The U.S. bus travel landscape is shifting for 2026, with a noticeable preference for sunnier domestic spots and international hubs. Data from Busbud, based on over 10 million tickets sold globally, reveals that while New York, Orlando, and Miami remain the busiest hubs in 2025, the most searched destinations for 2026 are shifting towards warmer climates—Miami, Orlando, and Montreal.
This trend reflects U.S. travelers’ growing interest in beach escapes and cross-border exploration, with Montreal maintaining popularity alongside Canadian cities like Vancouver and Toronto. LP Maurice, CEO of Busbud, highlights that bus travel is increasingly viewed as a reliable, affordable way to access leisure hotspots and international destinations alike.
For the upcoming holiday season, bus travel booms in major cities, with Christmas and New Year’s travel peaking in New York, Orlando, and Miami. Notably, Seattle emerges as a top destination for New Year’s Eve, while U.S. travelers are taking some of the longest holiday trips globally, averaging over 200 miles per trip on Christmas Eve.
Busbud’s fun new campaign, “Santa’s Sleigh Broke Down,” showcases bus travel’s dependability with a humorous story of Santa opting for the bus over chaos-filled taxi rides during the holidays, emphasizing its role as a reliable, stress-free mode of transportation for all journeys.