Remote Staycations Booming for U.S. Guests as Travel Restrictions Begin to Lift

Given the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest guidance for fully vaccinated Americans, Airbnb guests are increasingly planning their summer travel, opting for off-the-beaten path locations. Searches for more remote destinations in the US over Memorial Day Weekend have increased by nearly 40 percent just in the past month–also indicating a potential economic boom for prospective Hosts in these locales.

From open air destinations to off-the-grid unique stays, guests are looking for a truly bespoke experience outdoors. Here are the major trends driving early summer searches on Airbnb and how those thinking about hosting can get in on the action.

And right here in the Grand Canyon State, this demand for more rural travel is providing a new economic lifeline for local Hosts:

We estimate that individual Airbnb Hosts in rural Arizona have earned nearly $7,800 each since the pandemic was declared in March, over $2,700 more than the average from 2019.
In total, rural Hosts in Arizona have earned $35.2 million over that same time period.

Guests are seeking emerging off-the-beaten path destinations

While we anticipate most trips to be domestic this summer, with remote stays in the US between 50-300 miles making up nearly 70% of searches for Memorial Day Weekend, guests are starting to feel more comfortable with venturing further from home. Stays between 1,000-3,000 miles away are making up the second largest share of searches for Memorial Day Weekend trips.

From the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado, to the picturesque river town of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, and the glacier-studded peaks surrounding Forks, Washington, below are Airbnb’s top trending rural destinations for Memorial Day Weekend:

Alamosa County, CO
Nye County, NV
Sanpete County, UT
Angel Fire, NM
Forks, WA
Sandpoint, ID
Washington County, VA
West Yellowstone, MT
Jackson County, NC
Harper’s Ferry, WV

Prospective rural Hosts could cash in

Rural Hosts make up a quarter of Airbnb Hosts in the US, and on average the typical rural Host has earned a total of $8,448 total since the start of the pandemic*, over $2,000 more than the average from 2019. Given travelers’ pent up demand and states slated to open up this summer, now is the time to start hosting. Below are the typical summer earnings for Hosts in our top trending destinations for Memorial Day Weekend:

Alamosa County, CO: $1,707
Nye County, NV: $1,909
Sanpete County, UT: $1,642
Angel Fire, NM: $2,258
Forks, WA: $9,962
Sandpoint, ID: $2,503
Washington County, VA: $1,818
West Yellowstone, MT: $12,437
Jackson County, NC: $3,860
Harper’s Ferry, WV: $3,812

Tiny home, big opportunity

As visitors seek out a safe change of scenery—and the chance to reconnect with nature—unique and remote outdoor spaces have never been more precious, or more valuable. In many cases, the stays guests seek are as important as the destinations themselves. From glamping, to farm stays and minimalist tiny homes, these are the one-of-a-kind stay types trending this Memorial Day holiday*:

Tent (260%)
Yurt (167%)
Campsite (153%)
Earthouse (149%)
Houseboat (142%)
Dome house (140%)
Farm Stay (119%)
Treehouse (111%)
Tiny House (109%)
Barn (86%)

Typical unique stay Host earnings are more than $1,200 in a summer**. For prospective Hosts who have underutilized outdoors areas and not the actual space to list on Airbnb, unique and tiny structures are readily available to buy from a variety of retailers–through eBay or small businesses like Handcrafted Movement. With a starting price of $469 for a luxe tent or tiny homes available from $49,900, Hosts can take advantage of their space, whether it’s a backyard or full-fledged farm. Prospective Hosts can also learn more about how much they can earn by sharing their current or new space on Airbnb with the What’s My Place Worth tool.

International stays begin to top wishlists

In the past week, the most wishlisted stay by US guests is a Grecian villa in Sounio, Greece, showing that American travelers are increasingly dreaming of future international travel. Other global stays cracking the top 10 include those in the Caribbean–a tranquil cottage in Jamaica and a minimalist loft in the Dominican Republic: