Solo travel searches hit a record high in 2026
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Google searches for "solo travel" hit a nationwide record high in 2026, including in metro Richmond, where searches peaked between May and June.
Why it matters: Solo travel is booming as more people embrace the freedom of going wherever they want, whenever they want — without waiting for someone else's PTO to line up.
By the numbers: In Hostelworld's recently released 2025 survey of more than 3,300 solo travelers, 64% said freedom and spontaneity were among the best parts of traveling alone.
- But solo doesn't necessarily mean lonely: 58% said they wanted to meet new people, up from 43% in 2024.
- And 63% of first-time solo travelers said they planned to do it again.
Zoom out: The trend isn't just for 20-something backpackers, either.
- While younger travelers are driving much of the boom, tour operators like Collette are also seeing a growing demand from older travelers — particularly among women 50 and over.
- Some couples are even increasingly comfortable vacationing separately, per the New York Times, which profiled spouses who happily take trips without each other.
Stunning stat: As solo trips go mainstream, they're also becoming a major business. The global market was worth an estimated $550 billion in 2025, per Grand View Research.
- The market research and consulting firm estimated it'll grow to $1.6 trillion in 2033.
Caveat: That includes business travel, though other types — including leisure and vacation — account for most of the total.
Sabrina's thought bubble: I've solo traveled for the past five years, and the best part is easily the company I've found along the way, from the 75-year-old in Iceland who was a week away from hiking Kilimanjaro to the cow named Tulip on a farm in Bedford, Virginia.
The bottom line: Book the trip.