Why This Rural Washington River Town Was Airbnb’s Most Sought-After Summer 2024 Travel Destination

Topline

Quincy, Washington, a rural city in central Washington, was the improbable most-searched U.S. summer travel destination for those booking Airbnb, with its many natural attractions—and nearby concert location—the reasons for its deep appeal to summer tourists.

Key Facts

Biggest U.s. Summer Travel Destinations

1. Quincy, Washington
2. Columbia, South Carolina
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
4. Glendale, Arizona
5. Ouray, Colorado
6. Eugene, Oregon
7. Broken Bow, Oklahoma
8. Saint Paul, Minnesota
9. Rosemary Beach, Florida
10. Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Big Number

271 million. That’s how many Americans were estimated to fly to summer destinations between June 1 and August 31, according to predictions from Airlines for America.

Key Background

Quincy, Washington, is a rural town located in central Washington. Although it makes most of its revenue from agriculture, tourism is a major part of its economy, which contributes to the $22 billion in revenue Washington makes from tourism each year. The city has many natural attractions like hiking, camping and water sports, which are major draws for summer travelers, according to Airbnb data. It’s also home to the Gorge Amphitheater, which hosted summer concerts from top performers like Blink-182, Willie Nelson, Luke Bryan, Bob Dylan and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Amphitheater draws crowds of up to 20,000 people.

Biggest Labor Day Travel Destinations

Airbnb also released data for the biggest U.S. Labor Day weekend destinations. As college football ramps back up, guests are interested in staying near their favorite colleges. Searches for Airbnbs in college football towns surged by 130% this Labor Day weekend, according to Airbnb data. Some of the top-booked college towns were Gainesville, Florida; College Station, Texas and Columbia, South Carolina. Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest travel periods in the country, and the Travel Security Administration anticipates this year to be the busiest Labor Day travel period ever, with more than 17 million travelers between August 29 and September 4.

Tangent

Several major U.S. cities have imposed restrictions on Airbnb and other short-term rentals that have made it difficult for guests to book stays. New York City passed a law that prevents hosts from renting out their homes for fewer than 30 days, unless they registered their properties with the state and stayed in the home with the guests. San Francisco—the birthplace of Airbnb—requires hosts to limit rentals to less than 90 days unless they’re staying at the property at the same time as the guests. Hosts must also register with the city, pay a hotel tax and adhere to insurance and safety requirements. Only Atlanta residents can own short-term rental properties in the city, and there’s a cap of two rental properties per person. Hosts must also pay a $150 annual fee for their rental license, on top of an 8% tax rental fee for each property.