2024 fall trends: Shoulder season travel, leaf-peeping, and event-cations

As fall quickly approaches and the leaves start to change, Airbnb is revealing travel trends for this upcoming shoulder season, including data showing that fall¹ has been the most affordable time to travel on Airbnb. In addition, we’re highlighting the top cities to get the best deals during the off-season, trending destinations, as well as prime fall escapes that embody the season.

Affordable off-season destinations

From smaller crowds to milder weather, traveling during the off-season has its perks. One of the best kept secrets is how affordable fall travel can be compared to the summer and peak winter months. When comparing price-per-night over recent years, prices during the year tend to be the lowest in the September through November timeframe,² making this a great opportunity for guests to travel affordably. 

When surveying guests about what’s important to them when deciding between booking an Airbnb listing or other accommodations, over 85 percent selected price as a contributing factor.³ With that in mind, fall may be the ideal time to take advantage of these crisp savings.

The cities that saw the most savings for traveling during the fall span all across the US, from the waterfront to the great outdoors. Below are some of the cities⁴ that had the most savings during fall:⁵

• Somers Point, NJ
• Myrtle Beach, SC
• Norfolk, VA
• Panama City, FL
• West Des Moines, IA
• Bangor, ME
• Cheyenne, WY
• Spokane Valley, WA
• Erie, PA
• Omaha, NE

Discover prime fall destinations

Nothing says fall like apple picking, pumpkin patches, leaf peeping, and spooky vibes. It’s no surprise that travelers want to embrace the season by going to these niche destinations that embody that true essence of fall. The top three US states that had the highest percentage of stays during the fall season were North Dakota, Maine, and Massachusetts.⁶ From stunning foliage to crisp fall air, below are some of the top US cities⁷ that will “leaf” you in the fall spirit:

• Salem, MA
• Bar Harbor, ME
• Walla Walla, WA
• Moab, UT
• Hartford, VT
• Columbia Falls, MT
• Mills River, NC
• Fruita, CO
• Superior, WI
• Eureka Springs, AR

The top trending destinations this fall

“Event-cations” are here to stay. Passion tourism has been a key theme for travel this past year and shows no signs of slowing down. When looking at destinations that US travelers are increasingly searching for this fall, it’s clear that they want to sing-along to their favorite artists. The highly anticipated return of America’s pop icon from the European leg of her tour played an influential role on the list of trending⁸ destinations with cities like Miami Gardens, FL, and Indianapolis, IN making the cut. Americans are also searching for the other side of the Atlantic Ocean to Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest and Brussels, Belgium for various food and wine festivals that take place during fall.  Below are four of the trending destinations:

• Miami Gardens, FL
• Indianapolis, IN
• Munich, Germany
• Brussels, Belgium

However, there’s one country that has remained as the top trending⁹ international destination for Americans–Japan. Year after year, travelers have continued to seek out its unique blend of tradition and modernity. Fall is the perfect time to visit Japan as the country transforms into a scenic landscape of red, orange, and gold leaves. The temperature is also great for outdoor activities. The trending Japanese cities¹⁰ searched by Americans this fall continue to be Tokyo and Osaka.