Google Flights Ranks This California City As A Top Trending Summer Destination For 2026

One of America's top trending travel destinations for summer 2026 is the city of Burbank, California, based on a recent data analysis from Google Flights. The analysis looked at flight searches for domestic trips departing U.S. airports from June 1 to August 31, 2026, to determine the destinations with the greatest year-over-year increase. Going by those criteria, Burbank ranked ahead of both San Diego and San Francisco as California's top destination.

One reason Burbank flights may be attracting search interest is that Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) is a contender for the best Los Angeles area airport. Travelers looking to avoid long lines inside and traffic jams outside might want to consider flying into Burbank instead of LAX. It could be a convenient alternative for people visiting places like Hollywood and Studio City. If the same users searching Google Flights were consulting Google Maps, they'd have seen that it takes roughly half the time to drive from BUR to those places, compared to LAX. In 2025, LAX finally got a metro stop, but this news might not have reached everyone, and Burbank was years ahead of it with easily accessible walkways and shuttles to Metrolink stations on the airport's south and north ends.

Still, the appeal of Burbank to movie and TV fans may not be immediately obvious for out-of-towners who are unfamiliar with LA's geography. Speaking to Visit California, Tom Whelan, chairman of the Burbank Hospitality Association, said, "I always tell people that when they see the Hollywood Sign, if you climb over that hill, the other side is Burbank—and that's where the movies are made. [...] People often don't realize that Burbank is the media capital of the world. Most sitcoms, talk shows, and a lot of movies are all done in Burbank."

Over a hundred years of movie and TV history inform the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, which is perhaps the main attraction for cinephiles in Burbank proper. You don't have to be a Looney Tune to recognize the sight of the studio's water tower, which has been standing since 1927, the same year Warner Bros. transitioned Hollywood out of the silent-film era with the first talkie, "The Jazz Singer." The tour also showcases sets from "The Big Bang Theory," the fountain and cafe from "Friends," the backlot where "Spider-Man" shot scenes like the upside-down kiss, and a Harry Potter section where you can sit under the sorting hat or retreat into the cupboard under the stairs. Other working movie studios offer tours in and around Burbank, but where else are you going to see multiple Batmobiles parked next to authentic Batman costumes and props?

Burbank is also home to The Walt Disney Studios and its soundstages, where classic animated and live-action films like "Cinderella," "Mary Poppins," and "The Jungle Book" were produced. Architect Michael Graves brought a postmodern sensibility to the Team Disney building, giving it the aspect of a Greek temple with the Seven Dwarfs as pillars. You can see it and the Animation building, with its giant Sorcerer Mickey hat, from the street in Burbank. Members of Disney's official fan club, D23, have dibs on tours. For non-members, Adventures by Disney offers a six-day vacation package with a guided visit to The Walt Disney Studios and its Archive Reading Room. Since the package further involves Hollywood and Anaheim's Disneyland Resort, the only catch is that you'll need to arrive in LAX or Long Beach Airport instead of Burbank.

One of the quintessential L.A. movies, Michael Mann's "Heat," filmed scenes at the Bob's Big Boy restaurant in Burbank. Built in 1949, this is America's oldest surviving Big Boy location, and the state has designated it a Point of Historical Interest for its architecture, which shows the transition from streamline modern to the '50s California coffee shop style. Inside, a plaque marks the booth where The Beatles dined during their summer 1965 tour. Outside, a 70-foot neon sign advertises Bob's as the home of the "original double deck hamburger," which inspired the Big Mac's creation at McDonald's in 1967. Originally a drive-in, Bob's hosts a classic car show every Friday night, and it still offers car hop service on weekend nights. Its mascot also appeared in "Austin Powers," where Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) rocketed off into space in a giant Big Boy statue.

Another neon sign dating to the mid-20th century in Burbank is the one outside the Safari Inn, which has a Wall of Fame showing movies that have used it as a filming location, including "Apollo 13" and "True Romance." If you need a place to stay, this hotel could be a good option, since it provides free shuttles to Warner Bros. Studios and Universal Studios Hollywood. While they're technically outside the city, landmarks like Universal and Griffith Park do sometimes appear in Burbank travel guides. Both are less than five miles away. And on the other side of the Hollywood Sign, there are many other famous landmarks within reach, such as Dodger Stadium and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For a truly unique Burbank souvenir, head to It's a Wrap, a shop that sells real movie and TV props and pieces of wardrobe.