Plotting an Escape? These Are Summer 2024’s Hottest Destinations

As Memorial Day approaches and the weather heats up, our eyes inevitably turn to our calendars. It’s been an eternity (OK, a few months) since the winter holiday break, and after an entire springtime with our noses pressed to the grindstone, we’re all craving a summer vacation. But many of us are due to be met with decision fatigue: Which vacation destination should we choose to visit in summer 2024?

Fortunately, luxury car rental company, Renty, has done some of the work for us: They’ve compiled a top 10 list of the most popular locations this summer. How did they glean this precious information, exactly? They went through the trouble of carefully analyzing U.S. search volume over the past 12 months. They used vacation-relevant keywords to narrow down this list of the hottest (pun intended) luxury destinations around the world.

While no rule says you have to take a luxury vacation or that you should go where everyone’s going, we don’t blame you for wanting to be clued in on which destinations are most in demand, whether you’re hoping to stay on trend or avoid large crowds and inflated prices. The results run the gamut from big cities to beachy countries that instantly make you think of cocktails and seafood. 

And if you’re dying to keep it simple and stay stateside, we’ve got you covered there, too. WalletHub has thrown together a list of the best summer travel destinations for 2024 — only their list evaluates the cheapest U.S. destinations that are also easy to reach. We’re paying special attention to their lists of destinations with the lowest travel costs and lowest local costs. After all, an affordable weekend whirlwind can be incredibly satisfying.

But regardless of where you end up, here’s your obligatory reminder to pack carefully and prepare for vacation snafus in advance. After all, no one wants to deal with the stress caused by a snoring seatmate or a lost passport in real-time.

Most Popular Summer Vacation Destinations 2024

Best Summer Vacation Destinations in the U.S. 2024

Source: WalletHub

2024’s Destinations With the Lowest Costs

Lowest Travel Costs & Fewest Hassles

1. Santa Rosa, CA
2. Honolulu, HI
3. Seattle, WA
4. Salt Lake City, UT
5. Grand Rapids, MI

Lowest Local Costs

1. Tulsa, OK
2. Oklahoma City, OK
3. Lafayette, LA
4. McAllen, TX
5. San Antonio, TX