Local tourism is really gaining momentum these days – and for good reason. From the minimal environmental impact to the low-budget opportunities, it comes with a lot of benefits. Ready to travel locally on your next trip? Read this article to learn how!

Before you select the hottest new destination for your vacation, consider all of the beautiful options that are available to you locally.

Yes, driving two hours may not be as glamorous as a 12-hour flight to Southeast Asia, but there are many benefits to local travel that just aren’t available at popular tourist destinations.

From a decrease in cost to a minimal environmental impact, traveling locally just might be the answer you’ve been looking for.

But how to travel locally? And why?

Read on to learn about all the ways local travel might work for you.

What is local travel?

Local travel is simply small-scale travel. It’s when you don’t go too far from home and spend one or a few days visiting local destinations and hidden gems. You might drive an hour or two away, hop on a train, or even be a tourist in your own city.

When people imagine travel, they often think of far-flung adventures, where the journey is just as important as the destination. And that’s certainly a great way to travel – but it’s not the only one out there. Think you’ve seen it all in your area? This is exactly how you miss out on great experiences!

Although the terms are often considered synonyms, local travel is not exactly the same as domestic travel. Think of all the massive countries out there – a family from New York traveling to California are not local travelers just because they’re staying in the same country.

But local travel can definitely be international, especially in places like Europe where countries are so close to each other and public transportation is abundant. 

Why is local travel sustainable?

Local travel is more sustainable than typical international travel by far. Before we get into detail, it’s important to note what sustainable travel even is.

In short, there are three pillars to sustainable travel: environmental, economic, and socio-cultural. Sustainable travel must not cause excessive harm to the environment, and it should support the local economy and its people in a way that doesn’t erode their culture.

Local travel can easily be sustainable in all three dimensions.

Local travel is environmentally sustainable

Carbon emissions when traveling locally are much lower compared to traveling internationally, or simply traveling large distances. Local travel often doesn’t involve flights and, when it does, the shorter distance lends a hand in reducing emissions.

Airlines also limit what and how much you can take on board with you, so you’ll have to use your suitcase space wisely and likely resort to travel-size products. This results in a lot of unnecessary waste. When traveling by car or public transportation, there are no such restrictions and you can pack eco-friendly products to further reduce your carbon footprint.

Check out my eco-friendly packing list.

Local travel also means you already know how to minimize your impact once you get to your destination. For example, has your country launched an app to locate water stations to refill your reusable bottle? That’s great, you can still use it on your trip. Or, are you expected to sort your trash before throwing it away? No problem, you already know how to do it.

When traveling to far-away destinations, you may be unaware of such habits and practices, and may not have enough time to research the necessary information. So, you’ll probably end up with no alternative but to buy bottled water, dump everything in the “mixed waste”, and so on.

Another point for local tourism!

Local travel is economically sustainable

Local travel is sustainable economically for both yourself and your community.

The push to shop locally is prevalent in sustainable travel. Who do you want to support – the locals or international hotel chains? The same applies to local travel, except this time you’re helping your own community and its economy.

It’s also easier to navigate all the available options because you are already familiar with the area and have a better sense of what is really a local offering versus what is sneakily a tourist trap.

You’ll be also more inclined to book local and sustainable accommodation, especially if you’re one to seek the comforts of home while away.

The farther away you go, the higher the chances that a hotel room or vacation rental is very different from what you’re used to. Maybe the hygiene standards are not the same as in your home country, the local norms of hospitality look weird or even rude to you, or the amenities are not as you expected. Sustainable tourism should indeed be all about respecting the local culture and customs, but not everyone has the same spirit of adaptation (and that’s ok).

Luckily, you’ll have no such issues when traveling locally. Accommodations probably offer the same services you’re used to and there is less of a need to seek the comfort of a hotel chain. It will be that much easier to book a bed and breakfast, or to maybe even try out a campsite or other alternative forms of accommodation.

Learn more about what to look for in sustainable accommodation here.

Everything that is true about accommodation is true about eating locally. As a resident of the nearby area, you know what is truly local food and what isn’t, and you can support restaurants and the overall service industry close by.

Local travel is culturally sustainable

Local travel also preserves local culture and traditions. In over-traveled destinations, locals face pressure to adapt their habits and traditions to meet tourists’ expectations. This isn’t an issue when people travel locally, as they are already a part of, or better understand, the area that they are visiting.

Local travel is also much more flexible than traveling a great distance away. It’s much easier to pack up and go when you only have a short trip ahead. This means you can easily avoid crowds by traveling outside of peak season which is good for both you and the community you’re visiting. Traveling in the low season does not mean you won’t find anything fun to do. You can attend fairs, festivals, and exhibitions, both large and small, without putting a strain on the community’s resources.

Benefits of traveling locally

Local travel offers many other benefits to travelers that aren’t just about the environment and the community that’s being visited.

It’s cheaper

Oftentimes traveling locally is much cheaper than going on a long and far international vacation. The cost of transport, insurance, and baggage fees can add up fast, and if you’re traveling in a region that you’re familiar with, you will have a better understanding of ways to save money too.

It’s easy to plan

Local trips are easier and less time-consuming to plan as you’re familiar with customs and the way things work, and they also allow you to travel more frequently. When only traveling an hour or two in each direction it’s more manageable to take weekend trips.

And if you have a family or pets, you don’t have to worry about flight time, children in pain from the change of air pressure, or your dog not being allowed on the flight at all.

You learn about your area

When you travel locally, you have the chance to learn things about your area that you might have always overlooked. Travel often changes people’s mindsets. No longer are you in your daily life, but rather you are an outsider looking into the lives of people who live there.

So what if you’re only 30 minutes from your bedroom? If you visit an area from the perspective of a tourist, you will be much more open to learning about what other people experience, which will then lead you to view your own city differently.

It is also much easier to find hidden gems. If you’ve extensively traveled in a region and have already visited all of the must-see attractions, you should explore outside-the-box opportunities. You never know what you’ll find unless you get out there and look.

It’s more inclusive

Local travel is more inclusive from multiple perspectives.

It has the potential to be much more disability-friendly than international travel in many circumstances. For example, service animals are allowed, and it’s that much easier and stress-free to travel with all necessary equipment that may be needed.

Also, with no cultural or language barriers, you can better assess the actual inclusivity of an attraction or a destination and draw your conclusions. You may want to avoid places that you consider to be unsafe for certain marginalized groups, or go anyway with some precautions.

Ideas for local travel

Short on local vacation ideas? No problem, there are so many options when it comes to local travel.

Go on a road trip

Road trips are the easiest way to travel locally, especially if you already have a car. Make sure your vehicle is equipped to leave home: all elements should be in working order (tires have the correct air pressure, there’s enough oil, etc.), and you have jumper cables and a snow scraper as needed.

All that’s left is to hop in and hit the road!

Your car can take you wherever you want to go. There isn’t a set flight plan, and you won’t have a tour guide telling you what is next on the agenda.

There is so much to see and do throughout the world, and just because you’re close to home doesn’t mean it’s any less of an adventure.

Stop anywhere that looks interesting, and avoid highways when possible.

Go camping

Travel doesn’t always have to mean luxurious getaways. Sometimes the best trips are the ones that are laid back and spent in nature.

There are campsites almost everywhere, and for all types of travelers. From state-of-the-art RV parks to family-friendly spots in the woods, you are sure to find your ideal way to connect with nature.

Hop on a train

You know what they say – travel is about the journey, not the destination. Well, what better way to get from point A to B than hopping on a train and enjoying the view all along?

Trains offer a fun, slowed-down experience in a world where people just want to travel as quickly as possible. They are also a great option for those who are not comfortable driving in unfamiliar places or just don’t want to relax on the trip.

Depending on where you live, trains may be a more or less accessible form of transportation, but they’re worth a try. You can even find money-saving deals such as 10-ride passes that you can use on multiple trips.

Go hiking

Hiking is what you make of it, and there’s no shortage of hiking options available. A hike can be as simple and accessible as a stroll along a town’s border or a weekend-long trek up a mountain.

No matter where you are in the world, you will have access to a hike to go on.

This is another great way to connect with nature, and as a bonus, it doesn’t have the time commitment that camping does.

If you aren’t in the mood to sleep in the wilderness, it’s more than possible to drive to the trailhead and head back to a hotel, or even back home, once the hike is completed.

Visit a national park

National parks are bucket-list items for many people, and their accessibility makes them a great choice when considering local travel.

Entrance fees are what maintain the gorgeous land, so visiting them helps to preserve the area. Plus, when visiting locally you can choose to visit off of peak season to stave off overwhelming the area with tourists and enjoy the park even better.

Fewer people mean greater chances to spot wildlife – don’t forget to be respectful of the animals though! If you’re not sure what to do (or not to do), read this guide on ethical animal tourism.

Be a tourist in your own city

This may just be one of the best ways to travel locally and sustainably. Your home is filled with more to do than you know.

When we travel, we tend to use this time to escape monotony and try new things – why not just try new things at home?

Transportation costs will be low, and all money you spend at home will stay in your community.

Visit museums that you haven’t before, or take a walking tour to see what is being said about where you live. Try a cooking class, or eat at restaurants you otherwise wouldn’t try if you weren’t “visiting”.

Attend a local event or festival

So often we’re caught up in our daily lives that we only seek new experiences when we’re on vacation. Life doesn’t have to be like that.

Stay on the lookout for events going on in your town, or festivals happening in a neighboring town. Attending local events both supports your community and local artisans, and adds adventure to your life, all without a large time commitment. You can make it a turnaround trip, or turn it into an overnight stay.

Resources to travel locally

As with the travel industry as a whole, there are many resources available for those looking to travel locally.

Google

Google is the greatest travel resource of them all. From providing access to maps and directions to being the home to all the travel blogs you could ever need, Google is the place to search for local travel ideas.

Local tourism board website                    

Many towns, no matter the size, have their own tourism board and website. You can spot them right away as they are usually called Visit Finland, Visit Canada, and so on. If not, they still appear at the top of Google Search results.

You’ll find inside information, hidden gems, cultural fun facts, events, and more.

These are an excellent resource, especially for those looking to visit smaller towns, as they are proud of what they have to offer and are always showing off what they provide.

Local tourist office or travel agency

You may associate travel agencies with long-haul flights and exotic landscapes, but they are a good resource when it comes to exploring local travel destinations and finding unique activities to embark on.

Stop by your local tourist office and see what they recommend in your area.

Dedicated apps

There’s definitely no shortage of travel apps to help you find local activities and events.

AllTrails (iOS, Android) will help you pick a hiking trail, Waze (iOS, Android) will be your best friend on a road trip, and Rick Steve Audio Europe (iOS, Android) will take you on free self-paced walking tours in Europe.

Many destinations also have their own app, so it is worth making a quick Google search. For example, Kide.app (iOS, Android) helps you find events and services in over 30 cities in Finland and you can even buy your tickets through it.

Recommendations from friends and family

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to discover new local travel ideas. You’re friends for a reason, which means your interests align and they will be able to give confident recommendations for an area.

It’s also a great idea to ask other locals in your town. Did your barista mention they go camping frequently? Ask them about their favorite campsites and trails.

Social media

Social media are a treasure trove of travel ideas. Start following local travel accounts or, if you already have a destination in mind, use the geotag and you’ll find yourself scrolling for hours through picture-perfect views and hidden corners of the world.

Tips for local travel

In conclusion, here’s a list of the best tips for local travel mentioned in this article.

1. Support the community by staying at locally-owned accommodations and eating at local restaurants.

2. Do what you can to minimize your carbon footprint. This is so much easier when you travel locally. For instance, you could bring eco-friendly travel items or choose low-impact forms of transportation.

3. Avoid tourist traps – who wants to pay for overpriced low-quality stuff in their own town that they probably know inside out?

4. Make friends. With no language barriers, you can easily strike up a conversation with other people on the same walking tour or with someone sitting next to you on the bus. It’ll be much easier to stay in touch with people living in the area than with someone who lives overseas.

5. Spread the word about the places you visit and give recommendations to your friends.

6. Most of all, have fun!

Final thoughts

So, have I convinced you to travel locally?

As you just read, local travel isn’t just good for the environment – it’s good for your community and your wallet as well.

It’s often cheaper than international travel, and it’s your own community that receives your tourist money.

If you’re in the mood for a change of pace, consider staying local – you never know what all your area has to offer until you try it out.

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