by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:00 PM ET, Thu August 20, 2026
Fall travel may be especially popular this year, but it will be no bargain.
Summer demand is apparently spilling into fall, according to a new Expedia report, and prices in the top 10 U.S. destinations are averaging 20% higher for lodging and 2% higher for flights when comparing fall to summer.
As a result, traditional shoulder-season savings are harder to find in many popular destinations. But don’t despair entirely. Expedia researchers have identified six destinations where it’s still possible to save.
“Shoulder season is not a given this year, but value is still out there if travelers know where to look,” said Expedia’s Melanie Fish. “Expedia’s latest data shows that the biggest fall savings are showing up in a small set of destinations where travelers can choose between beachy, summer-like escapes and mountain getaways with a more classic autumn feel.”
For travelers who are not ready to fully embrace fall just yet, there’s still value to be found in warm-weather escapes, says the report.
Honolulu, Fort Walton Beach and San Diego deliver summer-style beach energy with average combined savings for lodging and flights of about 15% in fall compared to summer.
But what about those of us who are more than ready to lean into crisp air and mountain scenery? There are options as well.
Expedia research suggests places like Anchorage, Aspen and Bozeman offer even stronger value, with average combined savings for lodging and flights of about 30% in fall compared to summer.
Read on for additional fall travel takeaways from Expedia.
Autumn colors on hillside just outside Bozeman, Montana (Photo Credit: Courtesy AdobeStock)
Fall travel will be a mixed bag
Now that you know where to go to score savings, here are some additional tips surrounding fall travel.
- In the top 10 U.S. destinations, fall lodging prices are averaging 20% higher than summer and fall flight prices are averaging 2% higher than summer.
- Among the six standout value destinations, average combined savings for lodging and flights are about 25% in fall compared with summer.
- For beach travelers, average combined savings for lodging and flights are about 15% in fall compared with summer across Fort Walton Beach, San Diego, and Honolulu.
- For mountain travelers, average combined savings for lodging and flights are about 30% in fall compared with summer across Aspen, Anchorage and Bozeman.
- The strongest individual savings story in the set is Aspen at about 45% combined savings for lodging and flights in fall compared with summer.
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