US summer spending trends by state

Ever wonder which parts of the country go big on summer travel? We crunched the numbers on how folks across all 50 states intend to spend their vacation budgets – and where they’re headed from now through mid-September.

From baller first-class flights to budget-friendly staycations, every state’s got its own travel vibe. Some of our findings? Totally unexpected.

In this article

Who spends the most on flights
Vacation top lists: who flies where?
Hotel spenders vs. savers.
Who’s on the hunt for luxury travel?

Snapshot of the nation: Who’s splurging the most on flights this summer?

One thing’s clear: travel preferences are all over the map. Some folks are dropping serious cash on long-haul getaways, while others are all about quick, budget-friendly trips closer to home.

Here’s how average flight spending preference stacks up across the country – and what it says about how each region likes to vacation.

Map view
Table view

Sky-high differences: flight spending preference from coast to coast.

The national average flight spend this summer is $496, based on KAYAK flight searches – but there’s a big spread across states. Hawaiians lead the pack, choosing to spend the most on flights with an average of $714, followed by Alaskans and New Jerseyans, both clocking in over $600 on average.

Given their location, it’s no surprise that Hawaii and Alaska top the Big Spenders list. New Jersey’s high spending, however, is a bit more unexpected, considering Newark (EWR) is a major hub. Our data shows that Jersey travelers still splurge on flights, likely for long-haul trips or premium cabins.

Young Asian woman with a suitcase, using a smartphone while seated in an airport terminal, waiting for her flight. Business traveler blending lifestyle and technology.

Meanwhile, Minnesota and Colorado travelers keep it frugal, investing under $400 on average. This may signal that they prefer shorter trips that are closer to home, avoiding the steep costs of long-haul flights.

Vacation top lists: Who flies where?

We dug into the top flight destinations for all 50 states and what travelers choose to pay to reach them. Here’s what stood out:

Big cities and culture capitals rule the high-spenders list.

London, Paris, Tokyo and Rome lead the international big spender’s destination splurge list. Americans still love a good bucket list classic.

Mexico and the Caribbean dominate budget-conscious searches coast to coast.

Cancún, San Juan and Punta Cana remain favorites for affordable, sunny escapes – no matter where travelers are flying from.

European history and Asian energy.

Northeasterners lean into historic European charm, favoring Dublin, Lisbon and Athens. Meanwhile, West Coast explorers chase the vibrant energy of dynamic Asian cities like Tokyo, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City.

An aerial view of a couple walking on the sandy beach along the forest.

Now, let’s have a closer look at where travelers from each state are flying and what they’re willing to spend to get there.

Where we sleep: Hotel spenders vs. savers.

When it comes to hotels, Americans know how to balance luxury and value. Florida, California and New York travelers seem most likely to splurge on 4- and 5-star stays, showing the highest search share in these star categories. On the flip, travelers from states like Iowa, South Dakota and West Virginia seem to prefer to keep hotel spending tight.

Overall, the spending preference on hotels is fairly even whether traveling at home or abroad, but travelers from many states decide to spend a bit more internationally. Whether it’s a premium city stay or an affordable beach escape, our travelers make every night count.

A couple walking across the tiled floor of a resort with their luggage in tow.

In the US
Abroad

Unpacking Americans’ spending habits for their hotel stays.

Florida, California and New York lead in the premium hotel search share indicating a taste for upscale stays. Not all luxury lovers are in the big states. Also travelers from Georgia and Oklahoma often search for premium stays, showing luxury travel is more widespread than you’d think.

Two young multiracial hotel maids spreading the clean bed sheet high in the air together

Thrifty travelers in Iowa and South Dakota prefer to spend under $210 on average per night on hotels.

West Coast states like California and Washington also search for Asian destinations.(Thailand, Japan). Northeast travelers search for Europe and choose to spend more.

Texas travelers invest $434 on average per night in The Bahamas, the destination where they like to go big with their hotel choice – Indicating southern luxury extends beyond the mainland.

From first class to five stars: Who’s on the hunt for luxury travel?

When it comes to travel, some Americans go big: first-class flights, five-star hotels, premium rides. Others? They keep it chill.

We’re breaking down which regions are splashing the cash and which are cruising in comfort without the fuss.

Couple relaxing on the sun loungers on the wooden deck by the pool and enjoying the sunset and sea.

Biggest splurgers: who searches the most for premium travel services?

These are the states with the highest search share for premium travel services.

Flights

1	California
2	Hawaii
3	Nevada

Hotels

1	Florida
2	California
3	New York

Car rentals

1	Missouri
2	Tennessee
3	Kentucky

California tops both premium flight and luxury hotel search share – showing a clear appetite for high-end travel. Meanwhile, Missouri and Tennessee take the wheel on luxury car rentals.

Thriftiest travelers: who searches the least for premium travel services?

These are the states with the lowest search share for premium travel services.

Flights

1	Minnesota
2	Wisconsin
3	Nebraska

Hotels

1	Wisconsin
2	Minnesota
3	Idaho

Car rentals

1	Hawaii
2	Oregon
3	Colorado

Wisconsin appears across both flight and hotel “thrifty travelers” lists, demonstrating budget-conscious travel behavior.

Hawaii offers the most intriguing twist: its residents are near the top in premium flight search share, but rank last for luxury rental cars search share – perhaps proving that comfort matters more on those long haul flights off the islands than it does road-tripping around their home state.

Methodology

All insights are based on flight and hotel searches made on KAYAK from IP address identified location, in the period between 2025/01/01 and 2025/07/20 for travel periods between 2025/06/15 and 2025/09/15. All flight prices are average prices for round-trip, economy tickets. The hotel prices are weighted average prices per night for a double room. Prices may vary.

State’s top destination lists and average flight prices are based on flight searches made on KAYAK from IP address identified location, in the period between 2025/01/01 and 2025/07/20 for travel periods between2025/06/15 and 2025/09/15.

To assess interest in luxury travel, we analysed the share of searches for business and first-class flights, four- and five-star hotels, and premium car rentals within the same search and travel periods as above.

These are the US’ biggest summer vacation spenders.