A few years ago, most travelers chasing a break would default to the usual suspects: New York, Paris, Rome, Tokyo. But in 2025, something surprising is happening – especially among Gen Z and Millennial travelers. They’re skipping the mega-metropolises and heading somewhere quieter, more charming, and infinitely less stressful.
Welcome to townsizing travel – a trend that first appeared quietly in the Priceline 2025 Trend Report in late 2024 and has since exploded into the mainstream.
“The trend toward small towns offers different benefits for different generations. While Boomers are most likely to feel that small towns are more relaxing, Gen Z is Townsizing as a way to indulge in the charming, quaint moments depicted in their most comforting movies.,” said Priceline.
Now, The New York Post declared it officially viral. In this article, they quote Amy Thomasson, Indiana-based travel adviser at Travelmation, who told Fox News Digital: “These travelers are less interested in ticking off the boxes of what everyone says they should do on vacation and instead turning to more experiential trips where they can make memories in a new and exciting location.”
People are looking for fun places to drive to – so close to them – that have hotels and cool activities available.
The Soul of Townsizing: Charm Over Chaos
At its heart, townsizing is about swapping noise for nuance. Instead of spending hours in traffic or lining up for tourist-heavy landmarks, travelers are seeking experiences rooted in authenticity.
They’re booking long weekends or mini getaways in smaller, often-overlooked towns – the kind of places that don’t usually make global top 10 lists but leave you with a lasting sense of peace.
This movement isn’t just aesthetic. It taps into something deeper: the growing exhaustion with hyper-scheduled lives. Between constant notifications, fast-paced work environments, and digital overwhelm, many are looking for travel that feels like a true pause, not just another checklist.
And maybe we can all relate to this desire to get away from everything every once in a while.
As Yahoo! Life described it in a recent feature: “This kind of travel is all about going at a leisurely pace, living like locals and savoring simple pleasures like scenic strolls or diner meals.”
The Deeper Benefits of Going Small
While townsizing may have started as a novelty, it’s quickly proving to be better for travelers on many levels –…