Southern Cities Lead Thanksgiving Travel Surge With Columbia, South Carolina At The Top

Published on September 13, 2025

Thanksgiving is accelerated approaching, and pinch it, nan clip to scheme your vacation getaway. Whether you’re looking for a vibrant metropolis to research aliases a cozy municipality to bask a quiet feast, Google Flights has analyzed celebrated recreation trends for nan upcoming vacation season. For 2025, 1 metropolis has taken nan lead successful Thanksgiving recreation searches: Columbia, South Carolina. Known for its Southern charm, rich | history, and college-town energy, Columbia offers a unsocial acquisition for those seeking an unforgettable holiday. As Thanksgiving nears, galore travelers are flocking to mid-sized cities crossed nan U.S., and Columbia stands retired arsenic nan astir searched destination.

Not only is Columbia known for its picturesque downtown and outdoor activities, but it besides boasts a lively ambiance owed to nan University of South Carolina. If you’re a assemblage shot fan, Columbia’s Palmetto Bowl rivalry crippled betwixt nan Gamecocks and Clemson University offers plentifulness of excitement to information retired your Thanksgiving weekend.

Columbia, South Carolina: A Thanksgiving Favorite

Columbia’s entreaty arsenic a Thanksgiving destination goes beyond nan turkey. The metropolis has a blend of historical charm and modern attractions that entreaty to a wide assortment of travelers. Families tin bask nan galore museums, parks, and humanities sites, while outdoor enthusiasts tin return advantage of nan adjacent Congaree National Park and nan scenic Broad River.

As nan authorities capital, Columbia besides provides a vibrant college-town atmosphere, particularly during Thanksgiving erstwhile nan University of South Carolina’s shot squad faces disconnected against their in-state rivals. The yearly Palmetto Bowl, which happens connected Thanksgiving weekend, draws some locals and visitors for 1 of assemblage football’s astir breathtaking matchups.

Rise successful Searches for Southern and Mid-Sized U.S. Cities

According to Google Flights, Thanksgiving recreation this twelvemonth is seeing a notable displacement toward mid-sized U.S. cities, peculiarly successful nan South. In summation to Columbia, different Southern cities for illustration Little Rock, Arkansas, and Knoxville, Tennessee, person besides knowledgeable a surge successful formation searches. These cities, often overlooked by accepted vacation travelers, are gaining fame owed to their smaller crowds, vibrant section cultures, and little costs of recreation compared to much accepted tourer hotspots.

Knoxville, location to nan University of Tennessee, provides an perfect mounting for Thanksgiving recreation pinch its operation of history, sports, and outdoor activities. Similarly, Little Rock offers an inviting atmosphere, pinch its humanities landmarks and entree to earthy parks for illustration Pinnacle Mountain State Park, cleanable for those looking to bask a much relaxed vacation getaway.

Other Trending U.S. Thanksgiving Destinations

While Southern cities predominate nan Thanksgiving recreation trends, different locations crossed nan U.S. are besides seeing accrued interest. Cities for illustration Bozeman, Montana, and Spokane, Washington, person seen a emergence successful formation searches, making them charismatic options for those who want to acquisition a much laid-back, off-the-beaten-path holiday.

Detroit, Michigan, offers an municipality Thanksgiving experience, pinch its rich | taste scene, while Omaha, Nebraska, brings a quieter, much family-focused vibe. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Panama City, Florida, are besides seeing much attraction for Thanksgiving travel, acknowledgment to their operation of history, entertainment, and scenic beauty.

Winter Holiday Getaways: Trending Warm Destinations

As Thanksgiving recreation plans statesman to return shape, galore are already considering their options for nan wintertime holidays. For those seeking a lukewarm escape, world destinations are gaining traction. Cities for illustration Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and St. Lucia successful nan Caribbean are celebrated choices for those looking to debar nan cold.

Other trending wintertime destinations see Marrakech, Morocco, and Tel Aviv, Israel, some offering unsocial taste experiences and mild wintertime weather. For those seeking a much exotic wintertime escape, Curaçao successful nan Caribbean besides ranks arsenic a apical destination for Christmas and New Year’s getaways.

How to Plan Your Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday Travel

When readying your Thanksgiving and wintertime holidays, it’s basal to see your recreation preferences and nan type of acquisition you want. If you for illustration a accepted vacation ambiance pinch plentifulness of festive events, Southern cities for illustration Columbia and Knoxville connection a cleanable blend of charm and excitement. For those looking for a quieter escape, cities for illustration Bozeman aliases Little Rock supply a much serene situation to unwind.

When booking flights for Thanksgiving, it’s important to enactment early, arsenic nan vacation play tin lead to precocious request for flights. To prevention connected costs, see flying connected nan days surrounding Thanksgiving aliases avoiding highest recreation times. Additionally, for those looking to widen their vacation into winter, researching destinations pinch mild climates and unsocial taste experiences tin supply nan cleanable blend of relaxation and adventure.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Thanksgiving Travel

The expanding fame of mid-sized cities for Thanksgiving recreation signals a broader inclination toward much personalized and little crowded recreation experiences. As much group activity to flight nan hustle and bustle of awesome tourer destinations, smaller cities and hidden gems crossed nan U.S. are emerging arsenic nan caller vacation basking spots. Cities for illustration Columbia, South Carolina, pinch their rich | taste offerings and unsocial section experiences, are becoming nan go-to choices for travelers looking for thing beyond nan emblematic Thanksgiving play getaway.