Alabama is joining forces in spirit with Rhode Island, Maryland, Montana and Washington to give the US travel scene a final summer lift. Together they offer a vivid cross-section of America Travel: Gulf Coast beaches and music towns, New England coves and lighthouses, Mid-Atlantic heritage and waterfronts, Rocky Mountain parks and clear skies, and Pacific Northwest cities framed by forests and sea. As Labor Day weekend approaches, these states are sharing the same message to visitors from across the USA and Canada: come for simple joy, stay for great value, and make one last sunny escape before autumn starts.
Expect classic late-summer energy. Road trips remain king, with families chasing beaches, lakes and national parks. Airlines are leaning into peak demand on key routes, while hotels balance strong weekends with shoulder-season perks such as breakfast bundles, parking offers or late check-out. Short-term rentals give travellers extra space for group getaways, from coastal cottages to mountain cabins. City districts add culture, food and sport to the mix, turning a two-night break into something richer.
This new update is about clarity and confidence. Book early if your plans include headline beaches, popular park gateways or downtown events. Look for mid-week value and flexible rates if the forecast looks lively. Keep an eye on local advisories so your plans stay smooth and safe. Whether you are flying in for a quick city fix or driving out for wide-open nature, Alabama, Rhode Island, Maryland, Montana and Washington are ready to welcome you—and to show how the USA can still surprise you on the very last weekend of summer.
The USA is busy in 2025. People love road trips. People book flights. People book beds. Many states set records in 2024. That strong base helps the US this year. Some numbers are softer. Hotels hold rates. Rooms fill on event weeks. Short-term rentals give more choice. Parks, beaches, and wine towns do well. Big cities work to win back work trips. This guide explains the story in clear words. It also shows where America Travel goes next. We highlight key states. We include Alabama Tourism news. We also note travellers from Canada. We use plain words so everyone can follow.
The US hotel picture is mixed. Many rooms are full on weekends. Some weekdays are slower. Average price stays strong. That keeps hotel revenue steady. America Travel likes value and easy trips. Drive markets help the USA. People still want nature, food, music, and sport. Parks and coasts stay busy. City work trips grow, but slowly. Some states win more share. Some see flat results. Short-term rentals grow in many towns. They add space for families. They help in peak weeks. But more supply can lower occupancy when demand dips.
An overnight trip brings more money than a day trip. A hotel night adds dinner, breakfast, and fun the next day. That helps local jobs. In places like Colorado, day trips rose, but overnight spending was flat. Many states see the same thing. The lesson is simple. If we turn one day into one night, spend goes up fast. That is good for small shops. That is good for guides and drivers. It is good for cities and parks across the USA. It is also good for Alabama Tourism, because the state sells easy weekends and beach breaks.
Hotels in the US hold rates. Some markets shine. New York City leads big-market occupancy. Resort towns and wine regions price well. Event cities do well when concerts or sports come to town. Some places are soft. Corporate and government nights lag in some hubs. New Orleans and Phoenix can be slow in off weeks. The main theme in America Travel is clear. Rate does the heavy lifting. Occupancy is stable to slightly down. Service and good value win repeat guests.
Short-term rentals help the USA handle busy months. The beach, the lake, and the mountains all offer homes and cabins. Families love kitchens and extra rooms. Hosts must price with care. Clear fees matter. Honest photos matter. Good rules matter. In many states, rental supply grew fast. That can push down occupancy if demand pauses. In strict city zones, some rules limit rentals. Then hotels pick up more nights. The balance moves with local law. Still, America Travel keeps a strong place for rentals in 2025.
California. Visitors spent a record sum in 2024. Wine valleys and coast towns hold price. Big cities are steady, not hot.Texas. The state saw huge spend and many overnight trips in 2024. Events keep Austin and San Antonio lively. Dallas and Houston grow, but business trips are uneven.New York. NYC pulled in over 64 million visitors in 2024. 2025 stays strong for shows, food, and culture.Florida. The Sunshine State still leads for beach breaks. 2025 is mixed by city, but many coasts keep high rates.Tennessee. Music, mountains, and food push record spend. Nashville and the Smokies are busy all year.Alabama. Alabama Tourism set records in 2024. The coast reports higher lodging revenue in 2025. Birmingham and Huntsville run big event calendars.Washington and Oregon. Parks and coasts drive summer. Rentals stay strong.Arizona. State spend hit a record in 2024. Phoenix is solid. Northern parks see steady demand.Michigan and Wisconsin. Lakes, trails, and summer festivals boost occupancy.Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Both states posted record visitor spend in 2024. 2025 keeps a firm base on weekends.Maine and New Hampshire. Road trips from Boston keep beds full in summer. Canada flows matter on the edges.Montana and Wyoming. National parks drive long stays. Rural cabins do well.
These notes match the wider theme. Leisure wins. Events matter. Work trips grow, but not fast. Rentals broaden choice. Hotels protect rate. America Travel in the US stays strong in 2025.
Some border states see fewer guests from Canada in 2025. Exchange rates and travel mood play a part. Washington, New York, Vermont, North Dakota, and Maine feel this most. That shifts some spend to domestic guests. The USA can still grow with US road trips. But a Canada rebound would help border towns. For Alabama Tourism, the link to Canada is smaller. The big driver is America Travel from nearby states and from the USA South.
Alabama Tourism rides high. In 2024 the state welcomed about 29 million visitors. They spent nearly $23.9 billion. That is a record. In 2025 the coast shows more lodging revenue so far. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach stay busy. Birmingham posts a strong slate of shows and sports. Huntsville adds extended-stay hotels for families and project teams. Mobile grows festivals and cruise links. Hotels in the US hold rate. Alabama Tourism follows that rule. Rentals give space for groups on the coast and on the lake. America Travel loves easy access, fair price, and warm service. Alabama Tourism delivers all three. That keeps the state high on USA wish lists.
Parks across the USA set huge counts in 2024. That helps 2025 too. Hot Springs, the Smokies, Zion, Yellowstone, and Acadia all pull strong demand. Coasts in Florida, the Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas draw sun-lovers. Cities shine with food and culture. New York, Chicago, Boston, Nashville, Austin, and New Orleans each sell a clear story. The mix lets America Travel match any mood. Kids can play at beaches and museums. Couples can pick wine country and art. Friends can choose music towns and sports.
The US still gives great value if you plan well. Book early for peak weeks. Travel mid-week for lower rates. Mix free parks and paid tours. Use passes for museums. Watch resort fees and cleaning fees. Read the full price before you click. In the USA, cards work almost everywhere. Tipping is normal. Budget a little extra for fun. If you travel in storm season, pick refundable rates. If you go to hot places, plan indoor breaks in the afternoon. Smart planning makes America Travel easy.
The USA is built for road trips. Highways link most places. A car gives freedom for parks and small towns. In big cities, use trains, buses, and rideshare. Fly into main hubs for choice and price. For the coast, book cars early. For mountains and deserts, carry water and a spare tyre. For Alabama Tourism, fly to Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, or Pensacola for the beach. Then drive to your stay. Travel light. Keep snacks. Enjoy the ride.
The US is friendly. People help with directions. Use common sense. Lock your car. Watch your bags. Follow beach flags and park signs. Drink water in heat. Wear sun cream. Book spa slots and top restaurants ahead. Respect local rules. Learn a little local history. It makes trips richer. In the USA, hotel Wi-Fi is common. Mobile data works in most towns. In parks and canyons, signal can fade. Download maps first.
Events shape demand in the US. Big games, concerts, and fairs fill rooms. Check city calendars before you book. Prices jump on those dates. Seasons matter too. Spring flowers in the South. Summer lakes in the Midwest. Fall colours in New England. Snow trips in the Rockies. Alabama Tourism has milder winters inland and busy summers on the coast. America Travel can pick a sweet spot in each season. That is the joy of the USA.
Hotels should hold rate on peak nights. Add value on shoulder nights. Clean rooms well. Offer fast check-in. Keep breakfast simple and good. Rentals should show total price up front. Make rules clear and fair. Cities and states should sell overnight value, not just day trips. One more night helps local pay cheques. DMOs can bundle tickets and parking. They can share live wait times and local tips. Clear info grows trust. That helps the whole US visitor economy. It also helps Alabama Tourism grow share inside the USA.
Alabama is on a roll. Travellers are coming for beaches, music, history, and space science. They are staying the night, eating out, and booking tours. In 2024 the state welcomed about 29 million visitors. They spent nearly $23.9 billion. That set a new record. It also set a high base for 2025. Early signals in 2025 point up, not down. The coast reports higher lodging revenue than last year. Cities say events and sports are packing calendars. Families still choose road trips during Labor Day Weekend Travel 2025. Friends still choose long weekends. The mix is broad. The mood is confident.
The 2024 record matters. It shows strong demand and trust. It shows that visitors value Alabama’s offer. Birmingham posted a $2.57 billion tourism impact. The city counted more than 4 million overnight visitors. Mobile welcomed about 3.5 million visitors and nearly $1.9 billion in spend. North Alabama reported $4.9 billion in visitor spending. Huntsville and Madison County recorded 2.8 million hotel nights and a $2.4 billion impact. These numbers feed 2025. They help hotels price rooms. They help restaurants plan staff. They help attractions build new product. The message is simple. People are coming. People are spending. They are staying overnight.
Growth shows first at the beach. Baldwin County, home to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, reports lodging revenue up about 7% year to date. Summer weeks are busy. Spring break was solid. Fall shoulder months look healthy. Growth also shows in the cities. Birmingham has a full slate of concerts, sports, and conventions. Huntsville is adding hotels near tech campuses and attractions. Mobile is pushing festivals and cruise calls. Each market speaks to a different traveller. Together they power a strong state result.
Overnight stays drive spend. A day trip might mean fuel and lunch. A night away adds a room, dinner, breakfast, and more time for fun. Alabama’s numbers prove this. Birmingham’s four million overnights supported jobs and taxes. Huntsville’s 2.8 million hotel nights helped local shops and museums. On the coast, long stays fill holiday homes and condos. In 2024 the state also recorded a huge base of overnight visitors. That base supports tour guides, cleaners, chefs, and musicians. It keeps small towns lively. It sends money into local schools and parks through taxes.
Hotel markets in the United States show a common pattern this year. Occupancy is near flat to slightly up. Rates are doing more work. RevPAR gains come mostly from price, not from full rooms. Alabama follows this pattern. Big event weeks sell out. Ordinary weeks are mixed but stable. Owners focus on guest experience and value. They invest in soft goods, fast Wi-Fi, better breakfast, and fresh lobbies. Huntsville adds extended-stay hotels for project travellers and families. Birmingham leans into meetings and sports. Mobile focuses on cruise guests and heritage tourism. On the coast, resorts and condos use minimum-stay rules to manage turnover and protect rates.
Short-term rentals are part of the Alabama story. Supply has grown in beach towns, lake towns, college towns, and small cities. Choice is good for guests. You can book a family condo, a tiny cabin, or a walk-to-music cottage. But supply puts pressure on occupancy. Hosts must price smart. They must set clear house rules. They must use good photos and honest copy. In Mobile, hotels say occupancy sits close to pre-pandemic levels while rates are higher than 2019. Rentals share that demand. On peak weekends both sectors win. On quiet weeks, both must work to attract bookings. The coast has one extra factor. The effective lodging tax near 16% shapes total price. Guests still pay it when value is clear.
It helps to compare. Tennessee posted about $31.7 billion in spend in 2024. That is larger than Alabama, thanks to the Smokies and Nashville. Florida hit about 143 million total visitors in 2024. That is huge. But Alabama does not need to match giants to win. The state wins on value, access, and variety. It wins on drive markets from Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, and beyond. It wins on easy flights into Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, and Pensacola for the coast. It wins on friendly service and real stories. Compared with Mississippi, Alabama’s visitor economy is much larger. Compared with national trends, Alabama benefits from strong domestic leisure while international inbound to the U.S. is still normalising.
Four forces stand out in 2025. First, events and sports. Birmingham’s arena and convention centre keep weekdays strong. College sports fill weekends. Second, beaches. White sand and warm water sell themselves. Third, new and renewed product. Huntsville adds hotels and family-friendly stays. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center keeps the city top of mind for kids. Fourth, easy road trips. Most visitors can reach a beach, a mountain trail, or a city festival in a day’s drive. That keeps Alabama high on last-minute lists.
Tailwinds are clear. Record 2024 spend, steady jobs, and high guest satisfaction give Alabama momentum. Drive markets remain strong. Gas prices are not scaring families away. Festivals and sports anchor calendars. Headwinds are also clear. Hotel and rental supply continues to expand in many places. That can soften occupancy if demand pauses. Weather can disrupt coastal weeks. National economy headlines can shake confidence. Canada-to-U.S. travel is soft in 2025, but Alabama relies far more on domestic visitors than on cross-border travellers. Careful pricing and nimble marketing will matter in the shoulder seasons.
Birmingham (Jefferson County). Big city energy. Civil rights history. A food scene with depth. Overnights above four million in 2024. Conventions and concerts keep rooms moving.Huntsville (Madison County). Space, science, and trails. New extended-stay hotels suit families and project guests. Hotel nights near 2.8 million last year.Mobile. Port city charm. Mardi Gras roots. Museums, seafood, and cruise links. Visitors near 3.5 million last year with spending near $1.9 billion.Gulf Shores & Orange Beach (Baldwin County). Pure sand. Clear water. Fishing, dolphin cruises, and music. Lodging revenue up year-to-date in 2025. Book early for peak weeks.
Plan around seasons. Spring break is busy on the coast. Summer is peak almost everywhere. Autumn offers good weather and better prices. Winter brings mild temps inland and value deals statewide. Book refundable rates if you travel in hurricane season. Check minimum stays on the coast. For cities, watch event calendars before you pick dates; big weekends push rates up. If you need kitchens or extra space, look at extended-stay hotels and well-reviewed rentals. For a splurge, choose a beachfront condo with a pool or a downtown boutique hotel near restaurants and museums.
Alabama remains good value. A smart budget can mix free and paid fun. Many museums are low-cost. State parks are cheap. Beaches are free. Expect mid-market hotel rates in cities from about $130–$200 most nights. Top beachfront stays can reach $300–$450 in peak weeks. Rentals vary widely. Save money by travelling mid-week, cooking a few meals, and booking early. Parking is often easy and free outside of tight downtown zones. Tip fairly in restaurants and for housekeeping. Buy passes and bundles where offered. Read cancellation rules before you click.
Alabama is built for road trips. Interstates tie major cities and the coast together. Public transport is limited outside city cores, so a car is best. If you fly, Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery have commercial service. Many beach visitors also use Pensacola. Rideshares and taxis work well in cities and at the coast, but you will want your own wheels for day trips. Book cars early in peak months. Allow time for bridges and causeways near the beach on summer Saturdays.
Alabama is warm and welcoming. People hold doors and offer directions. English is the main language. Cards work almost everywhere. ATMs are common. Use normal travel sense. Lock cars. Watch tides and flags at the beach. Drink water in the heat. Respect local traditions and sacred sites. Dress is casual. Smart-casual is fine for nicer dinners. If storms threaten, follow local alerts. In every season, sunscreen and bug spray help.
Come hungry. Barbecue is a must. Try ribs with Alabama white sauce. Order fried catfish, hushpuppies, and coleslaw. In Mobile and on the coast, go for Gulf shrimp, oysters, and crab claws. In Birmingham, book a table for chef-driven Southern plates and creative desserts. In Huntsville, mix breweries with food halls and family pizza spots. Farmers’ markets shine from spring to fall. Sweet tea is standard. So is hospitality.
48 hours in Birmingham. Day one: Civil Rights District, lunch in the theatre district, craft beer trail, concert at the BJCC. Day two: brunch in Avondale, museums, and a sunset hike at Red Mountain.Family week in Gulf Shores. Mornings on the beach, a dolphin cruise, and a pier walk. Mid-week visit to a nature preserve and a seafood boil at home. One splurge dinner out.STEM weekend in Huntsville. Space & Rocket Center, planetarium show, and a picnic in a botanical garden. Add hiking in Monte Sano State Park.Heritage and food in Mobile. Carnival museum, live oaks, and waterfront views. Fresh oysters, music, and a stroll through historic districts.
Hold rate on true peak nights. Offer value on shoulders. Promote mid-week deals with clear savings. Use live event calendars to sell specific dates. Coordinate with sports, concerts, and festivals. For rentals, simplify fees and show the all-in price up front. For hotels, invest in housekeeping, breakfast quality, and mobile check-in. For all, keep the story simple: easy access, friendly people, and a lot to do for every budget.
The base is strong. Beaches are busy. Cities have big event calendars. Rentals offer choice. Hotels hold rate. Alabama should finish 2025 with healthy overnights, steady rates, and solid spend. It will not match the sheer scale of Florida or Tennessee. It does not need to. The state wins by being easy, warm, and real. Visitors feel welcome. Families get value. Couples get variety. Friends get quick escapes. That is a powerful mix for the United States travel market—and it keeps Alabama high on the list for the next long weekend and the next big holiday.
