Set-jetting. Sleepcations. Skip-gen trips. From the wildly adventurous to the downright weird (looking at you, airport aesthetic), there’s truly no shortage of travel trends taking over our newsfeeds.
Yet there’s one travel habit emerging among Gen Z faster than all the rest, with no plans of slowing down soon. This trip style empowers people with a sense of freedom while giving them space to focus on personal growth. It’s also the perfect way to meet like-minded people and return home feeling relaxed and full of purpose.
Sounds pretty great, right? Read on to learn more about this growing trend, why travel experts love it and how to start planning your own version of this life-changing experience today.
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What is the big travel trend for Gen Z?
Over the past few years, younger generations have fully embraced solo travel. Research from United Airlines shows that 70% of Gen Z fly solo. Millennials are right behind them, with 65% of this age group booking plane tickets for one. Among all generations, women are dominating the solo-travel space, making up nearly 70% of all independent travelers worldwide.
Considering the weight young American women are carrying today, their interest in solo travel isn’t a surprise.
“Between career demands, family responsibilities, caregiving roles and the emotional labor that so often falls disproportionately on women’s shoulders, the mental load is enormous,” says Dynamite Travel founder Terika L. Haynes, PhD. “Solo travel gives women permission to put all of that down, even if just for a few days.”
Solo travel isn’t just a short-term fad, either. According to research from travel platform Atlys, 62% of travelers planned to take at least two solo trips in 2025, and that same year, overall demand for solo bookings skyrocketed by 42%. Experts predict the solo-travel market will exceed 1 trillion by the year 2030.
Why is this generation embracing solo travel?
In November 2021, the United States ended its pandemic-era international travel ban, inviting visitors back into the country. This move also signaled to American citizens that traveling abroad was once again safe. It wasn’t a coincidence, then, that online interest in solo travel increased shortly after. In fact, since 2022, searches for the term solo travel have increased by 60%.
“When the world shut down and people lost their sense of agency, travel became one of the first things they reached for when restrictions were lifted,” Haynes says. “It was a declaration of autonomy.”
Solo trips have also given younger travelers a break from the tiring, anxiety-inducing world to which they’ve become accustomed. “For Gen Z and Millennials especially, who have grown up navigating economic uncertainty, social pressure and a relentless news cycle, the ability to pick up and go on your own terms is genuinely liberating,” she adds.
Aside from a sense of freedom, solo travel provides opportunities for cultural immersion, adventure and wellness experiences that most people can’t find at home or in a group.
Perhaps most important, solo travel hands people back a sense of agency to choose what they want. “In a world where geopolitical tension, economic shifts and social unrest have become the backdrop of daily life, that feeling of personal freedom is more valuable than ever,” Hayes says.
How is this different from other generations’ travel styles?
Gen Z and Millennials are leading the solo-travel trend, especially with their yearning for screen-free, adventurous experiences. However, those aren’t the only age groups interested in the flexibility and freedom that this party-of-one travel style can provide.
People over the age of 50 are also passionate about traveling alone. In fact, a study from solo travel site JourneyWoman found that 61% of women in this age group say their favorite way to travel is on their own. Many of them choose to adventure alone even when they’re partnered or married. The research estimates that by 2035, there will be more than 25 million female solo travelers age 50 and over, a market that could grow to $363 billion.
Unlike younger generations, however, older travelers have an overwhelming preference for groups. In a survey of solo travelers, 80% of whom were over 55 years old, nine out of ten said they want to take tours for at least part of their trip, a trend partially driven by a heightened desire to stay safe while traveling.
Where are people heading on solo trips?
While virtually anywhere can be a candidate for solo travel, a handful of popular destinations have the right infrastructure to ensure a great trip. Some reports cite Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and Japan as the top destinations travelers aspire to visit this year. According to 2026 Expedia data, the cities below are solo travel hot spots:
In the U.S.
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- Dallas
- Washington, D.C.
- Boston
- Miami Beach, Florida
- New York City
Around the world
- Cancún, Mexico
- Dublin, Ireland
- Puerto Morelos, Mexico
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- London, England
- Paris, France
- Tokyo, Japan
- Honolulu, Hawaii
Other countries popular among Gen Z solo travelers include Argentina, South Korea, Brazil and Morocco, according to research from Airbnb.
“As for how to choose, it really comes down to three things: your budget, your interests and the experience you are seeking,” Haynes says.
Where’s the first place you should travel by yourself?
If you’re new to solo travel, you might get your feet wet with a small trip nearby before hopping to a new continent. “Go to a restaurant by yourself, visit a museum, take yourself to a movie,” Haynes says. “Get comfortable with your own company in familiar surroundings first.”
After that, a weekend getaway by car or train is the perfect way to try out solo travel on a larger scale, albeit without a major time and financial investment. If that goes well, you could give a hybrid solo trip a try, or it might be time to book a bigger adventure for one.
“My recommendation is always to start with what excites you most and work the logistics from there. Visit a city you have always wanted to explore, a national park or wherever calls to you,” Haynes says. “The goal is to build confidence incrementally so that by the time you are boarding a flight to another country alone, it feels exciting rather than overwhelming.”
Her suggestions align with my personal experiences. At age 33, I’ve visited more than a dozen countries solo. But what first eased me into the experience was a short solo weekend trip to Whidbey Island, Washington—a place I’d always wanted to go—in my mid-20s.
That experience didn’t just warm me up to the idea of travel. It was a way to prove to myself that I could do it.
Why can solo travel be the perfect trip?
There are countless reasons why solo travel is a good idea, and many of them are highly personal. Below are some of the most common, research-backed benefits of exploring on your own.
Meet like-minded people
Today, 30% of people use travel to meet new people, and nearly 15% want to do so while digitally disconnecting, according to research from the group travel company WeRoad.
“After a period marked by isolation and uncertainty, people began looking for more authentic, human experiences, something less filtered and more real,” says WeRoad international regional manager Clarissa Cappelletti. “Overall, travel today is less about escape and more about regaining balance, control and deep human connections.”
Cappelletti’s comments ring true for me too. What’s the fundamental difference between the trips I took solo and the ones I took in a group? When I went by myself, I always came home with a new friend.
Keep plans flexible
When traveling with other people, it’s nice to have company. What isn’t so nice? Having to compromise on how you spend your hard-earned vacation.
“Solo travel offers something that is increasingly rare in today’s world: the freedom to simply be,” Haynes says. “You can move at your own pace, you choose what excites you, and you return home feeling like yourself again.”
Improve your mental resilience
Taking a trip alone has its challenges and its rewards. One day, you might find yourself in a small town where nobody understands your language; the next day, you might take a train to meet up with a group of friends and talk for hours.
This wide range of experiences is completely normal, and it can be powerful. Research shows that the highs and lows of solo travel help us hone our emotional management, deepen self-reflection and become more emotionally resilient overall.
Foster independence
Travel isn’t without its hiccups (hello, TSA lines that threaten our ability to make a connecting flight). Dealing with airline cancellations, overbooked hotels, language barriers and maze-like city streets is intimidating enough when you’re traveling with companions. When there’s no one else to help, you stretch your self-reliance muscles quickly. It’s why you’ll likely come home from a solo vacation feeling more capable and independent than when you left.
The bottom line: Proving to yourself that you can travel alone to a new place is incredibly empowering, and for most of us, it isn’t as out of reach as it may seem.
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing, and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Terika L. Haynes, PhD, CEO and founder of Dynamite Travel; email interview, March 23, 2026
- Clarissa Cappelletti, international regional manager at WeRoad; email interview, March 23, 2026
- United Airlines: “YOLO, Fly SOLO: United Airlines Shares How Travelers Can Treat Themselves Ahead of National Plan a Solo Vacation Day”
- Atlys: “Solo Travel Statistics: Insights, Top Destinations & Apps”
- Travel Daily News: “Solo travellers set new standards for engagement and spend in travel retail”
- Hotel Agio: “25+ Solo Travel Statistics and Trends [2026 Edition]”
- Skift: “The New Era of Solo Women Travelers — Skift Travel Podcast”
- JourneyWoman: “JourneyWoman Releases New Study: ‘Invisible No More: The Ageless Adventuress’ — How Women 50+ Are Fuelling Solo Travel’s Billion-Dollar Boom”
- Solo Traveler: “Solo Travel Statistics, Data 2024 – 2025: Historical Trends, Sources Cited”
- Expedia on Facebook: “Solo travel is on the rise, and the data shows exactly where travelers are going next”
- CNBC: “Solo trips, national parks, and more 2026 travel predictions: People want to ‘unplug and really immerse in culture,’ expert says”
- International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure: “Going ‘Solo’: A Critical Exploration of its Meaning in the Context of Travel”
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