Fall isn’t just pretty leaves—it’s peak travel for millions and a major economic engine.
In the U.S. alone, nearly 80 million people traveled for Thanksgiving 2024, a new record, and leaf-peeping tourism contributes an estimated $30+ billion to local economies across 24 eastern states.
Key stats: Autumn Travel
- Fall is now a major travel season, not just “off season”: bookings are up ~30% YoY as many choose autumn over crowded summer months.
- Price sensitivity matters — 36% of Americans say finding cheaper lodging is their top priority for fall trips.
- Trip costs are rising — average autumn trip cost among American travelers jumped ~36% in a single year.
- Accommodation deals are best during fall: per-night rates often drop to lowest of the year in September-November.
- Travellers aged 65+ are more likely than younger groups to take trips in spring or autumn, with less contrast between peak vs off-peak travel.
- In Europe, while summer still holds a large share of travel nights, autumn is increasingly taking up shoulder-season market share.
- Nature & scenery remains a big draw—leaf peeping, fall foliage, rural settings are trending strongly among travelers planning fall getaways.
- Young travelers are active in autumn travel: among U.S. consumers, Millennials and Gen Z are the groups most likely to travel in fall.
What are the headline numbers for fall travel in U.S.?
- 79.9 million Americans were expected to travel 50+ miles over Thanksgiving 2024 (AAA).
- 3.09 million people were screened by TSA on Dec 1, 2024—the single busiest day ever at U.S. airports.
- U.S. hotels ran at 64.6% occupancy in September 2024 (ADR: $162.63), and hit ~69% occupancy during the week of Oct 20–26, 2024.
- New Hampshire’s fall 2024 forecast: 3.7 million visitors and $1.8B in spending—its second-busiest season.
- Vermont’s foliage season draws ~2.5 million visitors and ~$500M in spending in a typical year.
U.S. Fall Travel at a Glance (Latest)
| Metric | Latest datapoint | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving travelers (2024) | 79.9M | Sets the tone for late-fall demand. |
| TSA single-day record | 3.09M (Dec 1, 2024) | Post-Thanksgiving surge hits all-time high. |
| Hotel occupancy | 64.6% (Sep 2024, U.S.) | Shoulder season still fills rooms. |
| Weekly peak (late Oct) | ~69% (Oct 20–26, 2024) | Conferences + events + foliage. |
| NH Fall 2024 forecast | 3.7M visitors / $1.8B | Classic leaf-peeping bellwether. |
Are prices actually lower in the fall?
Generally, yes—especially between Labor Day and mid-November before the holiday crunch.
Hopper reported domestic round-trip airfare falling as low as ~$264 in the shoulder season after summer peaks.
Google Flights’ latest look at Thanksgiving suggests the best fares tend to appear 24–59 days out (roughly late September through October).
ABC News also flagged that October hotel rates can drop sharply vs. July on some platforms.
Fall Price Signals
| Category | What to expect in fall |
|---|---|
| Domestic airfare | Shoulder-season lows (~$264 round-trip) vs. summer peaks. |
| When to book Thanksgiving | 24–59 days before departure (Google Flights). |
| Hotels | October rates can be much lower than midsummer, depending on market. |
Where do travelers actually go in autumn?
- Leaf-peeping: Analysis cited by NEEF estimates $30B+ in economic impact across 24 eastern states.
- National Parks & scenic roads: The Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains are perennial fall magnets; even after weather-related disruptions, they rank among NPS’s most visited sites annually. Acadia logged its busiest October ever in 2024 with an estimated 567,466 visits that month.
- Cities & events: Hotels in New York City topped 90% occupancy during the week of Oct 20–26, 2024, boosted by meetings, sports, and concerts.
Fall Hotspots & Patterns
| Place / Pattern | Fall takeaway |
|---|---|
| Leaf-peeping (US East) | $30B+ in local economic activity. |
| Acadia National Park | Record October in 2024 (~567k visits). |
| NYC hotels (late Oct ’24) | Occupancy >90% in key submarkets. |
Do big fall festivals move the needle?
Absolutely. Oktoberfest (Munich) 2024 drew ~6.7 million visitors over 16 days—one of the world’s biggest tourism events each autumn, feeding transatlantic demand and shoulder-season trips to Europe.
Fall Festival Pulse (Updated)
| Event | 2024 Attendance | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Oktoberfest (Munich, DE) | ~6.7M visitors | Late Sep–early Oct. |
| Cannstatter Volksfest (Stuttgart, DE) | ~4.6M visitors | Late Sep–mid Oct. |
| State Fair of Texas (Dallas, USA) | ~2.4M visitors | Late Sep–Oct. |
| Salem Haunted Happenings (MA, USA) | 1,040,600 October visitors | October |
| Día de Muertos Parade (Mexico City, MX) | ~1.3M spectators | Nov 2 |
| Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (NM, USA) | 838,337 guest visits | Early Oct. |
| Austin City Limits (Austin, USA) | ~450,000 over two weekends | Early–mid Oct. |
How is fall travel shaping up in Europe?
The European Travel Commission reports that Sept–Oct 2024 shoulder season was strong: arrivals surpassed 2019 by 6.3%, and tourist spend for 2024 is estimated at €705B (with a value-for-money tilt and shorter stays).
Weather disruptions still matter, but the off-peak migration is now a clear trend.
What should travelers keep in mind for Thanksgiving week?
- Plan for record-level volumes on roads and in the air. AAA projected 71.7M traveling by car and 5.84M by air for Thanksgiving 2024.
- Peak screening days can break records (Dec 1, 2024 did). Leave buffers.
- Book flights one to two months out and consider Mon–Wed departures for better fares.
Sources
- AAA Newsroom — Nearly 80 Million Americans Expected to Travel over Thanksgiving.
- Associated Press — More than 3 million travelers screened in a single day (Dec 1, 2024).
- STR — U.S. hotel performance: September 2024 and Weekly Insights: 20–26 Oct 2024.
- Visit New Hampshire (DTTD) — NH projects 3.7M fall visitors and $1.8B spend (2024).
- Vermont Business Magazine — Foliage season: ~2.5M visitors, ~$500M spend (typical year).
- NEEF — Leaf-peeping boosts local economies by $30B+ (Appalachian State analysis).
- European Travel Commission — European tourism ends 2024 strong; shoulder-season demand.
- Oktoberfest (City of Munich) — 2024 preliminary final report: ~6.7M visitors.
- Hopper Research — Q2 2024 Consumer Travel Index (shoulder-season fares).
- Google Flights (via Southern Living) — Best time to book Thanksgiving: 24–59 days out.
- ABC News — October hotel rates can drop sharply vs July.
- Airbnb Newsroom — 2025 fall travel trends (Gen Z, foliage ratings).
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