Guide
TravelYouTubeUSAHow to Start a Travel YouTube Channel in the US (2026 Guide)
Travel content remains one of YouTube's most aspirational and watched categories. Americans took 2.3 billion domestic trips in 2025, and international travel has fully recovered from pandemic lows. Channels like Lost LeBlanc, Kara and Nate, and Hey Nadine have shown that travel content builds loyal audiences and diverse revenue streams. CPMs range from $8-$22, but the real money is in tourism board partnerships, travel credit card affiliates, and booking platform commissions.
Last updated: February 26, 2026
Step-by-Step Guide
Start with accessible travel content
Begin with local and domestic travel content. You don't need exotic international trips to start — day trips, road trips, and exploring your own city provide ample content while you build skills.
Develop your filming and editing workflow
Learn to capture quality travel footage efficiently. Practice filming B-roll, conducting walk-and-talks, and editing travel sequences. Your production quality needs to match the aspirational nature of travel content.
Include practical information in every video
Costs, transportation logistics, accommodation details, and honest assessments. Viewers planning trips need actionable information, not just pretty footage.
Build your travel credit card affiliate strategy
Create travel hacking and credit card points content. Travel credit card affiliates are the highest-paying opportunity in the travel niche.
Pitch tourism boards and travel brands
Once you reach 10K-25K subscribers, create a media kit and pitch tourism boards for sponsored destination coverage. This provides both content opportunities and significant revenue.
The travel content landscape in 2026
Travel content has evolved from pure inspiration to practical guidance.
Market data:
- Americans took 2.3 billion domestic trips in 2025
- US travel industry worth $1.1 trillion
- 'Best places to visit in [location]' terms get millions of monthly searches
- Budget travel and travel hacking content growing fastest
- Solo travel, van life, and road trip content especially popular
Revenue potential:
- CPM range: $8-$22 (travel companies, airlines, and booking platforms advertise)
- Booking affiliates: Hotels.com, Booking.com pay 4-6% on bookings
- Travel credit card affiliates: $50-$200 per approved application
- Tourism board partnerships: $2,000-$20,000+ for destination coverage
- Travel insurance affiliates: $10-$30 per policy sold
Content landscape shifts:
- Budget and travel hacking content outperforming luxury travel
- Domestic US travel growing faster than international
- 'How to travel cheap' is more searched than 'best luxury resorts'
- Solo female travel and digital nomad content rising rapidly
Content strategy for travel channels
Destination guides (highest search volume):
1. "[City] travel guide — everything you need to know"
2. "Best things to do in [destination] — local tips"
3. "[Destination] on a budget — how to spend less and see more"
4. "[Country] travel guide — 2 week itinerary with costs"
Travel hacking and budget:
5. "How I fly first class for free — credit card points strategy"
6. "Travel hacking 101 — beginner's guide to free flights"
7. "How to travel the US cheap — budget road trip guide"
8. "Best travel credit cards 2026 — points and miles breakdown"
Practical travel content:
9. "How to pack light — carry-on only for 2 weeks"
10. "Airport tips that save time and money"
11. "Travel safety — staying safe in unfamiliar places"
12. "Best travel gear 2026 — what I actually pack"
Experience content:
13. "I spent a week in [destination] for $X — complete breakdown"
14. "Road trip: [route] — costs, stops, and highlights"
15. "Solo travel in [destination] — honest experience"
Shorts:
- "Travel hack that saves hundreds"
- "One thing to see in [city]"
- "Hidden gem nobody visits"
Travel content production
Travel content has higher production demands than most niches.
Equipment essentials:
- Mirrorless camera or modern smartphone with stabilization
- Compact gimbal for smooth walking footage
- Wireless lavalier mic for audio in noisy environments
- Drone for aerial shots (check local regulations)
- Portable SSD for backing up footage on the road
Content capture strategy:
- Film B-roll continuously during travel (you can never have too much)
- Capture establishing shots of every new location
- Film meals, transportation, and accommodation for authenticity
- Record audio journals for voiceover material
- Photograph receipts and expenses for budget breakdown content
Editing and style:
- Cinematic B-roll with matching music creates the aspirational feel travel audiences expect
- Balance beauty shots with practical information (not just a highlight reel)
- Include real costs, transit details, and logistics
- Maps and route graphics help viewers plan their own trips
- Thumbnail with you in the destination + destination name = highest CTR format
Monetization through the travel ecosystem
Travel content has diverse revenue streams beyond YouTube ads.
Travel credit card affiliates (highest per-conversion):
- Chase Sapphire, Amex Gold/Platinum: $50-$200 per approved application
- Travel hacking content naturally promotes credit card signups
- This is the single highest-value affiliate opportunity in travel content
Booking platform affiliates:
- Booking.com: 4-6% on hotel bookings
- Hotels.com: Similar commission structure
- GetYourGuide, Viator: 8-10% on tour and activity bookings
- Hostelworld, Airbnb: Referral programs
Tourism board partnerships:
- Tourism boards pay $2,000-$20,000+ for destination coverage
- Often include flights, accommodation, and activities
- Build a media kit after reaching 10K-25K subscribers
- Apply through tourism board PR agencies and directly
Travel gear affiliates:
- Luggage, packing cubes, tech gear: via Amazon Associates
- Travel insurance: World Nomads, SafetyWing ($10-$30 per policy)
Ad revenue:
- $8-$22 CPM with travel industry advertisers
- Long-form travel guides (15-25 min) maximize ad placements
Use FluxNote to create Shorts with quick travel tips, destination highlights, and packing hacks — travel Shorts are among the most-watched short-form content and drive rapid subscriber growth.
Pro Tips
- Include real, specific costs for everything — '$47/night hotel,' '$12 airport transfer,' '$8 street food lunch' — this practical data is what separates useful travel content from pretty slideshows
- Domestic US travel content has less competition and serves a massive audience — not every video needs to be in Bali or Tokyo
- Travel credit card content is the highest-CPM sub-niche within travel — create a dedicated video comparing travel cards and update it annually
- Summer (June-August) and holiday planning seasons (October-November) drive the highest travel content traffic — publish destination guides before these periods
- Collaborate with local tourism boards even at small subscriber counts — many regional tourism offices have smaller budgets and work with micro-influencers