Dreaming of Hawaiʻi? Fall is your best chance to go. New KAYAK data shows airfare to Hawaiʻi drops by as much as 19% after the peak summer travel season, with three Hawaiian destinations ranking among the US destinations seeing the biggest airfare declines heading into fall. At the same time, average airfare to Hawaiʻi remains roughly on par with 2025, even as domestic airfare overall has climbed 20% year over year.
Where timing your trip right pays off.
Hawaiʻi isn’t an exception. Across many popular destinations, airfare drops significantly once the summer travel rush winds down. During the fall shoulder season, average flight and hotel prices fall 11%, and rental car rates drop 19% compared to peak summer travel. The destinations below highlight where travelers can find some of the biggest airfare savings for September and October travel.
Travelers are already looking ahead to fall.
Lower prices are only part of the appeal. Shoulder season is also known for comfortable temperatures and a more relaxed travel experience..
This year, KAYAK search trends suggest travelers are already doing just that. Compared to summer, New Orleans, Phoenix, and Albuquerque are among the domestic destinations seeing the biggest increases in search interest heading into fall.
Internationally, Mexico continues to build on its strong summer. Flight searches for shoulder season are up 45% compared to summer, with Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta, San José del Cabo and Mexico City all seeing notable increases. Following its role as one of the World Cup host nations, shoulder season value and favorable fall weather appear to be helping extend that momentum into the fall.
Rather than paying peak summer prices, many travelers are becoming more strategic about when they travel. For those with flexibility, shifting a trip to the fall shoulder season can unlock lower prices without sacrificing the overall experience.
Methodology
Based on searches made on KAYAK in the period between 4.15.2026 and 7.13.2026 for travel between 9.15.2026 and 11.15.2026. They were compared to searches made in the period between 4.15.2025 and 7.13.2025 with travel between 9.15.2025 and 11.15.2025. All prices are averages. Prices may vary and savings cannot be guaranteed. Percentages for changes in searches and prices are approximate.
Based on searches made on KAYAK in the period between 4.15.2026 and 7.13.2026 for travel between 9.15.2026 and 11.15.2026. They were compared to searches made in the period between 1.29.2026 and 4.28.2026 for travel between 7.1.2026 and 8.31.2026. All prices are averages. Prices may vary and savings cannot be guaranteed. Percentages for changes in searches and prices are approximate.
