AAA Survey: 76% of 2026 Travelers Prioritizing "Milestone Trips"
A landmark study released today by AAA and Bread Financial reveals that 2026 is officially the year of the "Milestone Trip." According to the survey, 76% of Americans planning to travel this year are centering their itineraries around significant life events such as birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings.
This trend is most explosive among Gen Z (89%) and Millennials (88%), who are increasingly viewing travel as an essential way to stay connected with friends and family in an era of global dispersion.
The data indicates that birthdays (32%) and family reunions (30%) are the top drivers for these bookings, followed closely by friend-group milestones and fitness competitions like marathons.
This shift toward "intentional travel" is changing how the industry markets to younger generations, moving away from generic vacation packages and toward customizable celebration experiences. AAA Vice President Stacey Barber noted that travelers are now "showing up for life’s biggest moments" with greater financial confidence and longer-term planning than in previous years.
For the 2026 traveler, this means that demand for group-friendly accommodations—such as multi-bedroom villas and private event spaces—is at an all-time high.
Travel advisors are reporting that "celebration clusters" are booking 12 to 18 months in advance to secure specific dates for landmark anniversaries and destination weddings. As a result, the "milestone" has replaced the "summer holiday" as the primary anchor for the annual travel budget, leading to a more evenly distributed and year-round tourism calendar.
As the industry adapts, digital tools like AAA’s Trip Canvas are becoming essential for groups trying to coordinate complex milestone logistics across different time zones. For the 2026 traveler, the "Why" of the trip has become more important than the "Where," with the emotional value of the celebration outweighing traditional considerations of convenience. This cultural shift underscores the enduring power of travel to bridge distances during life's most meaningful transitions.
