If winter weather has you dreaming of warmer days or far-off adventures, travel trends for 2026 offer plenty of inspiration. This year’s biggest trips are about slowing down, reconnecting, and choosing experiences with meaning.

 

Nostalgic Travel Is Back Especially on Route 66

One of the biggest travel trends for 2026 is nostalgic travel. Inspired by the rise of “grandma hobbies” and analog living embraced by Gen Zers, travelers are revisiting places and experiences that feel familiar, comforting, and timeless.

There’s no better example than Route 66, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica, this legendary highway is the ultimate slow-travel road trip. One of my favorite sections runs through Tulsa to Oklahoma City. Spend a night at the art deco Tulsa Club Hotel. Then spend a half to full day enjoying the quirky roadside attractions, neon signs, and tiny towns. This stretch of Route 66 feel wonderfully untouched by time. It’s Americana at its finest, best enjoyed with the windows down and making detour stop along the way.

America Turns 250: A Road Trip Year Like No Other

With the United States marking its 250th anniversary, 2026 is a standout year for road trips that go beyond national parks. Explore America’s story through historic sites, battlefields, national monuments, and lesser-visited National Park Service units.

A powerful road trip runs through Louisiana and Mississippi, linking places like Poverty Point National Monument, Vicksburg National Military Park, Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, the Natchez Trace Parkway, Natchez National Historical Park, and Cane River Creole National Historical Park. These places tell America’s story in ways that are moving, complex, and deeply relevant today.

The Wild Appeal of Lesser-Traveled Places

If you’re seeking destinations that feel undiscovered. Tasmania, Australia’s island state, is having a moment. It has a strong focus on sustainability, culture, and wide-open landscapes.

Often described as Australia’s “wild south,” Tasmania delivers some of the best hiking and stargazing in the Southern Hemisphere. It also has a growing reputation for cool-climate wines and spirits. Basing in Hobart puts you at the center of a creative culinary scene, with The Tasman Hotel offering an elegant stay. Wildlife encounters are meaningful here too, especially at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, which combines conservation, rescue, and education.

Smaller Cities Are Stealing the Spotlight

Big cities will always have their draw, but 2026 is shaping up to be the year of smaller, walkable cities that combine outdoor adventure with standout food and wine.

Santa Barbara, often called the American Riviera, fits the bill perfectly. The Santa Barbara Channel is one of only two Whale Heritage Areas in the U.S. I spotted six humpback whales and hundreds of dolphins on a ferry ride to Channel Islands National Park, where sea kayaking with Santa Barbara Adventure Company is an epic adventure. Add biking, hiking, wine tasting, sunset cruises, and phenomenal dining, and it’s easy to see why Santa Barbara feels like a hidden gem.

Hush-pitality: The Rise of Quiet, Remote Travel

One of the most talked-about travel trends this year is “hush-pitality.” We’re craving quiet, remoteness, and true digital detox experiences.

In Canada’s Yukon Territory, go on a 100-kilometer dog sledding expedition with Boreal Kennels, followed by a small-plane flight to Otter Island for a stay in a remote cabin with Terre Boreale. Based out of Whitehorse, a historic Klondike Gold Rush town, you can chase the aurora borealis, soak in hot springs, and experience the kind of silence that’s increasingly rare in modern travel.

Whether you’re craving the nostalgia of a Route 66 road trip, looking for a deeper connection to America’s history, or dreaming of going truly off-grid, 2026 is a year to travel a little differently. Let the stories, people, landscapes, and unexpected moments find you along the way. So where will 2026 take you?