New York, NY, USA, stands out as the premier destination for group travelers, securing 5.2% of all trips planned on Anywayr during the last 90 days. This comprehensive first-party report delves into the travel patterns of 1141 group trips, meticulously crafted by 919 unique users on Anywayr, offering an unparalleled glimpse into the current state of group travel from March to June 2026.
Where group trip planners are heading
The allure of iconic cities and diverse landscapes continues to dominate group travel preferences. Our data reveals a strong inclination towards both major metropolitan hubs and broader national explorations. The top five destinations chosen by Anywayr users are:
- New York, NY, USA (59 trips, 5.2%)
- USA (43 trips, 3.8%)
- Austin, TX, USA (36 trips, 3.2%)
- Japan (26 trips, 2.3%)
- Los Angeles, CA, USA (19 trips, 1.7%)
New York City's enduring appeal is evident, leading the charge as a standalone destination. Its diverse offerings, from cultural landmarks to world-class dining, make it a natural fit for groups. For deeper insights into New York travel, explore our dedicated page: New York City. Furthermore, a significant portion of users, 3.8%, opted for a broader 'USA' search, indicating flexibility or a desire for an initial national scope before narrowing down. Austin, TX, USA, secures the third spot, highlighting a growing interest in vibrant, culture-rich cities outside the traditional coastal giants. Our recent analysis on Austin further details these trends: Austin, TX, USA Travel Data: What 32 Trips Reveal.
Beyond the top five, other notable destinations include Japan (2.3%), Los Angeles, CA, USA (1.7%), and Tokyo, Japan (1.5%), demonstrating a strong international pull towards East Asia. Las Vegas, NV, USA, and Sydney NSW, Australia, each garnered 1.3% of trips, showcasing a blend of entertainment-focused and distant, aspirational travel. Paris, France, United States (another broad national search), Switzerland, and California, USA, all tied at 1.1%, rounding out the top twelve. The presence of both specific cities (Tokyo, Paris) and broader regions (Japan, Switzerland, California) suggests varying levels of planning specificity at the initial search phase. Overall, domestic travel within the USA remains exceptionally popular, with multiple US cities and the country itself appearing prominently on the list, although international destinations like Japan, Australia, and France also capture significant interest.
Who's traveling together
Understanding the composition of travel groups is crucial for tailoring experiences. Anywayr's data reveals a diverse mix of relationships and group sizes actively planning trips. When examining group types, the distribution is as follows:
- couple: 32.4%
- friends: 30.9%
- family: 22%
- solo: 14.5%
- business: 0.1%
Couples and friends represent the largest segments of group planners, collectively accounting for 63.3% of all trips. This highlights the social aspect inherent in most group travel, whether it's a romantic getaway or an adventure with companions. Family travel, at 22%, forms a substantial third pillar, often involving multi-generational trips or holidays with children. Interestingly, solo travel accounts for 14.5% of trips. While Anywayr is designed for group planning, this indicates that individuals utilize the platform to organize personal itineraries, perhaps for future group coordination, or simply to leverage its planning capabilities for individual journeys. Business travel, at a mere 0.1%, confirms Anywayr's primary focus on leisure group travel.
Delving into group sizes provides a complementary perspective:
- small group (3-5 people): 46.5%
- couple (2 people): 36.4%
- solo (1 person): 11%
- large group (6+ people): 6.2%
The data shows that small groups of 3-5 people are the most common, making up 46.5% of all planned trips. This "small group" category perfectly balances shared experiences with manageable logistics. Trips for two people, categorized as 'couple' in group size, account for 36.4%, closely aligning with the 'couple' group type (32.4%). The slight discrepancy suggests some 'friends' trips might also consist of two individuals. Solo trips, at 11%, reinforce the observation from group types that individuals are using the platform for personal planning. Large groups of 6 or more people, while less frequent at 6.2%, still represent a significant niche, often requiring more complex coordination—a task where Anywayr's collaborative tools prove invaluable.
When they're going
Seasonality plays a significant role in group travel planning, with a clear preference for warmer months and holiday periods. The top travel months identified are:
- June: 21.7%
- May: 17.4%
- July: 15.2%
- August: 10.2%
- September: 9.6%
- October: 7.7%
The period from May to August collectively accounts for a substantial 64.5% of all planned trips, firmly establishing the summer as peak group travel season. This trend is largely driven by school holidays, favorable weather conditions across many popular destinations, and a general inclination for extended vacations during this time. June leads with the highest percentage, followed closely by May and July, indicating that groups are eager to kick off their summer adventures early. Even as summer winds down, September and October maintain significant activity, representing 9.6% and 7.7% respectively. This suggests an extended shoulder season where groups might be looking for milder weather, fewer crowds, or specific fall events and festivals. The data underscores the importance of planning well in advance for these popular months, especially for groups seeking specific accommodations or activities.
What they care about
Group travelers on Anywayr prioritize a diverse range of experiences, with a strong leaning towards active and immersive pursuits. The top interests selected by users highlight a desire for engagement and discovery:
- Adventure & Outdoor Activities: 60%
- Food & Dining: 58.1%
- Cultural Experiences: 50.7%
- Beach & Water Sports: 49.2%
- Local Markets: 34.2%
- Shopping: 30.3%
- History & Museums: 28.6%
- Photography: 27.3%
- Architecture: 25.7%
- Nightlife & Entertainment: 25.4%
Adventure and outdoor activities top the list, selected by 60% of planners, underscoring a prevailing desire for active exploration and engagement with nature. Closely following are Food & Dining (58.1%) and Cultural Experiences (50.7%), demonstrating that groups value culinary exploration and immersion in local traditions as integral parts of their journey. Nearly half of all groups (49.2%) also seek out Beach & Water Sports, indicating that relaxation and aquatic fun remain highly desirable. The strong showing of Local Markets (34.2%), Shopping (30.3%), History & Museums (28.6%), Photography (27.3%), and Architecture (25.7%) points to a holistic approach to travel, where groups want to explore, learn, and capture memories. Even Nightlife & Entertainment (25.4%) features prominently, especially in destinations like New York, NY, USA Travel Data: What 21 Anywayr Users Planned, suggesting a balanced itinerary that includes both daytime exploration and evening enjoyment. This broad range of interests emphasizes the need for flexible and customizable itineraries that can cater to varied group preferences.
How long their trips are
The duration of group trips reveals interesting insights into planning behaviors. On Anywayr, the average trip length is 7.6 nights, while the median trip length is 3 nights. This significant difference between the average and median suggests a bimodal distribution of trip lengths.
The median of 3 nights indicates that a large number of group trips are shorter getaways, likely weekend trips or extended long weekends. These shorter durations align with the popularity of smaller group sizes and the desire for quick, refreshing breaks. However, the average of 7.6 nights being considerably higher implies the presence of a notable number of longer, perhaps week-long or multi-week, vacations that pull the average up. These longer trips could be family holidays, extensive international adventures, or multi-destination itineraries. This pattern suggests that while quick escapes are frequent, groups are also planning more substantial, immersive journeys. Planners often balance the feasibility of short breaks with the aspiration for more extensive travel, leveraging Anywayr to manage the complexities of both.
Methodology
This report is based on an analysis of 1141 trips planned by 919 real Anywayr users over the last 90 days, with data generated on 2026-06-22. To ensure accuracy and relevance, administrative and test trips were excluded from the dataset. This first-party research provides current insights into group travel behaviors and preferences, with the data refreshed monthly to reflect evolving trends.
What this means for your trip planning
The trends observed in this Anywayr report offer valuable guidance for anyone planning a group trip. With popular destinations like New York and Austin, and peak travel months concentrated in the summer, it's clear that early planning is key, especially if you aim to secure preferred accommodations and activities. Consider diversifying your itinerary to include a mix of the top interests, from adventure and outdoor activities to food and cultural experiences, to ensure everyone in your group finds something to enjoy. Given that most trips are short (median 3 nights) but many groups also plan longer getaways, Anywayr's flexibility allows you to craft anything from a quick weekend escape to an extended vacation.
For smaller groups and couples, the platform simplifies coordination, while for larger groups, it streamlines the often-complex task of gathering preferences and managing logistics. With Anywayr, you can effortlessly discover destinations, build custom itineraries, book real activities with live prices, and collect everyone's share, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable planning process. Anywayr's AI can build a comprehensive trip itinerary in minutes, simplifying the entire planning process for any group.
