Tripadvisor names Myrtle Beach No. 1

Tripadvisor put Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at the top of its U.S. summer destination rankings in data released on April 22, adding to a run of beach-heavy picks in its 2026 Summer Travel Index. The company said Myrtle Beach was the most-searched domestic destination for U.S. travelers planning summer trips and also led searches tied to the Fourth of July weekend. The rankings were based on travel searches made on Tripadvisor’s platform between February 1 and April 10, 2026. Islands later highlighted the result in a travel story that pointed to Myrtle Beach’s lower-cost, drive-friendly appeal relative to some longer-haul beach markets. ### How did Tripadvisor come up with the ranking? Tripadvisor said the index drew on summer travel search behavior from U.S.- and U.K.-based users on its platform between February 1 and April 10, 2026. The company described the release as an early look at where Americans were planning to go this summer, with domestic and international lists based on destination search volume. (tripadvisor.mediaroom.com) The April 22 release said East Coast and Florida beach destinations featured heavily in the domestic rankings. Myrtle Beach led the U.S. list, while other beach markets also appeared near the top, according to Tripadvisor’s summary of the index. (tripadvisor.mediaroom.com) ### Why did Myrtle Beach rise to the top? Myrtle Beach ranked first in two Tripadvisor categories, Islands reported, citing the company’s Summer Travel Index. The outlet said the South Carolina destination was the hottest search term both for overall U.S. summer travel and for Fourth of July weekend trips. (tripadvisor.mediaroom.com) Tripadvisor’s own Myrtle Beach tourism page shows more than 500,000 reviews covering hotels, restaurants and attractions in the market. The destination page highlights family attractions including Broadway at the Beach, SkyWheel Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach State Park, underscoring the mix of beach access and built-in entertainment travelers see when they search the area. (islands.com) ### Where did Orlando show up in the summer travel conversation? Orlando appeared separately in family-focused coverage tied to 2026 summer travel rankings. Islands reported that Orlando was named the second-best summer travel destination for 2026 for families, pointing to its concentration of theme parks and child-oriented attractions. (tripadvisor.com) Florida has also shown up in other 2026 summer travel studies. A WalletHub-based ranking carried by Florida Today said the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area placed second nationally in a separate best summer travel destinations list, though that study used a different methodology from Tripadvisor’s search-based index. (islands.com) ### What does the Venice flight have to do with this story? Icelandair launched nonstop service between Reykjavík and Venice on May 22, adding another Europe option for summer travelers looking beyond U.S. beach destinations. The airline’s new route operates three times a week - on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays - through October 18, 2026. (floridatoday.com) Aviation24 reported that Venice became Icelandair’s fourth destination in Italy with the launch. The route gives North American travelers another one-stop path into Venice through Icelandair’s Keflavík hub during the peak summer season. That connection was cited in the source briefing as another practical signal in 2026 summer travel planning. (aviation24.be) ### What should travelers watch next? October 18, 2026, is the scheduled end date for Icelandair’s seasonal Venice service, according to multiple aviation reports. Tripadvisor’s April 22 Summer Travel Index remains the main published benchmark behind the Myrtle Beach ranking, and the company’s destination pages continue to update traveler reviews and listings as the summer booking season unfolds. (aviation24.be)