by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 5:10 PM ET, Thu May 22, 2025
With the Memorial Day holiday just around the corner, it’s time to spill the tea on where everyone is going this year.
And the experts at KAYAK have helpfully provided the data needed for this discussion.
To begin with, it appears that the trending destinations for the unofficial start of summer this year are incredibly diverse, located on both coasts and in the Midwest.
Starting at the top, the U.S. locale that’s leading the way for Memorial Day weekend getaways this year is the sun-drenched city of Tampa, Florida – for which searches are up 85 percent year-over-year.
The city, which sits on Florida's Gulf Coast, is home to the massive amusement park Busch Gardens, as well as the Tampa Riverwalk. There's also an abudnance of eco-tourism activities and a vibrant arts scene.
"For travelers seeking a dynamic yet budget-friendly getaway, a destination like Tampa checks all the boxes, which is why it ranks high on Memorial Day’s top trending destinations list and is also one of this summer’s cheapest getaways with flights averaging under $300," Kayla DeLoache, KAYAK’s travel expert, tells TravelPulse.
Next up in the rankings, we find slightly more of an unexpected sleeper hit: Indianapolis, Indiana, with a 21 percent increase in search interest.
What’s drawing everyone to the Midwestern city for the holiday weekend? Indianapolis is the most populous urban hub in Indiana and the state capital (not to mention home of the Indy 500). Visitors descending on the city over Memorial Day can indulge in arts and live music, and of course, sporting events.
Indianapolis is also home to the largest children’s museum in the world and a renowned 10-mile Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
"Indianapolis...is experiencing a major moment," DeLoache continues. "Last year the city had a record year in tourism, and with blockbuster events like the concerts from a mega pop star, the solar eclipse, and Olympic trials, and with the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 plus Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals coming up, we’re seeing the momentum around this destination carry into Memorial Day weekend this year."
Rounding out the top five trending Memorial Day Weekend locations on KAYAK’s list are a handful of cities known for being an outdoor lover’s paradise: Portland, Oregon (searches up 18 percent on KAYAK), followed by Salt Lake City, Utah (searches up 13 percent) and finally Denver, Colorado (search interest up 10.5 percent).
Woman walking into an airport on her smartphone. (Photo Credit: Adobe/lightpoet)
Where you can still score a deal
If you’re a procrastinator and have yet to plan the details for your Memorial Day weekend getaway, all may not be lost.
KAYAK says there are a handful of destinations around the country where airline ticket prices are experiencing significant drops. They include:
- Spokane, WA – Down 23%
- Pensacola, FL – Down 18%
- Des Moines, IA – Down 18%
- Greenville, SC – Down 18%
- Richmond, VA – Down 21%
Finally, bargain hunters may enjoy this last little bit of intel for the holiday weekend: While most
consumer costs are climbing, domestic airfare for MDW is holding steady. In fact, it's down 1.2% year over year, says KAYAK. And the best day to score a flight deal over the busy holiday weekend is by flying on
Saturday, May 24.
As a side note, if you're planning to drive over the holiday weekend, the good news is that gas prices have dropped to an all time low.
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