Here’s Where Travelers are Headed Post-Summer, Pre-Holidays

AAA shares fall travel trends and top destinations

DEARBORN, Mich., (September 19, 2024) — If there’s ever a time of year to hit the open road or jet off to a bucket list destination, it’s now! In many parts of the U.S., temperatures are dipping and leaves are changing, creating the perfect conditions for a picturesque fall getaway.

According to AAA booking data, two travel categories are seeing increased demand compared to last year: flights and cruises. Domestic flight bookings are up 1% and international flight bookings are up 3%. Domestic cruise bookings are up a whopping 19% over last fall, and international cruise bookings are up 6%.

“Mild temperatures are not the only benefits to traveling during the fall,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Now that students are back in school full time, fall travelers often enjoy smaller crowds and lower prices. This is why Autumn can be an ideal time to travel internationally, especially to Europe.”

AAA’s Top Fall Destinations

Travelers are paying about the same as they did last fall. The average domestic roundtrip ticket is $660, and the average international roundtrip ticket is $1,315. The average cost to cruise from domestic cities is similar to last fall - $2,355 - while the average cost of international cruises is up 1% to $3,560.

“Fall travel remains an investment that should be protected by travel insurance,” Haas said. “The proper policy can provide medical coverage when traveling internationally, and financial benefits for lost or delayed luggage, flight cancellations, and flight delays of as little as three hours.”

Travelers taking fall road trips are finding cheaper pump prices than the summer. From June-August, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline was $3.47 per gallon. Today the national average price is $3.22 and the average for Michigan is $3.30. Fall travelers are also likely to pay less at the pump than a year ago, when the Michigan state average was $3.71. Visit GasPrices.AAA.com to view daily average prices. Gas prices have mostly declined since late July thanks in part to a relatively quiet Atlantic hurricane season. This is also the time of year when stations switch to winter-blend gasoline which is cheaper to produce.

Drivers renting cars for their autumn adventures are also finding better rates. The cost to rent a vehicle domestically is down 5% this fall and down 15% for international car rentals. Hertz, AAA’s car rental partner, says cities seeing the most increased demand from last year include Boston, Denver, Portland (Maine and Oregon!), Montreal, and Vancouver – all top leaf-peeping destinations!

AAA provides exclusive benefits on cruises, rental cars and a range of Travel options.  Connect with our AAA Travel Advisors at aaa.com/travelexpert.

For travelers looking for last-minute getaways, Trip Canvas – AAA's free travel planning site – is full of inspiration and ideas  for memorable fall escapes.

For road trippers, AAA tracks gas prices by state and the daily national average, plus offers information on the cost of EV charging on its fuel site. 

About AAA - The Auto Club Group
The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America with more than 13 million members across 14 U.S. states and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 64 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.