30+ Domestic Tourism Statistics in the U.S. [2025 Update]

Americans kept traveling at home in a big way.

In 2024, travelers in the U.S. spent about $1.3 trillion, supporting 15 million workers across the economy. Of that, domestic leisure travel alone accounted for $876 billion.

Key stats: U.S. Domestic Tourism

• Domestic travelers drive nearly 90 % of U.S. tourism spending — Americans vacationing at home dominate the market.
• In 2024, U.S. domestic travel spending is estimated around $1.3 trillion, up from $1.2T the year before.
• Over $900 billion of that total is leisure travel — the bulk of domestic journeys are for fun, not business.
• The U.S. is the world’s largest domestic travel market: about 68 % of all trips originating in the U.S. stay within it.
• Domestic leisure travel is expected to grow ~3.9 % and exceed $1 trillion (in real terms) by 2025.
• In 2023, domestic leisure spending alone was $876 billion, with business travel adding ~$312 billion.
• Domestic tourism supports the U.S. economy: ~3 % of GDP and more than 6 million jobs (direct + indirect).
• The travel & tourism sector’s real output grew 7.0 % in 2023, bouncing back after the pandemic.
• Signs of cooling: 2025 card data shows lodging and airfare spending below 2024 levels, hinting at tempered growth.
• In August, air travel ticked up ~1% year-on-year, while hotel demand edged down ~0.4% — a mixed signal for domestic tourism.

How big is domestic tourism right now?

Short answer: enormous, stable, and still growing.

• Travelers in the U.S. spent $1.3 trillion in 2024, generating $2.9 trillion in total economic output and more than $89 billion in state and local tax revenue. Travel directly employed 8 million people and supported 15 million workers overall.
• Within that total, domestic leisure spending reached $876 billion in 2024.

Key numbers at a glance

Source: U.S. Travel Association national data.

Is domestic travel expected to grow in 2025?

Yes, but moderately.

• U.S. Travel projects total U.S. travel spending to edge up about 1.1 percent to $1.35 trillion in 2025.
• Domestic leisure travel spending is forecast to rise to $895 billion in 2025. Domestic business travel is expected to grow more slowly.

How are Americans getting around?

Air, road, and rail are all busy.

• Air travel: 2024 and 2025 set multiple throughput records. TSA twice surpassed 3 million passengers screened in a single day, including 3.01 million on July 7, 2024, and 3.08 million on Dec. 1, 2024. Monthly BTS data also show record highs for late 2024 and summer 2025 peaks.
• Rail: Amtrak posted its best year ever in FY2024 with 32.8 million customer trips and record ticket revenue.
• Road: Holiday snapshots show the scale. AAA projected a record 45.1 million Americans traveling 50+ miles over Memorial Day 2025 and 72.2 million for the July 4 period.

Transportation snapshot

Where are people going inside the U.S.?

Holiday booking data points to familiar favorites. For July 4, AAA’s top domestic destinations included Orlando, Seattle, New York, Anchorage, Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, Denver, Miami, Boston, and Atlanta. Consider these a proxy for mainstream domestic demand.

What does lodging look like?

Hotels have stabilized near pre-pandemic norms, while rates continue to do most of the work.

• U.S. hotel occupancy averaged about 63 percent in 2024, with a 63.4 percent projection for 2025. December 2024 ADR was about $157.

What do national parks tell us about domestic travel?

Parks are a clean window into Americans’ love of the outdoors and road trips.

• 331.9 million recreation visits to U.S. national parks in 2024 — a new record. Visitors spent $29.0 billion in gateway communities, supporting 340,100 jobs and $56.3 billion in economic output nationwide.

National parks by the numbers

Source: National Park Service, Visitor Spending Effects 2024.

What should destinations and brands watch in 2025?

• Domestic leisure stays strong while business travel grows more slowly. Plan for weekends and school breaks to carry outsized weight.
• Capacity and service levels at airports and along key corridors will continue to shape traveler satisfaction, given record screening days and holiday peaks.
• Nature-based demand remains robust, from national parks to state parks and nearby gateways. Inventory and crowd management matter.

FAQ

How much of the U.S. travel economy is domestic?
Using U.S. Travel’s 2024 national data, domestic leisure spending was $876 billion and domestic business $312 billion. Together, domestic activity accounts for roughly 90 percent of total travel spending.

Are Americans likely to take more trips in 2025?
Forecasts call for modest growth in spending and trip volume, with domestic leisure still leading the way.

Are hotels back to “normal”?
Occupancy sits near 63 percent nationally, a touch below 2019 but steady, with rates doing most of the lifting.

What are the most reliable real-time indicators of domestic demand?
Watch TSA throughput and BTS monthly passenger reports for air, AAA holiday forecasts for road, and Amtrak ridership updates for rail.

Sources

1. U.S. Travel Association — U.S. Economic Impact of Travel 2024
2. U.S. Travel Association — Domestic Leisure Travel: Driving Economic Opportunity
3. U.S. Travel Association — Travel Forecasts (October 2025)
4. AAA Newsroom — Memorial Day 2025 Travel Forecast
5. AAA Newsroom — Independence Day 2025 Travel Forecast
6. Bureau of Transportation Statistics — December 2024 U.S. Airline Traffic Data
7. Bureau of Transportation Statistics — June 2025 U.S. Airline Traffic Data
8. Reuters — TSA screens record 3.01 million passengers in a day
9. Reuters — TSA screens record 3.08 million passengers in a day
10. Amtrak — FY2024 Ridership Record
11. National Park Service — 2024 Visitor Spending Effects
12. STR — U.S. Hotel Performance, December 2024
13. American Hotel & Lodging Association — 2025 State of the Industry Report