Airbnb recently released its 2026 travel predictions, forecasting what kinds of trips people will prioritize this year — and we’re sharing how you can do it from Louisville.
We’ve paired each prediction with travel recommendations that are easy to get to from Derby City + some pro tips. We ended things with our pitch for traveling to Louisville; feel free to share with your cross-country friends who never visit.
Quick trips
The predicted trend: Quick, 1-2 day trips to “vibrant cities filled with music, dance, historic sites, and authentic cuisine”
Our recommendation: Chicago, IL. It’s a painless, ~5-hour drive from Louisville, and you can also get there via FlixBus or Greyhound. Managing Editor Brianna is based in Chicago and recommends staying with friends in a private quad at The Freehand for a more cost-effective stay.
Touching grass
The predicted trend: National Park travel
Our recommendation: Knoxville, TN. Here, you’ll be within a ~45-minute drive of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our sister market 865today shares exactly where to get the best biscuits in town while you’re visiting.
Tourism travel
The predicted trend: Trips coinciding with major cultural, sporting, and music events like the FIFA World Cup + Coachella
Our recommendation: Kansas City, MO. This bustling Midwestern spot will serve as a host city for the FIFA World Cup this summer, but despite what Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift may have you thinking, there’s a lot more to it than just sports.
Passport vs. pals
The predicted trend: Solo travel heats up, with solo voyagers “uncovering the next wave of up-and-coming hotspots”
Our recommendation: Charlotte, NC. Get there via a nonstop flight from SDF to enjoy this up-and-coming city with multiple opportunities for “me time” like wellness studios and scenic hikes. Check out spots our CLTtoday team recommends staying at.
Our pitch for LOU
Consider this our pitch for why Louisville should be on everyone’s travel wishlist:
- If you want a “vibrant city,” you’ve found one in Derby City. From historic sites to exciting cuisine, there’s plenty here for a quick trip.
- If it’s the outdoors you’re seeking, we’ve got that too; check out our impressive local parks + nearby Mammoth Cave National Park.
- In 2025, Louder Than Life + Bourbon & Beyond drew a combined 450,000 attendees, making LOU a hotspot for tourism travel.
- If someone is traveling solo, we recommend checking out this quaint artist’s cottage in Irish Hill.
