A new study by AttractionTickets.com has identified the US states and cities most focused on combining work and leisure, as the workation trend gains momentum in 2025. The research highlights the growing number of Americans working remotely from vacation spots such as Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resorts, where laptops are now a common sight among park guests. Viral TikToks by users like @themouselets and Reddit threads discussing the best park workation spots reflect this shift.
The study, conducted by AttractionTickets.com, a leading global ticket company, analysed five years of search interest in working vacations and cross-referenced these with the availability of hotels offering Wi-Fi, business centres, and meeting rooms. The findings show a nation embracing remote work during holidays, with 47% of Americans feeling guilty if they do not work while on vacation. Additionally, one in five Americans planned a workation in 2024, with Millennials and Gen Xers leading this trend.
Georgia and North Carolina tie for first place among states, each scoring 25 out of 30 due to high search interest and strong hotel infrastructure. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and Illinois follow with scores of 23. Texas and Tennessee rank next with scores of 22, while Florida and Alabama complete the top four. A notable North-South divide emerges, with Southern states dominating the rankings and Pennsylvania the only Northern state in the top three.
Texas leads the city rankings, with Houston at the top scoring 21 out of 30. San Antonio follows with a score of 13, and Austin ties with Gainesville in Florida at 11. Zanesville in Ohio ranks fourth, achieving a perfect search volume score despite a lack of workation-friendly hotels. Charlotte in North Carolina and Oklahoma City also appear in the rankings, demonstrating strong regional interest.
Social media platforms have played a key role in amplifying the workation trend, with users sharing tips on balancing work and play in destinations like Florida’s theme parks. The study reports a 75% spike in search interest for working vacations, showing a cultural shift towards combining productivity with leisure. Oliver Brendon, CEO of AttractionTickets.com, said, “We’re seeing a permanent shift in how Americans view travel. Workations aren’t just a novelty anymore, they’re essential to being savvy with vacation day allowances. Travelers are now actively choosing destinations that let them stay productive without giving up on fun, and we’re seeing a knock-on impact on that within our industry. Head to Walt Disney World’s popular Connections Café and you’ll see many people working on laptops, enabling them to enjoy the park straight away after their office hours end. It’s unsurprising that Florida ranks 4th in these rankings to us, but it’s interesting to see the regions that are embracing workationing as the new norm. I predict we’ll see more leading companies in the travel industry beginning to reflect this in package vacations tailored to remote workers, and more specific hotel offers for workationers.”
The study highlights a rising demand for destinations that support remote work, particularly in Southern states and Texas metro areas, as workations become part of mainstream travel habits.
