Airbnb Demand Is Strong for Fourth of July Weekend 2022

It’s no surprise that Fourth of July weekend is always a popular travel time in the U.S. And with travel trends rebounding closer to pre-pandemic levels, this year proves to be back on trend. 

AAA predicts that 47.9 million people will travel 50-plus miles from their homes between June 30 and July 4, and AirDNA estimates that roughly 4.5 million will be staying in short-term rentals (STRs). Naturally, all that travel is creating a boom for the vacation rental industry at large.

Fourth of July weekend is typically the busiest weekend of the year for American STR demand, and 2022 will be no exception. In 2021, approximately 700,000 STRs were booked for the weekend. This year, we are on pace to exceed that figure by 13.7%. In addition to more bookings, the average daily rate (ADR) for a vacation rental is $349, up 9% from last year.

Most Popular Fourth of July Destinations

Orlando is the top destination when it comes to Fourth of July 2022 STR demand, although demand is flat from last year. All of the other top-10 destinations have seen double-digit growth from 2021, with many also seeing double-digital ADR growth.

Other top destinations include big cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, and New York City, along with beach destinations like Panama City, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Most Expensive Fourth of July Destinations

When it comes to where people are willing to spend the most for a patriotic getaway, well-known vacation destinations (think wine country, famous mountain towns, and popular beach spots) top the list.

The Hamptons in New York is the most expensive destination for the Fourth of July weekend this year, pulling in an average nightly rate of $946 (not including additional fees such as cleaning and service fees). But rates are only up 1.5% over last year, suggesting The Hamptons may have reached its ceiling on what people are willing to pay for holiday accommodations.

Other markets with the highest nightly rates include popular Colorado mountain towns like Aspen, Telluride, and Vail. Of these high-priced destinations, only Vail has seen a year-over-year decline in nightly rates—down 5.3% from last year. Many of the most expensive destinations are trending in the opposite direction, with half of the top-10 list seeing double digit increases in year-over-year ADRs.

However, favor for these pricey vacation destinations may actually be waning. Four of the 10 most expensive markets have fewer nights booked for Fourth of July 2022 compared to 2021. Demand is most notably down by 20% in Lake Tahoe, which straddles the borders of Nevada and California and is still recovering from devastating wildfires. Other markets with fewer nights booked for this year’s holiday include Telluride (-3.5%), Vail (-1.9%), and Napa Valley (-0.7%).

Be sure to explore our latest Market Review to learn more about current American STR trends.