Who’s ready for summer? Did you see my hand go up, way up? Yup, it’s time for sunshine, school breaks and well-earned vacation time, and—if you’re anything like me—you are ready to jump feetfirst into the sunny summer travel season. And I’m not the only one excited for the season to get started. Expedia’s been tracking where Americans are planning their vacations and just shared its “Summer Travel Outlook” report.

Where are Americans headed? “This summer, the trend of ‘tour tourism’ continues as travelers head to see their favorite musical acts,” says Melanie Fish, head of public relations for Expedia Group Brands. “Rising costs also have Americans searching for ways to stretch their travel dollar.”

Quite honestly, the top trending U.S. destinations are a bit of a surprise and a break with many trending favorites of the past, but all promise a great summer getaway. Read on to find out what made Expeida’s list of top trending destinations for summer ’25.

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How were the top trending destinations chosen?

Expedia determined the top trending U.S. destinations based on lodging searches on Expedia.com by the site’s millions of users between Dec. 9, 2024, and March 9, 2025, for travel between June 1, 2025, and Aug. 31, 2025. Then, they compared that data to the same time frame in 2024.

What’s the top trending destination in the U.S.?

So what do you think the top trending destination in the U.S. is this summer? Are you picturing coastal areas and sandy beaches? Nope. Try again.

The top trending destination is … Madison, Wisconsin. Expedia showed a 250% surge in searches for summer travel to the Midwestern college town.

What makes Madison, Wisconsin, so popular?

Tree-lined pedestrian Street in Madison, Wisconsin with a large capitol dome in the background
Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

You may be wondering how Madison, the home of the University of Wisconsin (Go Badgers!), made it to the top of the list, and by a wide margin, to boot. Here’s a hint: A concert by an iconic British band has a lot to do with it.

Coldplay is touring in the U.S. for the first time in two years this summer, and the tour will hit just nine North American locations, one of which is UW’s Camp Randall Stadium in, yes, Madison, on July 16. Travelers are eager to visit the college town as part of what Expedia refers to as “tour tourism,” a trend popularized by Swifties who traveled the globe to catch Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. It does sound like a fun reason to plan a trip!

Madison also has lots to offer visitors while they’re here, which is why it’s one of our favorite Midwest vacation spots. There are multiple Frank Lloyd Wright–designed buildings to explore, plus coffee shops, vintage stores and restaurants to check out, along with walking trails along the lake and up Bascom Hill.

The second top trending destination

The next most popular trending destination is also a bit of an outlier: the bayou city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Here, Southern charm combines with decadent dining, swinging soul and zydeco tunes, and lush landscapes, all at reasonable prices—which may explain the 165% increase in searches.

What makes Baton Rouge, Louisiana, so popular?

Barge floating on a wide river with a tall capitol building in the background
Education Images/Getty Images

According to Expedia, Baton Rouge is part of the “destination dupe” trend (which aligns with one of our favorite travel secrets, detour destinations). The city on the banks of the Mississippi River is a perfect dupe of New Orleans. It’s a 90-minute drive from the Big Easy on I-10, and Baton Rouge is generally more affordable, with lower costs for accommodations, dining and entertainment while still offering a vibrant culture and community spirit, not to mention great culinary and music scenes.

Not only that, but Baton Rouge offers lots of summer fun exploring the bayous and with activities like a sunrise paddle through the LSU Lakes, a favorite local spot for kayaking and canoeing. For wildlife lovers, the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is a serene, shaded escape where you can stroll through cypress swamps and spot native birds, turtles and even the occasional alligator.

And just like Madison, Baton Rouge is benefiting from tour tourism. It’s will be hosting the Bella Noche Summer Fest, headlined by Tyrese, on June 21.

The third top trending destination

Rounding out the top three is a Florida favorite that, surprisingly, is not a beach destination but offers plenty of Panhandle shade and greenery: Tallahassee, with a 75% search increase.

What makes Tallahassee, Florida, so popular?

Road through a thick canopy of southern oak trees
krblokhin/Getty Images

The Florida capital serves as a regional hub for short-haul road trips, say the Expedia experts. Jacksonville is a 2.5-hour drive to the east, and Atlanta is about 4 hours away, making this a great driving destination from both of those cities.

Once you arrive in Tallahassee, you’ll find plenty of hiking, kayaking and opportunities to spot wildlife in the Florida Panhandle, where there’s cool breezes under shady trees. Cool off at Wakulla Springs, the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs. Its sapphire waters boast manatees, alligators, river otters and other diverse wildlife that can be viewed on a glass-bottom-boat tour.

And there are even more options to get wet at tranquil Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park’s Lake Hall. This pristine lake is a perfect location for canoeing, kayaking, swimming or fishing, or you can simply hike one of the trails that overlook its waters. Tallahassee is also one of our favorite spots to celebrate an all-American 4th of July.

The other top trending summer destinations in the U.S.

Looking for more summer travel inspiration for a quick trip or a longer stay? Here’s the full list of Expedia’s Top 10 trending destinations to round out your travel plans for sunny days ahead:

  1. Madison, Wisconsin
  2. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  3. Tallahassee, Florida
  4. Cleveland, Ohio
  5. Champaign, Illinois
  6. Palm Beach, Florida
  7. Sacramento, California
  8. Maui County, Hawaii
  9. Charleston, South Carolina
  10. Nantucket, Massachusetts

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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • Expedia.com: “Expedia Summer Travel Outlook”
  • Melanie Fish, head of public relations at Expedia Group Brands
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Melissa Klurman
Melissa Klurman is an intrepid explorer and award-winning travel journalist with more than 25 years of experience. She covers topics ranging from family travel and Disney to honeymoons and romantic beaches and everything in between.
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