The Most-Searched Tourist Destination in Every State in 2018
In 2017, direct spending on leisure travel in the United States by both domestic and international travelers totaled $716.7 billion.
Exploring the United States is a lucrative, fulfilling pastime for both domestic and international travelers. Travel within the United States generated a total of $2.4 trillion in economic input and supported a total of 15.6 million jobs in 2017. U.S. residents logged 1.8 billion “person-trips” for leisure purposes, which are defined as one person on a trip away from home overnight in paid accommodations to a place more than 50 miles away.
Nearly 3 out of 4 domestic trips are taken for leisure purposes. The top five leisure travel activities for U.S. domestic travelers are visiting relatives, shopping, visiting friends, fine dining, and rural sightseeing.
The most visited tourist attraction in the United States is Times Square in New York City, which earns around 41,900,000 visitors annually! Central Park comes in a close second with 40,000,000 annual visitors.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, each household would pay $1,300 more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by travel and tourism.
It is tempting to be disgruntled about tourists clogging up roads, restaurants, and stores, but tourism is a key contributor to the economy. In fact, 1 out of every 9 U.S. jobs depends on travel and tourism. Each overseas traveler spends approximately $4,200 when they visit the United States and stays an average of 18 nights.
Here is the Most-Searched Tourist Destination in Each State According to Google Search Data in 2018
| State | Most-Searched Tourist Destination | Highest-Search-Volume Week |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Anchorage (City) | Dec. 31, 2017-Jan. 6, 2018 |
| Alabama | Mobile (City) | July 1-7 |
| Arizona | Page (City) | March 18-24 |
| Arkansas | Hot Springs (City) | May 27-June 2 |
| California | Disney California Adventure | July 1-7 |
| Colorado | Aspen (Municipality) | July 1-7 |
| Connecticut | Newtown (Borough) | July 1-7 |
| Delaware | Rehoboth Beach (City) | July 1-7 |
| Florida | Universal Studios Florida | July 1-7 |
| Georgia | Six Flags Over Georgia | July 1-7 |
| Hawaii | Honolulu (City) | Aug. 19-25 |
| Idaho | Boise (City) | July 22-29 |
| Illinois | Crystal Lake (City) | July 1-7 |
| Indiana | Indiana Beach Boardwalk Resort | July 1-7 |
| Iowa | Des Moines (City) | Aug. 5-11 |
| Kansas | Wichita (City) | May 27-June 2 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Kingdom | July 1-7 |
| Louisiana | Lafayette (City) | July 1-7 |
| Maine | Old Orchard Beach (Town) | July 1-7 |
| Maryland | Ocean City (Town) | July 1-7 |
| Massachusetts | Woburn (City) | July 1-7 |
| Michigan | Michigan’s Adventure | July 1-7 |
| Minnesota | Duluth (City) | July 1-7 |
| Mississippi | Gulfport (City) | July 1-7 |
| Missouri | Branson (City) | July 15-21 |
| Montana | Glacier National Park | July 22-28 |
| Nebraska | Omaha (town) | June 10-16 |
| Nevada | Las Vegas (City) | July 1-7 |
| New Hampshire | Lincoln (town) | July 1-7 |
| New Jersey | Ocean City | July 1-7 |
| New Mexico | Carlsbad (City) | June 24-30 |
| New York | Niagara Falls | July 1-7 |
| North Carolina | Asheville (City) | July 1-7 |
| North Dakota | Fargo (City) | July 8-14 |
| Ohio | Sandusky (City) | July 1-7 |
| Oklahoma | Tulsa (City) | July 1-7 |
| Oregon | Seaside (City) | July 1-7 |
| Pennsylvania | Hershey (Town) | July 22-28 |
| Rhode Island | Newport (City) | July 1-7 |
| South Carolina | Myrtle Beach (City) | July 1-7 |
| South Dakota | Rapid City | July 1-7 |
| Tennessee | Gatlinburg (City) | July 1-7 |
| Texas | Six Flags Over Texas | July 1-7 |
| Utah | Park City | Dec. 31, 2017-Jan. 6, 2018 |
| Vermont | Stowe (City) | Aug. 5-11 |
| Virginia | Virginia Beach (City) | July 1-7 |
| Washington | Seattle (City) | July 22-28 |
| West Virginia | Charleston (City) | June 17-23 |
| Wisconsin | Lake Geneva (City) | July 1-7 |
| Wyoming | Yellowstone National Park | July 1-7 |
