KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI) — When Tennesseans start planning a getaway, they’re most likely dreaming of the Florida Keys.
A new study by luxury travel advisors The Resorts Collection found that Key West, Florida, is the most-searched vacation destination among Tennessee residents, based on Google search activity over the past 12 months.
Researchers analyzed search volumes for 100 popular U.S. vacation destinations using data from Google Keyword Planner. The study found Key West generated an average of 278 searches per month from Tennessee residents, making it the state’s most-searched travel destination.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, ranked second with 230 monthly searches, while North Carolina’s Outer Banks came in third with 184 searches per month.
Rounding out the top five were Las Vegas, Nevada, with 182 searches, and Yosemite National Park, California, with 178.
The findings suggest Tennessee travelers are strongly drawn to beach destinations and coastal escapes, with several seaside locations appearing near the top of the rankings.
Tennessee’s Top 10 Most-Searched Vacation Destinations
- Key West, Florida – 278 searches
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – 230
- Outer Banks, North Carolina – 184
- Las Vegas, Nevada – 182
- Yosemite, California – 178
- Hilton Head, South Carolina – 162
- Orlando, Florida – 144
- Destin, Florida – 132
- Maui, Hawaii – 118
- Gulf Shores, Alabama – 116
The study also revealed that Tennesseans largely prefer domestic travel. Researchers found 59.6% of vacation-related searches from the state focused on destinations within the United States rather than international travel.
While beach destinations dominated the rankings, Gatlinburg was the highest-ranked destination located within Tennessee. The popular Smoky Mountain tourism hub received an average of 74 searches per month, placing it 11th overall.
Florian Pauly, co-founder of The Resorts Collection, said the popularity of Key West reflects travelers’ desire for simple, relaxing vacations.
“A coastal break like Key West really sells itself on simplicity,” Pauly said. “There is no itinerary to manage and no landmark you have to tick off, just sea air and the freedom to do very little.”
Pauly added that the search trends reveal what many travelers are seeking when they take time away from everyday life.
“The modern staycation is really about finding a certain kind of environment where you can switch off, and the search data from Tennessee backs that up,” he said.
The research was conducted using Google Keyword Planner search data collected over the past year and ranked destinations based on average monthly searches originating from Tennessee.
Source: The Resorts Collection using Google Keyword Planner data.
