Life’s daily routines can sometimes feel monotonous, which is why finding time for exciting, enriching experiences like travel is so important. Solo travel, in particular, offers a unique sense of freedom, allowing you to explore the world entirely on your own terms. And it’s catching on!
In fact, solo travel is becoming increasingly popular. According to a recent survey by Skyscanner, 43% of respondents indicated they traveled solo over the last year with plans to travel by themselves more in the year ahead.
After surveying over 2,000 Americans, we’ve also learned that men and women approach solo travel more differently than you might think. While men are more likely to spend and explore more, women choose independent activities more often and stay closer to home.
Read on to learn about the reasons and benefits of traveling alone in the newest solo travel statistics report from Skyscanner. We hope you’ve packed your bags because by the end, you’ll be ready to catch your next flight as a solo traveler.
Top solo travel statistics
Below, we break down key statistics for solo travelers based on demographics like age and gender and explore why and how they travel alone.
Solo traveler demographic statistics
- The solo traveler population is almost evenly divided between men and women, according to our survey findings.
- Millennials and Gen Z embark on more solo trips than any other generation. Millennials, though, are most likely to participate in group travel as solo travelers, followed by Gen X.
- Solo travel isn’t just for singles — almost a third of women and over a third of men who travel by themselves are married.
- Parents find time to travel by themselves, too. In fact, 31% of solo travelers have children.
The rise of solo travel
- Instagram users have shared over 9.9 million posts with #solotravel.
- Google Trends shows interest in solo travel is up more consistently than it’s ever been before. Searches for the term are 20.2% higher in 2024 compared to the year before.
- Between 2023 and 2030, the global solo travel service market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR rate of more than 9%. (Digital Journal)
Solo travel cost + frequency statistics
- In 2025, 62% of survey respondents plan to take between two to five solo trips within the next year. Of those who have already traveled by themselves in 2024, 36% are planning another four to five solo trips for the year ahead.
- One in six solo travelers book their trips for at least two weeks. Fewer than 4% only stay for a weekend. (Solo Traveler)
- Most individuals (63%) spend between $1,000 to $3,000 on their solo travels — excluding airfare. (Solo Traveler)
- In comparison, 27% of travelers say they would be willing to spend up to $5,000 on a single solo trip.
- Parents are willing to splurge for a well-deserved break to reset. One-third of parents would also budget up to $5,000 for a solo trip away.
Solo travel interest trends
- Data shows the three most important characteristics travelers look for in a solo travel destination include a relaxing environment, low crime rates and safe areas to explore, and the area’s affordability or discount incentives.
- Men show more interest in visiting historical cities (21%) and wine regions (8%) than women (16% and 6% respectively).
- Women would rather visit destinations with water (35%), with 26% preferring the ocean and 9% taking solo lake or river trips. Men still prefer the ocean, but only 24% of men are likely to take a solo trip to a water destination.
- Men are more likely to favor adventure over relaxing or hanging out by the beach. In fact, 32% of men ranked educational experiences, and 29% included adventurous excursions in their top three things to do.
There’s so much world out there to explore — follow along as we dive deeper into the behaviors, benefits and experiences solo travelers face.
75% travel solo for the personal benefits
Most people travel alone not because they lack a travel partner or have differing interests from friends and family, but instead find solo travel is important for their well-being. Self-care, personal growth and freedom to travel on personal schedules all account for about a quarter of survey respondents’ main motivations for solo travel.
These key benefits of traveling alone were described as:
- Self-care: To reconnect with myself and better my mental health
- Personal growth: To challenge myself and push me out of my comfort zone
- Schedule: Freedom to travel on my own time
One in five who list self-care as their primary reason for traveling alone take six trips or more a year to feel refreshed. If that seems like a lot of time away, know that research shows spontaneous travel boosts serotonin. There’s no time like the present to book your next fun or relaxing solo trip.
In contrast, only 7% of solo travelers reported their reasoning for traveling alone as not having anyone to go with. So if it’s not from a lack of travel partner, what does hold people back from traveling solo? It’s a tie between simply wanting a travel companion and safety concerns.
59% of females feel safe traveling alone
Despite being identified as one of the top concerns, most still report feeling safe while traveling alone — 70% of solo travelers in fact. A whopping 90% of men indicated having no strong concerns about safety while jet-setting around the world.
The data for those traveling alone as a woman wasn’t too far off either. Well over half of women reported feeling safe when traveling by themselves. In a comparison between genders, more women prioritize low crime (45%) than men (36%). That said, only 18% of females list this as their highest priority, and 13% of men.
Individuals between 18 and 29 years old are the most cautious and indicated stronger feelings of concern. That said, there are several things you can do to protect yourself while alone so you can still explore the world around you.
As a solo traveler, it’s important to stay vigilant. Here are a few safety tips for traveling alone:
- If you are traveling abroad, learn a few key phrases in the local language so you can ask for help when needed.
- Use sites like Skyscanner to find your flights and a reputable car rental company to ensure you’re safely transported to your destination and between hotels and activities.
- Schedule your arrival during the day so you can see your surroundings.
- Leave your fanciest jewelry and expensive devices at home if possible.
- Don’t carry more cash than you need, and stash a spare credit card somewhere safe besides your wallet.
- Pack lightly so you’re not lugging lots of bags to your hotel or around your destination.
Men are nearly 2x more willing to splurge $10K on solo trips
If you thought men would be the cautious spenders for solo travel trips, you’d be wrong. 46% of men say they’d spend between $2,000 and $10,000 or more on just one solo adventure. In fact, almost twice the number of men compared to women say they’d spend $10,000 or more.
More than two-thirds of women set their maximum budget for solo travel plans at $2,000. Ironically, compared to men, twice as many women say they’d book trips under $500 for themselves. In line with the price results above, women place more significance on general affordability, discounts and all-inclusive amenities compared to men.
The table below compares how much people are willing to spend on one solo trip, broken down by male and female solo travelers.
| Budget | Men | Women | Total |
| Less than $500 | 7% | 15% | 11% |
| Up to $1,000 | 17% | 22% | 20% |
| Up to $2,000 | 29% | 30% | 30% |
| Up to $5,000 | 30% | 23% | 27% |
| $10,000 or more | 16% | 9% | 12% |
Nearly 1 in 4 millennials have Europe on their solo travel bucket list
Although most people prefer to stay within the U.S. and book solo travel trips to states like Hawaii, millennials are more likely to explore internationally. Millennials listed Europe as the #1 destination they’d travel to alone, whereas the States came in first for all other age groups and overall. If Millennials aren’t headed to places by themselves like Rome or London, you might find them on the beaches of Brazil as they expressed more interest in South America than any other age group.
Surprisingly, both Gen Z and Baby Boomer Americans prefer to stay fairly close to home. Gen Z are more likely to visit Canada by themselves compared to other generations, whereas Baby Boomers showed more interest in the Caribbean Islands.
When comparing male and female solo travelers, women’s interests in location vary more than men’s, but even still, women are more likely to travel within the U.S.
How to overcome the fear of traveling alone
The very first step in starting something new is to just start. Fears related to traveling alone may hold some back, but most people did report feeling safe when traveling alone.
To overcome the anxiety of traveling alone, chat with your peers to hear about their experiences. A few other tips to help you overcome those first-trip jitters:
- Start small at first and keep your first trip somewhere within driving distance.
- Plan out most of your activities and dining as well as your hotel so you feel more prepared, but you may want to leave a day open for spontaneous adventures!
- Connect with other solo travelers on social media before your trip.
- Have faith and trust in yourself.
- Just pack your bags and go!
So, if you’re like most American solo travelers looking for places to travel without a passport, start your first solo travel journey today. Find cheap flights with Skyscanner to get you to all corners of the map.
Methodology
The survey of 2,003 adults ages 18 and over was conducted via SurveyMonkey Audience for Skyscanner on August 26, 2024. Data is unweighted, and the margin of error is approximately +/-3% for the overall sample, with a 95% confidence level.
FAQ
Have questions about traveling solo? We’re here to help.
The most common place Americans travel alone is within the U.S. For your first solo trip, you could go for a long weekend to a city a few hours away or across state lines.
Europe is the second most common hub for solo travelers as it’s fairly easy to get around, English is a common language and it’s considered to be one of the safest options. Whether you book a solo trip to Iceland or Barcelona, Europe is another great international option for first time solo travelers.
Traveling alone can be a great idea! Solo travel can help you become a more independent person, push yourself to meet new people and more. Before you do, consider what solo travel might look like for you to determine if such a trip might be a good idea for you.
Most adults over the age of 18 can travel for vacations by themselves.
Airlines, trains and buses have minimum age requirements to keep young travelers safe. Ground transportation like trains typically have higher age requirements, but most airlines in the U.S. allow children around the age of 5 to fly alone in scenarios like visiting family in another state. Unaccompanied minors receive special care from airline employees to get them to their seat and on to their next destination safely. That said, consider your child’s development needs, language skills and more, before sending them off to travel alone.
About half of solo travelers in the U.S. are female, based on our survey findings.
Planning solo travel? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels and car rental deals for your next trip.
