According to new data from research firm Nielsen, travel activity in the Seattle area has fully recovered from the pandemic. Over the past 12 months, at least one overnight trip was taken by 83% of the region’s adult population — about 3.7 million people. By comparison: at the height of the pandemic (2020–2021) that figure fell to 69%, while in pre-pandemic 2019 it was about 80%. Today, Seattle residents are traveling more often than ever and aren’t skimping on it.
Average vacation spending by Seattle residents is among the highest in the U.S.: $4,600 over 12 months. By this measure the region ranked third among 83 market areas, behind only Honolulu ($6,400) and San Francisco ($4,900). High spending is partly explained by airfare prices — for example, flights for Hawaii residents are more expensive. Still, 79% of Seattle residents’ trips remain within the U.S., and proximity to Canada helps sustain international travel as well.
The most popular destination for Seattle residents was the Washington coast — 908,000 people visited in the year (about 20% of the adult population). This is an extensive area roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) long that includes several popular spots: the Olympic Peninsula with its wild beaches, the towns of Long Beach and Ocean Shores, and Olympic National Park. Seattleites love it for the contrast with city life — there you can see whales, climb lighthouses, and build bonfires right on the sand.
Second place went to Portland with 859,000 visitors. Canada and the Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth in the Cascade Mountains were almost equally popular — 786,000 visitors each. Leavenworth is a themed “Bavarian” village created in the 1960s to attract tourists. Located in the scenic Cascades about two hours from Seattle, it offers distinctive alpine-style architecture, annual festivals such as Oktoberfest, hiking, skiing, and cozy restaurants. For Seattle residents it’s a quick and inexpensive “European” trip without leaving the state. Rounding out the top five is Las Vegas, visited by 720,000 people from the region.
Proximity to Canada plays a key role in shaping Seattle residents’ travel habits. Vancouver, just 2.5 hours by car; Victoria, reachable by ferry; and Whistler — a ski resort about 3.5 hours away — are among the top ten destinations. Seattleites often go to Canada for weekend trips to see Vancouver’s skyline, to have tea at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria, or to ski Whistler’s slopes. Border crossings take only a few minutes, making these trips as routine as visiting a neighboring city.
The fewest Seattle residents traveled to nearby Winthrop and the Methow Valley (114,000 visitors). Nearly the same number went to the Canadian resort Whistler and to the Caribbean (about 154,000 each). Next were the U.K. and Ireland (159,000) and Chicago (164,000). Interestingly, even the least popular destinations are not remote exotic places but mostly nearby or traditional routes.
The study revealed notable shifts in preferences. All three beach destinations that appear on the list of declining travel saw losses: the Washington coast — down 109,000 visitors; San Diego — down 63,000; Hawaii — down 56,000. Meanwhile, the largest increases were in Las Vegas (+72,000), followed by Spokane (+35,000) and Victoria, Canada (+23,000). Despite reports of an overall decline in Las Vegas tourism due to fewer Canadian visitors, local travelers seem to be actively filling that gap.
Vacation planning in Seattle remains robust: about 3.9 million adults have already planned trips for the next 12 months. The most popular format is short weekend “getaways,” chosen by 46% of respondents. The trend shows that despite rising living costs and gasoline prices, residents of the region are not giving up travel, increasingly preferring trips that are nearby, accessible, and not too long.
Based on: These travel destinations are trending among Seattle-area tourists