SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 17, 2026--
Expedia's Fall Travel Outlook finds that travelers may need to be more strategic to score a seasonal deal this year. Summer demand has spilled into fall, with prices in the top 10 U.S. destinations averaging 20% higher for lodging and 2% higher for flights when comparing fall to summer. [1] [2]
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As a result, traditional shoulder-season savings are harder to find in many popular destinations. Despite the trend in pricing, Expedia® identified six destinations where travelers can still save, whether they’re looking for a cozy mountain getaway or a sun-and-sand escape.
For travelers who are not ready to fully embrace fall just yet, there is still value to be found in warm-weather escapes. Honolulu, Fort Walton Beach and San Diego deliver summer-style beach energy with average combined savings for lodging and flights of about 15% in fall compared to summer.
For travelers ready to lean into crisp air and mountain scenery, Anchorage, Aspen and Bozeman offer even stronger value, with average combined savings for lodging and flights of about 30% in fall compared to summer.
“Shoulder season is not a given this year, but value is still out there if travelers know where to look,” said Melanie Fish, head of public relations for Expedia Group Brands. “Expedia’s latest data shows that the biggest fall savings are showing up in a small set of destinations where travelers can choose between beachy, summer-like escapes and mountain getaways with a more classic autumn feel.”
Where can travelers still find fall savings?[3]
If you are still hanging on to summer: Beach Vibes
If you are ready to jump into fall: Mountain Vibes
Key Facts:
How to find the best fall travel deals on Expedia:
Frequently asked questions
Is fall cheaper than summer for U.S. travel this year?
Not across the board. In the top 10 U.S. destinations, fall lodging prices are averaging 20% higher than summer and fall flight prices are averaging 2% higher than summer.
Where can travelers still save money on fall trips?
The clearest combined savings stories in the data are Aspen, Anchorage, Bozeman, Fort Walton Beach, San Diego, and Honolulu.
Which destinations are best for travelers who still want summer energy?
Fort Walton Beach, San Diego, and Honolulu offer the strongest warm-weather, beach-forward fall options in the savings set.
Which destinations are best for travelers ready for a full fall trip?
Aspen, Anchorage, and Bozeman stand out for mountain scenery, cooler weather, and stronger average savings.
How much can travelers save in the featured destinations?
Across the six featured destinations, the average combined savings for lodging and flights in fall versus summer is about 25%.
About Expedia
Expedia® is an all-in-one travel shop where travelers can plan and book everything they need for their trip while saving on flights, hotels, vacation rentals, car rentals, and activities.
Expedia delivers personalized, easy‑to‑use travel tools that make it easy to build a complete trip without juggling multiple sites, while allowing travelers to search, compare, and book multiple trip elements side by side. Expedia also unlocks more value with Bundle & Save deals, giving travelers amazing savings when they book more than one part of their trip. With One Key, Expedia’s cross‑brand loyalty program, every eligible booking earns OneKeyCash™, while also giving travelers access to member‑only prices and perks, making trips even more rewarding.
In 2026, Expedia marks its 30th anniversary. As one of the first online travel agencies, it continues to be the one place you go to go places.
© 2026 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Expedia and the Expedia logo are trademarks of Expedia, Inc. CST# 2029030-50.
Standout Value Destinations | Expedia Fall Travel Outlook
Top Fall Domestic Destinations | Expedia Fall Travel Outlook
Expedia Fall Travel Outlook
CLEVELAND (AP) — Stephen Vogt and Will Venable don't need to pore over extra scouting reports as the Cleveland Guardians get set to host the Chicago White Sox in Saturday's Game 1 of the AL Division Series.
The AL Central rivals last faced each other two weeks ago, when the Guardians took two of three and moved into the division lead. Cleveland ended up winning its third straight division title and 14th since 1995.
Chicago won the season series 7-6 after Cleveland took 11 of 13 in 2025.
It's the third straight year the Guardians will open the postseason against a division opponent. They faced Detroit in the 2024 Division Series and in the Wild Card Series last year.
“There’s a little bit of a rivalry there because all three years that’s who you’ve been racing with to get in. There’s emotion. There’s a lot of things that make this series really exciting,” said Vogt, Cleveland's manager. “I do think there’s no secrets. We know them. They know us. So it’s just go out and execute and let’s see who can win three games before the other team.”
Venable pointed out that only one run separated the teams this season. Chicago had a 58-57 edge.
“I mean, it really has been crazy kind of the back and forth that we’ve had all year. So we’re excited about the opportunity to play these guys, but we know full well how challenging it is to beat them,” the White Sox manager said.
Chicago comes in with momentum after its two-game Wild Card Series sweep at Houston. Nine players made their postseason debuts in that series, including second baseman Chase Meidroth and catcher Kyle Teel. Meidroth went 4 for 7 with a homer and four RBIs against the Astros, while Teel was 3 for 10. Teel also was successful on all five of his ABS challenges behind the plate.
Cleveland (85-77) has the third-youngest lineup in the American League and used 145 different batting orders this season. Depending on final roster decisions, the Guardians could have as many as seven players making their postseason debut, including Jo Adell, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels near the trade deadline.
Both teams will send rookies to the mound in Game 1 with Chicago’s Hagen Smith opposing Cleveland’s Parker Messick. According to Sportradar, it will be the 23rd postseason game in which both teams used a rookie starting pitcher.
Chicago will begin the series with a bullpen game. Smith will be the opener again after throwing three scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 6-3 victory at Houston in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
Smith (3-3, 1.29 ERA) made three appearances against Cleveland in the regular season, going 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA. The left-hander allowed the go-ahead run during the sixth inning of Cleveland’s 6-3 victory on Sept. 16 that moved the Guardians into the AL Central lead.
“I think he gives us a really good shot up front here. I do feel like we can lean on some of the bullpen arms to get us through some bulk here and Hagen is as good as any for us,” Venable said.
Messick (12-9, 2.56 ERA) will go against the White Sox for the fifth time this season. The left-hander is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA and has won his last two starts against Chicago.
“Every lineup you’re going to face is pretty good. And I’ve got just as much information on them as they do on me, so I think it’s just best stuff on best stuff and whoever executes more pitches is going to win and whoever hits more mistakes is going to win,” Messick said.
The heartiest of White Sox fans, including Pope Leo XIV, could have envisioned their dramatic turnaround from three consecutive 100-loss seasons to winning their first postseason series in 21 years.
Vogt saw signs beginning last season that Chicago's rebuild would take root.
“I thought they had some really good players last year but records don’t always tell the full story of a team. You could tell at spring training (this year) this is going to be a different team. What they’ve done putting it together has been really cool,” Vogt said.
Cleveland is batting .255 since the Aug. 3 trade deadline, second-best in the American League. The Guardians were 14th with a .231 average before adding Adell and Nathaniel Lowe. Adell had a team-leading 32 RBIs since coming to the Guardians while Lowe drove in 27, including a big league-best eight sacrifice flies.
Steven Kwan's .353 batting average since the All-Star break was best in the majors.
While Cleveland was the only team in the majors without a batter who hit 20 home runs, Chicago had three with at least 30. Japanese rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami led the way with 35, followed by Miguel Vargas (33) and Colson Montgomery (31).
Vargas went 14 of 46 with three homers and 10 RBIs against the Guardians this season. Montgomery also had three homers but was 9 of 47, and Murakami went 3 of 19 while going deep twice.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable (1) reaches for the game ball from relief pitcher pitcher Sean Newcomb (15) to make a pitching change during the fifth inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt walks to the mound to make a pitching change during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
