This Is the No. 1 U.S. Summer Destination, According to Tripadvisor

Americans are gearing up for summer travel in a big way, with 95 percent of travelers in a Tripadvisor survey saying they plan to travel as much or more than they did last year. And when it comes to where they’re heading, all eyes are on the bright lights of Las Vegas. 

The desert destination tops the list of most popular domestic destinations for U.S. travelers in the company’s 2024 Summer Travel Index, released yesterday. After all, the Nevada city offers what Tripadvisor says Americans are looking for the most in the summer months: entertainment, sporting events, and adventure. 

Some of the biggest names in entertainment will be hosting Vegas residences this summer, including Adele at Caesars Palace, Carrie Underwood at Resorts World Theatre, Christina Aguilera at The Venetian Las Vegas, Garth Brooks at Caesars Palace, Shania Twain at Planet Hollywood, and Mariah Carey at Park MGM, as well as Dead & Company at the buzzy new venue The Sphere.

The city’s Allegiant Stadium will host key matches of the Copa America 2024 soccer tournament from June 26 to July 6, while the NFL season for the Las Vegas Raiders starts up in the late summer. Adventure seekers have plenty of options in the region, including Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and the Red Rocks Canyon, all within an hour’s drive.

Also on Americans’ summer travel goals are warm-weather destinations: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, came in second, followed by Orlando in third; Honolulu in fourth; Key West in seventh; Ocean City, Maryland in eighth; and San Diego in ninth. A trio of urban getaways also made the top 10, with New York City in fifth, Chicago in sixth, and Boston in 10th. 

Tripadvisor also released the fastest-growing domestic destinations, with California’s Yosemite National Park topping the list, followed by College Station, Texas; Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania; and Waimea, Hawaii. 

To come up with the list, Tripadvisor looked at searches between Feb. 1 and April 15 of this year for travel between June and August.

In a separate study released by Airbnb, Las Vegas also topped the list of trending summer destinations.