Embarking on a solo travel adventure can be one of the most empowering experiences a person can undertake. Recent solo women travelers statistics show that the number of women traveling alone is on the rise. Whether you’re seeking to escape the daily grind, explore a new culture, or simply enjoy your own company, traveling alone allows for unparalleled freedom and self-discovery.
In a 2024 Skyscanner survey of over 2,000 Americans, 43% of respondents said they traveled by themselves over the last year and have plans to do so again in the year ahead. As more women in particular embrace the idea of solo travel, the narrative is shifting—from apprehension to excitement—highlighting the joys and benefits that come with exploring the world on your own terms.
In this blog post, let’s dive into key solo travel statistics, particularly among women, and explore the motivations, safety considerations, and tips to ensure your journey is both rewarding and enriching.
A New Frontier: The Rise of Solo Travel
Solo travel is catching on. Let’s explore a few statistics about the increasing popularity of going it alone.
- In 2025, 62% of survey respondents plan to take between two to five solo trips within the next year. Of those who have already traveled by themselves in 2024, 36% are planning another four to five solo trips for the year ahead.
- Google Trends shows interest in solo travel is consistently increasing — more than it ever has before. Searches for the term “solo travel” are 20.2% higher in 2024 compared to 2023.
- Instagram users have shared nearly 10 million posts with the hashtag #solotravel.
A Different Perspective: Women vs. Men
What about solo women travelers vs men who responded to the survey – do they approach the trip differently? Yes, and here are the stats to show how:
- Women are more likely to choose independent activities and stay closer to home, while men tend to explore — and spend! — more.
- 59% of women and 90% of men feel safe as solo travelers.
- More women prioritize low crime (45%) than men (36%), though only 18% of females list this as their highest priority, versus 13% of men.
- Only 16% of women show interest in visiting historical cities and 6% want to visit wine regions, versus 21% and 8% of men, respectively.
- Women would rather visit destinations with water (35%) — 26% prefer the ocean and 9% lakes or rivers. Men prefer the ocean, but only 24% are likely to take a solo trip to a water destination.
- Women place more significance on general affordability, discounts, and all-inclusive amenities compared to men.
Beyond Gender: Other Demographics
Let’s break down some statistics for solo travelers based on other demographics.
- Millennials and Gen Z embark on more solo trips than any other generation. Millennials are most likely to participate in group travel as solo travelers, followed by Gen X.
- Millennials are also more likely to travel internationally, with Europe as the #1 destination.
- Gen Z and baby boomers prefer to stay closer to home. Gen Z are more likely to visit Canada by themselves compared to other generations, whereas baby boomers showed more interest in the Caribbean Islands.
- Almost one-third of women and over one-third of men who travel alone are married.
- Parents can partake, too! 31% of those who travel solo have children.
Budget Breakdown: Costs to Know about as Solo Women Travelers
How much are Americans actually willing to spend to travel alone? Explore these statistics on solo travel spending habits.
- Most people (63%) spend between $1,000 and $3,000 on a solo trip, not including airfare.
- 27% of travelers are willing to spend up to $5,000 on a single solo trip. One-third of parents would do the same.
- Men are more willing to splurge on traveling by themselves — 67% of women spend less than $2,000 on a solo trip; 46% of men say they’d spend between $2,000 and $10,000.
Solo Travel: Personal Perks
Traveling alone doesn’t appeal to everyone. Top reasons why people won’t travel on their own include: they’d rather go with someone else (29%), safety concerns (29%), cost (19%), guilt over leaving their family (10%), and just don’t want to be alone (9%).
But for many people, traveling solo is advantageous in many ways. Check out these enlightening statistics:
- 75% of solo travelers do so for personal benefits.
- Self-care, personal growth, and freedom to travel on personal schedules account for about a quarter of survey respondents’ main motivations for solo travel.
- 1 in 5 travelers who say self-care is their primary reason for traveling alone take six trips or more every year.
Other potential benefits women (and others) can enjoy as solo travelers include the opportunity to meet new people, the ability to immerse yourself in a new culture without distractions, and the chance to improve your self-confidence.
Tips for a Seamless Trip on Your Own, Ladies
If you’re nervous about embarking on your first solo trip, fear not! Follow these tips for a safer, more stress-free solo travel experience.
- Start small: For your first solo trip, try going somewhere within driving distance. As you gain more experience and confidence, you can try driving farther or flying to new destinations.
- Research: Familiarize yourself with your destination’s customs, culture, and safety guidelines before you go.
- Inform loved ones: Share your itinerary and contact information with family and friends.
- Connect with other travelers: Join group tours or use social media to meet like-minded people.
- Trust your instincts: Be mindful of your surroundings. If something feels off, remove yourself from the situation.
- Embrace spontaneity: Keep an open mind to unexpected experiences and spontaneous adventures.
Solo Women Travelers: Here’s Your Takeaway
When in doubt, just pack your bags and go! A solo adventure should be fun, so lean into the experience and push yourself outside your comfort zone (as long as you stay safe, of course). You’re sure to have an unforgettable trip.
Top photo by Nina Uhlikova via Pexels.
The older I get, Christy, the more ‘solo’ travel appeals. That is not to say that I’d prefer solo to travelling with my partner! However, to simply ‘take off’ solo seems like it may be in my future… Food for thought!
There’s a great sense of freedom to feeling you can go where you want to go and when! Hope you’re doing well, Carolyn xx
An interesting post, Christy. I think it depends where you go as to how safe it is for women traveling alone. Rape is very widespread in a lot of be places.
That’s very true about safety, unfortunately. I appreciate your adding this to the article, Robbie.