AirBNB 2026 Travel Prediction Report Highlights Great Smoky Mountain National Park

AirBNB’s 2026 travel report showcases the emerging travel trends as users book adventures into the new year. The report found that for domestic travel, tourism are looking outdoor adventure, especially with the rise of influencers.  

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranked as one of the top five destinations in the United States for visitors. This comes as searches for stays “near a national park” are up 35% in 2026.  In fact, the Great Smoky Mountains is one of the top trending destinations globally in 2026, and searches are trending over 135 percent with solo travelers. 

In 2024, the National Parks Service reported that approximately 12.2 million visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 20245, who spent more than $2 billion in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of more than $2.8 billion. 

“People come to the Smokies to do many things from hiking to driving to picnicking and camping and end up supporting the US and local economies along the way,” said Acting Superintendent Charles Sellars. “We’re proud that tourism to Great Smoky Mountains National Park generates more than $2.8 billion for gateway communities near the park.” 

As the region recovers from Helene, tourism to the Smokies may be a key part of helping the region economically recover.