival—May 17-19. The World Series of Poker—the largest gaming event in the world—kicks off May 28. And, award-winning artists and bands like Adele, Garth Brooks, Maroon 5, and Bruno Mars are currently in residency, with shows taking place through June (and beyond).
But Vegas isn’t the only hot destination: cities like London, Paris, and Rome hold the top spots for international trips. And on the domestic front, Chicago and New York City trail close behind.
Here’s what else our reservation data shows for April, May, and June 2024.
April 2024 bookings eclipsed 2023
In April, all booking types increased year over year: flight reservations in TripIt were up 16%; international flights rose 18%; rental car bookings climbed 20%; accommodations were up 17%; and vacation rentals notched 1% higher.
And while Monday, April 8—the date of the Great American Eclipse—garnered the most headlines, it ranked third for the busiest day to fly in April. Monday, April 15 and Monday, April 22 claimed the top spots, respectively.
Where did Americans fly to in April? According to our data, top destinations were:
| Destination | YoY change |
|---|---|
| 1. Las Vegas | ⬆️ 3 spots |
| 2. Dallas | ⬆️ 1 spot |
| 3. Chicago | ⬇️ 3 spots |
| 4. New York | ⬇️ 2 spots |
| 5. Atlanta | No change |
| 6. Phoenix | ⬆️ 2 spots |
| 7. Orlando | No change |
| 8. Denver | ⬆️ 2 spots |
| 9. San Francisco | ⬇️ 3 spots |
| 10. Los Angeles | ⬇️ 1 spot |
Meanwhile, weekend departures reigned for international flights in April. The top days to depart were Saturday, April 13; Saturday, April 20; and Sunday, April 14. Americans headed to London (no YoY change), Cancun (no change), Toronto (up 2 spots), Paris (down 1 spot), and Tokyo (down 1 spot).
Here’s what else happened in April:
- The busiest airports were SFO, ORD, ATL, DEN, DFW, LAX, BOS, SEA, EWR, and PHX.
- Mondays were also the busiest days for picking up rental cars. Top pick-up cities included Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago, Denver, and Houston. The average booking was 3.5 days.
- Cities like New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston were the top destinations for accommodation bookings. The average stay was 2.5 days.
- Travelers staying in vacation rentals nearly doubled their trip lengths versus overall accommodations (4.8 days vs. 2.5). Top destinations included Austin, San Diego, New Orleans, Nashville, and Dallas.
Memorial Day weekend flight bookings climb 1.5X
Memorial Day weekend (MDW) marks the unofficial start of summer—and more Americans are making the most of the holiday weekend. Our data shows both overall and international flight bookings in TripIt are up 46% year over year. And many are making it more than a weekend: the average MDW trip length with a flight is 7.9 days; trips with an international flight average 12.4 days.
Top destinations for flights are:
| Destination | YoY change |
|---|---|
| 1. Las Vegas | No change |
| 2. London | ⬆️ 1 spot |
| 3. New York | ⬇️ 1 spot |
| 4. Chicago | ⬆️ 1 spot |
| 5. Denver | ⬇️ 1 spot |
| 6. Orlando | No change |
| 7. San Francisco | No change |
| 8. Boston | No change |
| 9. Seattle | ⬆️ 1 spot |
| 10. Los Angeles | ⬇️ 1 spot |
While London claimed the #2 spot for overall flight destinations, it ranks #1 in international destinations, followed by Paris, Rome, Cancun, and Tokyo. Barcelona, Athens, Amsterdam, Madrid, and San Jose del Cabo (MX) round out the top 10.
Tip: Making your MDW plans and want to avoid the crowds? Head to a second city. Think: Edinburgh instead of London, Nice instead of Paris, or Porto instead of Rome.
Overall, May is a busy month for travel—year-over-year bookings in TripIt are up across the board: flights are up 27%; international flights climb 32%; rental car bookings are up 18%; accommodation bookings increase 21%; and vacation rentals are up 19%. The busiest airports in May are SFO, LAX, ORD, DEN, ATL, BOS, DFW, SEA, EWR, and JFK.
As for flight destinations, Las Vegas, Chicago, and New York claim the top spots—rankings that remain consistent with a year ago. London and Paris hold steady for international destinations; Rome climbs one spot to round out the top three.
Here’s what else we’re seeing for May:
- Monday, May 6; Monday, May 13; and Sunday, May 5 were the busiest overall departure days. Saturday, May 11; Sunday, May 12; and Friday, May 24 (start to MDW) are the busiest for international flight departures.
- Monday, May 6; Monday, May 13; and Sunday, May 5 were also the busiest days for picking up rental cars. Top pick-up cities include Orlando, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, and Phoenix. The average booking was 3.8 days.
- New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, Orlando, and Boston are the top destinations for accommodation bookings. The average stay is 2.7 days.
- Travelers staying in vacation rentals (for an average of 4.1 days) are headed to Chicago, San Diego, Nashville, New Orleans, and Seattle. New York is noticeably absent from this year’s list (it was a top destination last year), after the city instituted a new law on short-term rentals.
Travelers opt for longer journeys in June
School’s out, wedding season is in full swing—and our reservation data reflects this seasonal shift in both booking volume and trip length. Year-over-year increases for June surpass most of those we saw for April and May: flights are up 43%; international flights are up 42%; rental car bookings are up 47%; accommodation bookings are up 34%; and vacation rental bookings are up 13%. And while the average trip with a flight will last nearly nine days, trips with an international flight will last almost two weeks (13.5 days).
Where are Americans headed in June? Top destinations for flights are:
| Destination | YoY change |
|---|---|
| 1. Las Vegas | No change |
| 2. London | No change |
| 3. Chicago | No change |
| 4. Orlando | ⬆️ 2 spots |
| 5. New York | ⬇️ 1 spot |
| 6. Denver | ⬇️ 1 spot |
| 7. Seattle | No change |
| 8. Boston | No change |
| 9. San Francisco | New to the top 10 |
| 10. Los Angeles | No change |
The busiest departure days in June will be Sunday, June 2; Monday, June 3; and Thursday, June 6. International flight departures will peak on Saturday, June 8; Saturday, June 1; and Friday, June 14.
Tip: Traveling on the busiest day(s) this month? Plan ahead by arriving at the airport early, keeping your travel plans organized in TripIt, and in case of delays, knowing your options for getting on an alternate flight.
Here are some other travel trends predicted for June:
- London, Paris, Rome, Cancun, and Athens claim the top destinations for international flights—rankings that held steady from a year ago.
- The busiest airports will be SFO, LAX, JFK, ORD, DEN, BOS, SEA, ATL, EWR, and DFW.
- Monday, June 3; Monday, June 10; and Sunday, June 2 will be the busiest days for rental car pick-ups. Top cities include Denver, Orlando, San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago.
- New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, Orlando, and Seattle are the top cities for accommodation bookings in June. The average stay will be 3.1 days.
- Travelers booking vacation rentals will extend their stays (versus overall accommodations in June) to an average of 4.8 days. Trending destinations include Seattle, Chicago, and San Diego—the same top three as last year. Anchorage and Nashville round out the top five.
Methodology: TripIt looked at U.S. origin round-trip flight, lodging, and rental car reservations made on or before April 26, 2024, for travel during April, May, and June 2024, and equivalent booking periods in 2023. Reservation data in TripIt is provided by users and is booking provider agnostic.
