Wheels up, prices down.

100+ cities just got cheaper this summer.

While prices are rising for many everyday costs, summer airfare is bucking the trend. KAYAK search data shows average flight prices are down 7% compared to last year (and the cheapest in recent years) – with 100+ cities seeing drops and long-haul spots like Sydney (-23%) and Hong Kong (-16%) leading the charge.

We analyzed travelers’ searches for summer travel to uncover where to go, when to fly and how to stretch your budget further – whether you’re eyeing Memorial Day, the Fourth, or a last-minute August escape. All in an effort to help you save hundreds.

Summer 2025 by the numbers:

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Airfare relief: Average prices are down 7%, with over 100 destinations showing declines.

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Holiday weekend savings: July 4th flights are nearly 10% cheaper. Memorial Day and Labor Day are down too.

Cheap domestic flights: Fly to Orlando, Tampa, or Raleigh for under $300. Best weeks to fly? May 19–June 8 and August 11–31.

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Hot destinations, cool prices: Asia (-11%), Europe (-8%), and Africa (-5%) are all cheaper than last summer.

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Interest is spiking in: The South Pacific (+13% searches, -15% prices) and Africa (+8% searches, -5% prices).

Bottom line: In a year where costs are climbing almost everywhere else, summer travel is offering rare and meaningful savings. Here’s how to take advantage.

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The big picture.

Airfare’s finally giving us a break – especially to big-name cities. Our flight search data shows top spots like Stockholm (-17%), Milan (-15%), Copenhagen (-15%) and Berlin (-13%) are all seeing double-digit drops. Even US cities like Sacramento are cheaper than last summer with double-digit savings.

Want to know where else prices are falling? Our interactive map shows the 150 most-searched destinations – so you can spot the deals and book smart.

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💡 Tip: Zoom in to explore price shifts by destination and plan your summer escape with smart, up-to-date insights at your fingertips.

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Best buys of the summer.

Not all travel deals are created equal. This summer, real savings are showing up where it counts.

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2.1 Summer’s cheapest getaways.

Summer airfare’s cooling – and these spots are hot. Orlando, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale are all under $300. Looking to go farther? Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean are all serving bucket-list vibes without the big price tag.

2.2 The biggest (price) drops of the summer.

Big savings, no fine print. Flights to Sydney, Stockholm and Hong Kong are down 15% or more (that’s hundreds off your ticket price). Even spots like Sacramento and Calgary are cheaper – smart travelers are jumping on the deals.

A man standing on top of a sand cliff overlooking a parallel beach with blue waters.

2.3 The cheapest all-in trips.

Smart travelers go beyond airfare. We paired flights with five-night stays – Raleigh and Jacksonville lead for US deals, while Panama City and Mexico City bring big adventure on a budget.

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Time it right.

This summer, saving money is all about smart timing — and we’ve got the data to prove it. These are the best weeks to travel (and the dates you’ll want to avoid unless you love paying too much and fighting for overhead bin space).

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3.1 Stick to shoulder weeks to save.

For US trips, aim for May 19–June 8 or August 11–31. August is the cheapest month overall at $376 for average airfare.

Going abroad? Fly August 4–31. Fares dip as summer winds down, with international flights averaging $868 in August.

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The summer travel hotlist.

Oh them? That’s the popular crowd. These destinations are the hottest, buzziest or most tried-and-true favorites of our travelers. Good news: they’re also (mostly) cheaper.

4.1 Most popular destinations.

Summer travelers are keeping it classic, with five of the top 10 destinations abroad. Think London, Paris and Rome. Bonus: flights to some of the biggest names, like Rome and Athens, are down as much as 11% compared to last year.

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4.2 Trending flight destinations: Summer’s hottest picks.

This summer’s travelers are all about tropical escapes (think Maui and Tahiti), big city adventures (hello Tokyo and Osaka) and emerging gems (like Bergen and Amman). Bonus: flights to some of the buzziest spots are actually cheaper than last year.

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Hitting the road:

Rental car trends for summer travel.

Thinking summer getaway? Don’t sleep on the road trip. KAYAK data shows US road trip interest is up 6% compared to last summer, and rental car rates are basically holding steady (+2%). Heading abroad? Even better – international rentals are down 3% vs. last summer and 19% cheaper than 2023.

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The Caribbean’s having a major moment:

Searches up 11%, prices down 6%. And Europe? Perfect time to cruise through wine country or hug the Amalfi coast curves. TL;DR: It’s the cheapest it’s been in years to rent in the Caribbean or Europe. So yeah, go ahead and splurge on that convertible.

5.1 The cheapest pickup locations.

Miami's impressive skyscrapers reach for the sky against a backdrop of a blue, cloudy sky, while a white boat gracefully sails alongside the iconic downtown.

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5.2 Rental car hot takes.

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Open-air SUVs – think Wranglers – continue to be a hot commodity with an 80% increase in searches vs. last summer.

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Pick up where you want

Whether you’re renting domestic or international, it’ll cost you the same to pick up from an airport or in the city.

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EV > No EV

With more auto makers making electric vehicles, it’s no surprise that there’s a 24% increase in interest for EVs this summer vs. last.

A white car drives away from the winding road, leaving behind the vibrant landscapes of Valley of Fire State Park, with majestic mountains standing tall in the distance.

Fly or drive? Let the data decide.

Our Trip Calculator crunches real-time gas, flight, and rental car costs – so you can see what’s cheaper (and faster) before you book. Plug in your route, get the facts, travel smarter.

Find out more

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Looking at holiday weekends.

Summer holiday travel is finally on sale. July 4th flights are down 5% from last year, making prices a little closer to what you’d expect for Memorial Day, not mid-summer. Saving your vacation for the end of summer? Labor Day weekend flights are down 3% vs last year. Overall, the big PTO weekends will be a little easier on your wallet this year. Here’s where to go (and save) next.

6.1 Memorial Day

Want the cheapest Memorial Day getaway? Fly out Wednesday for $324 on average or hold off until Saturday when average fares dip to $288. Here’s where you’ll find the best deals and top destinations for a summer kick-off.

A wide, bustling walkway, enlivened by the rhythmic footsteps of people strolling, gracefully leads the way towards a majestic cluster of towering buildings, forming a captivating urban corridor.

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6.2 July 4th

For July 4th getaways, the cheapest move is flying out Tuesday, July 1, when average airfare hits $303. Whether you are chasing the best deals or the biggest celebrations, this is where you’ll find the cheapest places to fly and the most popular destinations for the holiday.

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The skyline of midtown rises above the park's lush trees on neatly mowed grass.

6.3 Labor Day weekend

Want to save big on your Labor Day escape? Fly out Saturday, August 30, for the cheapest fares at $328 on average, or leave a little earlier on Wednesday, August 27, for an average of $357. Check out the best deals and top destinations to close out summer strong.

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Money-saving tips from KAYAK’s travel expert.

KAYAK’s travel expert, Kayla DeLoache, knows how to travel smart. As a frequent flyer and mom of two, her go-to tips help you beat the crowds, avoid high prices, and stretch your budget.

Kayla Inserra DeLoache - PR Manager, North America at KAYAK

Check out her expert tips:

Skip the usuals.

Tourist magnets like Miami and Cancún = high prices. Look for underrated gems – think Asheville instead of Nashville, or Porto instead of Paris – for better prices, fewer crowds and a way bigger return on your travel budget.

Double up.

Use KAYAK’s multi-city search to turn one trip into two. Plus, it’s a growing trend. More adventure, more value, less spend.

Catch the first flight out.

Set the alarm. Early morning flights are usually cheaper, face fewer delays and give you more time in your destination. Save cash, save time and maybe even catch a mid-air sunrise.

Don’t guess.

Found a good deal? KAYAK’s PriceCheck tells you if it’s actually a steal. It shows how your find stacks up against price trends and live data. Data > drama.

Beat the family rush.

Traveling with kids? Dodge the most expensive weeks of summer – late June through July – and aim for early June or August instead. You’ll find cheaper flights, cheaper hotels and fewer meltdowns at security.

Curious about our numbers? Here’s the proof.

All insights in KAYAK’s Travel Check-in report are based on an analysis of flight searches for the 150 most searched destinations made on KAYAK.com and associated brands between 11-01-2024 and 04-09-2025 for travel dates between 05-22-2025 to 09-02-2025 unless stated differently. Year-over-year data is based on the comparison to the same search and travel periods in the previous year.

All flight prices mentioned are weighted average prices for round-trip flights in economy class for the defined travel period, and departing from any airport in the US.

Search and price data are on average and subject to change.

To present price developments over the summer weeks, the average flight prices per full week of summer (Monday to Sunday) from anywhere in the US and internationally are each calculated.

Insights are based on an analysis of rental car searches made on KAYAK.com and associated brands between 11-01-2024 and 04-09-2025 for travel dates between 05-22-2025 to 09-02-2025 unless stated differently. Year-over-year data is based on the comparison to the same search and travel periods in the previous year. Search and price data are on average and subject to change.

Top most searched destinations identified as destinations with the highest search volume out of 150 most searched. Average flight prices, year-over-year comparisons of prices, as a percentage, are calculated for the destinations.

Trending destinations’ are defined as destinations with the biggest year-over-year increase in search volume. This data is based on an analysis of flight searches made on KAYAK.co.uk and associated brands between 01-11-2024 and 09-04-2025 for travel dates between 01-06-2025 and 15-09-2025.

In the ‘Holiday Weekend Insights’ section, we delivered our cheapest day to fly, year-over-year changes in flight price, and our cheapest and most popular destinations to travel during US holidays in summer. The 3 US holidays included Memorial Day Weekend (MDW), 4th of July and Labor Day Weekend (LDW). The search period is the same as for the rest of the report (unless stated differently), using the travel dates defined below for each holiday:

MDW: the travel period is between 2025-17-05 and 2025-26-05, compared with the travel period between 2024-18-05 and 2024-27-05.

July 4th: KAYAK considered flight searches made between 2025-01-01 and 2025-01-06 for the travel period between 2025-28-06 and 2025-06-07, compared with the travel period between 2024-29-06 and 2024-07-07.

LDW: the travel period is between 2025-23-08 and 2025-05-09, compared with the travel period between 2024-24–08 and 2024-06-09.