Study Finds Road Trips Dominate 2026 Fall Travel, Generational Travel Habits

Hertz’s recent survey and booking data reveal how Americans travel this Labor Day and throughout the fall season. The company found nearly half of U.S. adults plan to travel this autumn, with road trips greatly outpacing air travel.

Leading the road-tripping trend are millennials, with Gen Z travelers also outpacing Baby Boomers in car travel, which, according to Hertz, is “a sign that these generations are choosing the flexibility of a rental over rigid flight itineraries.”

In addition to road tripping on the rise, Hertz also revealed Gen Z is rewriting the rules of travel planning. While older travelers are more likely to welcome loose plans and figure things out as they go, Gen Z takes a more structured approach, with 26 percent of Gen Z travelers preferring a fully planned itinerary.

Millennials and Gen Z also drive the experience economy. Millennials are the generation most likely to say they’re willing to spend more on memorable experiences, followed closely by Gen Z, prioritizing meaningful moments over simply finding the lowest price.

For fall travel, the Southeast emerges as fall’s most popular region, with 28 percent of travelers planning to visit the region this fall thanks to its mix of beaches, vibrant cities, college football and warm weather. Early demand for fall foliage travel is also growing in Boston, Portland and Hartford.