{"id":63923,"date":"2026-03-18T11:17:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T11:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/newsroom\/?p=63923"},"modified":"2026-03-18T11:35:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T11:35:50","slug":"small-coastal-cities-soar-carlsbad-leads-2026s-fastest-growing-flight-destinations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/newsroom\/small-coastal-cities-soar-carlsbad-leads-2026s-fastest-growing-flight-destinations\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Coastal Cities Soar: Carlsbad Leads 2026\u2019s Fastest Growing Flight Destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Expedia<\/a> has revealed the fastest\u2011rising flight destinations for 2026, with small U.S. coastal towns like Carlsbad and Vero Beach and international hotspots such as Italy\u2019s Alghero seeing a surge in traveler interest, as high as 1210%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driven by expanding airline capacity and shifting traveler preferences, these fast-climbing destinations point to growing demand for sunshine escapes, food-forward cultural cities and quieter nature-rich alternatives to traditional tourist hubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs airlines add more routes and competition increases, travelers are exploring new corners of the world, including many destinations they may not have considered before,\u201d said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations<\/strong>. \u201cTrending search data helps travelers spot destinations at the tipping point of popularity, where value and availability may be strongest early in the year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The findings complement Expedia\u2019s 2026 Air Hacks Report<\/a>, which outlines strategies for securing the best airfare, including the cheapest days to fly and when to book for optimal savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top Trending Flight Destinations of 2026*<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fastest Growing U.S. Destinations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Carlsbad, California<\/strong><\/a> +1210% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Vero Beach, Florida<\/strong><\/a> +840% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Portsmouth, New Hampshire<\/strong><\/a> +440% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Taos County, New Mexico<\/strong><\/a> +405% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. St. Simons Island, Georgia<\/strong><\/a> +320% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. San Bernardino, California<\/strong><\/a> +295% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Las Cruces, New Mexico<\/strong><\/a> +155% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Orange County, California<\/strong><\/a> +150% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Morgantown, West Virginia<\/strong><\/a> +30% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Maui, Hawaii<\/strong><\/a> +25% <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Fastest Growing International Destinations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Alghero, Italy<\/strong><\/a> +560% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Toluca, Mexico<\/strong><\/a> +225% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Nha Trang, Vietnam<\/strong><\/a> +185% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Naxos, Greece<\/strong><\/a> +160% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Hyogo Prefecture, Japan<\/strong><\/a> +105% <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Ontario, Canada<\/strong><\/a> +85% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Minas Gerais, Brazil<\/strong><\/a> +85% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. Rome, Italy<\/strong><\/a> +60% <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    9. Guatemala<\/strong><\/a> +45% <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Travel Tips Inspired by 2026\u2019s Trending Destinations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      These rapidly rising destinations offer practical cues about where value, availability and new experiences may be emerging for travelers in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Explore smaller coastal towns with expanding flight access<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Destinations such as Carlsbad, Vero Beach and Alghero are gaining momentum as travelers seek relaxed coastal environments with increasing airline service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Consider quieter alternatives to major metropolitan hubs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Trending smaller cities like Portsmouth, San Bernardino and St. Simons Island offer a similar energy to larger regions nearby, often with fewer crowds and more affordable accommodations. They are strong options for travelers looking for value without sacrificing experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Plan weekend micro-cations to art, culture and nature-rich towns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The rising appeal of Taos County, Las Cruces and Morgantown show growing interest in short trips that blend culture, local dining and outdoor exploration. These destinations are well suited for spontaneous long weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Follow food trends to emerging global culinary hubs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Destinations like Toluca and Minas Gerais are seeing increased interest from travelers drawn to authentic regional cuisine. These locations are ideal for travelers planning food-centered itineraries in 2026.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Book island and beach destinations earlier in the season<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Rising demand for Naxos, Nha Trang and Alghero suggests these coastal escapes could become traveler favorites in 2026. Booking earlier increases the likelihood of finding good availability, especially for summer travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        *Trending destinations are based on year-over-year growth in flight searches on Expedia.com from December 2024 to November 2025, compared with the same period the prior year.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        FAQ<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What is a trending flight destination?<\/strong>
        A trending flight destination is a destination experiencing significant year-over-year growth in traveler search interest on Expedia.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        How can travelers use trending flight data?<\/strong>
        Trending destinations can indicate where value may be emerging and which locations are gaining interest before reaching peak demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Where can travelers find more insights on airfare savings?<\/strong>
        Additional guidance, including the cheapest days to fly and the best time to book, is available in         Expedia\u2019s annual Air Hacks report<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Expedia has revealed the fastest\u2011rising flight destinations for 2026, with small U.S. coastal towns like Carlsbad and Vero Beach and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":63924,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[106,60],"tags":[],"companies":[43],"locations":[51],"class_list":["post-63923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brand","category-featured","companies-expedia","locations-seattle","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSmall Coastal Cities Soar: Carlsbad Leads 2026\u2019s Fastest Growing Flight Destinations<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Expedia has revealed the fastest\u2011rising flight destinations for 2026, with small U.S. coastal towns like Carlsbad and Vero Beach and international hotspots such as Italy\u2019s Alghero seeing a surge in traveler interest, 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