The Busiest Summer Travel Destinations for 2019, According to AAA

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

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Summer, also known as high season for travel, is almost here. And according to AAA just about everyone is poised to hit the road. The organization predicts two-thirds of what it categorizes as “leisure travelers” plan to take vacations this summer, meaning millions of Americans will be hitting the road.

But where are they going? Glad you asked. Here are the destinations that are bound to be busy.

According to AAA, these are the top-booked destinations for summer 2019, defined as June 1 through August 15. Last year’s ranking is in parentheses, to show which are the same and which have moved up (or down).

Busiest Summer Travel Destinations 2019

Orlando, Florida (1)
London, England (5)
Rome, Italy (2)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (3)
Dublin, Ireland (4)
Paris, France (7)
Seattle, Washington (9)
Anchorage, Alaska (8)
Honolulu, Hawaii (6)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (12)

It’s likely no surprise that Orlando dominates the list, as always drawing masses of enchanted, sweating families to its fantastical parks and attractions. AAA notes that Europe remains a popular destination as well, with London gaining popularity alongside mainstays like Paris and Rome.

Seattle makes the list not only on its own merit but as part of the ever-popular Alaskan cruise circuit, along with Vancouver and Anchorage.

For travelers who prefer to avoid the crowds at these top destinations, AAA offers some suggestions: “Other destinations to watch this year that didn’t quite make the top 10 list include Montego Bay, Jamaica; Calgary, Canada; Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Anaheim, California,” said Paula Twidale, vice president of AAA Travel.

Readers, are you planning to travel this summer? Will you be hitting one of these top destinations? Comment below.

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