Why More Americans Are Choosing Shoulder-Season Travel to Save Money and Avoid Crowds
You’ve seen the photos: a famous viewpoint, shoulder to shoulder with strangers, at a price that made your wallet wince. More travelers are deciding that’s not the trip they want.
What Is Shoulder-Season Travel?
Shoulder season is the stretch between peak and off-peak, like spring or early fall. Weather is usually still decent, but prices and crowds drop.
What’s Driving the Shift
The Points Guy’s Brian Kelly says Americans are skipping crowded, expensive cities for shoulder-season trips and more affordable, nature-focused destinations. Cost is a big part of it. Deloitte’s 2026 summer survey found only 45% of respondents planned stays in paid lodging, the lowest in six years, according to a recent travel report. Weather matters too. Among luxury advisors surveyed by Virtuoso, 76% of those whose clients are adjusting for climate change report rising interest in shoulder-season or off-peak travel.
Why It Matters
Travel isn’t slowing down. The U.S. Travel Association projects record spending of $1.37 trillion in 2026. But people are getting pickier. Going.com’s Katy Nastro calls it a refocus rather than a slowdown, and recommends shoulder or low seasons to save money and avoid crowds.
Is Shoulder Season the Smarter Way to Travel?
For families and budget-minded travelers, flexibility is the new luxury. Going in May instead of July, or October instead of August, can stretch a vacation budget and leave you with more elbow room. Destinations benefit too, since steadier visitor numbers can ease the summer crush on local workers and infrastructure.
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