Given the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest guidance for fully vaccinated Americans, Airbnb guests are increasingly planning their summer travel, opting for off-the-beaten path locations.

Searches for more remote destinations in the US over Memorial Day Weekend have increased by nearly 40 percent just in the past month–also indicating a potential economic boom for prospective Hosts in these locales.

From open air destinations to off-the-grid unique stays, guests are looking for a truly bespoke experience outdoors. Here are the major trends driving early summer searches on Airbnb and how those thinking about hosting can get in on the action. 

Guests are seeking emerging off-the-beaten path destinations

While we anticipate most trips to be domestic this summer, with remote stays in the US between 50-300 miles making up nearly 70% of searches for Memorial Day Weekend, guests are starting to feel more comfortable with venturing further from home. Stays between 1,000-3,000 miles away are making up the second largest share of searches for Memorial Day Weekend trips. 

From the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado, to the picturesque river town of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, and the glacier-studded peaks surrounding Forks, Washington, below are Airbnb’s top trending rural destinations for Memorial Day Weekend:

• Alamosa County, CO
• Nye County, NV
• Sanpete County, UT
• Angel Fire, NM
• Forks, WA
• Sandpoint, ID
• Washington County, VA
• West Yellowstone, MT
• Jackson County, NC
• Harper’s Ferry, WV

Tiny home, big opportunity

As visitors seek out a safe change of scenery—and the chance to reconnect with nature—unique and remote outdoor spaces have never been more precious, or more valuable. In many cases, the stays guests seek are as important as the destinations themselves. From glamping, to farm stays and minimalist tiny homes, these are the one-of-a-kind stay types trending this Memorial Day holiday*:

• Tent (260%)
• Yurt (167%)
• Campsite (153%)
• Earthouse (149%)
• Houseboat (142%)
• Dome house (140%)
• Farm Stay (119%)
• Treehouse (111%)
• Tiny House (109%)
• Barn (86%)

Typical unique stay Host earnings are more than $1,200 in a summer**. For prospective Hosts who have underutilized outdoors areas and not the actual space to list on Airbnb, unique and tiny structures are readily available to buy from a variety of retailers–through eBay or small businesses like Handcrafted Movement.

With a starting price of $469 for a luxe tent or tiny homes available from $49,900, Hosts can take advantage of their space, whether it’s a backyard or full-fledged farm. Prospective Hosts can also learn more about how much they can earn by sharing their current or new space on Airbnb with the What’s My Place Worth tool.

International stays begin to top wishlists

In the past week, the most wishlisted stay by US guests is a Grecian villa in Sounio, Greece, showing that American travelers are increasingly dreaming of future international travel. Other global stays cracking the top 10 include those in the Caribbean–a tranquil cottage in Jamaica and a minimalist loft in the Dominican Republic.