These Are the Biggest Fall Travel Trends for 2026, According to Airbnb—and Small, Quirky Towns Are Having a Moment

Summer is winding down with the Labor Day holiday weekend just around the corner, and travelers are starting to plan their fall getaways. This year, Airbnb noted that means shorter weekend jaunts, lesser-known destinations, and traveling for sports.

In total, 60 percent of travelers are planning short fall trips this year, rather than opting for longer vacations, the home rental site shared with Travel + Leisure . And a "significant share" of bookings this fall have been for weekend getaways.

"Travelers are… increasingly taking more weekend adventures in the fall, whether that's Gen Z chasing local lore, or a family packing the car for foliage and apple picking," Ali Killam, the editorial content lead at Airbnb, told T+L, adding, "We're seeing travelers look beyond traditional fall destinations to explore places that feel more personal, quirky and unexpected."

Travelers are increasingly looking for quintessential fall activities . In fact, wishlists on Airbnb have grown compared to last year, led by five specific search terms: fall getaway, fall foliage, leaf peeping, apple picking, and fall roadtrip.

To make the most of the season, travelers can book Airbnb favorites like a cabin in the woods in Tannersville , New York, in the heart of the Catskill Mountains complete with a private hot tub, wood-burning fireplace, and fire pit. Or head to Blue Ridge, Georgia , to rent a cabin ranked in the top 1 percent of homes thanks to its stunning mountain views, outdoor stone gas fireplace, heated saltwater pool and hot tub, terrace-level game room, and more. And in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, travelers can take in the golden leaves from the two-bedroom cabin with a private barrel sauna and firepit all just minutes from downtown Glenwood Springs .

Travelers are also embracing "lore-tripping," or "quirky, lesser-known towns" this fall, according to Airbnb. A whopping 90 percent of Gen Z travelers surveyed told the site they saw the appeal in small towns and under-the-radar destinations.

That extends to places like Hot Springs, Arkansas , which saw a 30 percent increase in searches from Gen Z travelers and boasts a "historic bathhouse row and a gangster-era past," the home rental site wrote. There, travelers can escape to a unique geodesic dome surrounded by trees and bordered by a creek with its own private deck, hot tub, and outdoor lounge furniture to take in the foliage. Or explore the September festival to mark the Mothman legend in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, celebrating when a winged, red-eyed creature was reportedly spotted in 1966 with a stay in the charming log-lined Frazier's Cabin .

Finally, Airbnb noted traveling for sports events show no sign of stopping, continuing a trend that has included major draws like the Olympics and the World Cup . In-demand cities for this include London, Tuscaloosa, Alabama—home to college football for The University of Alabama—Green Bay, Wisconsin—home to the Green Bay Packers—and more.

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