Asheville CT: Generation Z and National Park travel
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This NC park will be a No. 1 travel destination in 2026, Airbnb says
Asheville Citizen Times
Dec. 17, 2025, 1:21 p.m. ET
A report from vacation rental giant Airbnb predicts that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be a popular pick for Gen Z travelers in 2026.
The report, titled "2026 travel predictions revealed," states that Gen Z travelers are fueling a trend toward one-to two-day international city getaways. Airbnb researchers stated that Gen Z tends to favor "quick, high-energy and culture-packed trips over more extended vacations.
The Airbnb report adds that travelers are stepping away from screens and "touching grass," with interest in U.S. national parks surging 30%, and bookings for nature and outdoor experiences outnumbering other travel categories.
With the search term "stays near a national park" up 35% in the U.S. ahead of the country's 250th anniversary and centennial celebration of the Great Smoky Mountains, here's what to know about Airbnb's findings.
Stays near a national park: Where to stay in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
In particular, Airbnb research showed that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is already one of the top trending destinations globally in 2026; searches for the park are up over 135%, with solo travelers in particular at the end of 2025.
There are countless lodging options in and near the park, from camping to luxury hotels.
The National Park Service offers a list of camping options in the park, including frontcountry, backcountry, horse camping, and group camping sites at nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/carcamping.htm.
LeConte Lodge, which sits atop Mount LeConte at an elevation of 6,593 feet, is generally open from mid-March through mid-November, with reservations required for a stay. Visit lecontelodge.com for more information and bookings.
Cities close to the park include Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in Tennessee, as well as Cherokee and Bryson City in North Carolina.
The Haywood County website offers a list of lodging options near the park, including unique stays such as luxury train cabooses, yurts, and "glamping" at visithaywood.com/places-to-stay.
Vacation rental websites and apps, including Airbnb, Booking.com, and more, also offer thousands of options for stays in and near the park.
Where to travel in 2026? Popular travel destinations through Airbnb
Airbnb found that the following U.S. destinations are popular for 2026 travel searches:
- Acadia National Park
- Jackson Hole, WY (near Grand Teton National Park)
- Shenandoah National Park
- The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Yosemite National Park
As for non-domestic travel, the report found that the following international locations were popular for 2026 travel:
- Crete, Greece (near Samaria Gorge National Park)
- Goa, India (near Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park)
- Sardinia, Italy (near Gennargentu National Park)
- Jakarta, Indonesia (near Ujung Kulon National Park)
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at ise...@citizentimes.com.