More people travel within the U.S. by themselves in September than in any other month of the year, a new study finds. And where are all these domestic solo travelers going? Surprisingly, the big, touristy-heavy cities of New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco don’t make it to the top of the list. Instead, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and Salt Lake City are all top picks. But the No. 1 choice for those going in it alone is none other than Washington, D.C.
The study, undertaken by OpenTable and Kayak, reached this conclusion after looking at the data of solo bookings at restaurants and hotels in major cities around the country in 2023 and 2024. The findings also show that solo travel is on the rise, with a 38 percent increase in solo hotel room bookings since 2019 as well as an 8 percent increase in the number of people dining solo in the last year alone.
Travelers who are heading to the nation’s capital can safely assume they won’t be the only ones traveling solo. OpenTable and Kayak report that up to 70 percent of all Americans have traveled independently and 81 percent of Americans have dined solo. Interestingly, nearly 35 percent of people cite a need for “me-time” in their solo travel plans.
Washington, D.C. makes sense as a solo travel destination. Highly walkable, with lots of public bike-sharing stations and a reliable metro system, the capital’s four quadrants are easily navigable. There are also more free museums in D.C. than anywhere else in the country, thanks to the wealth of Smithsonian museums lining the National Mall. And of course, the city’s monuments and memorials are also free.
With a vibrant food scene, solo travelers to D.C. might keep in mind that the study also found that people tend to spend 48 percent more money on meals when they dine alone than when they eat out in groups. But go ahead and splurge — the nation’s capital boasts over 20 Michelin-starred restaurants. And that’s a reason enough worth traveling for.
