Ohio, Oklahoma and Oregon are entering 2025–26 with tourism strategies built around different travel strengths, giving visitors more reasons to put these three US states on the itinerary. Ohio is recording record visitor activity while promoting city breaks, outdoor escapes and longer stays; Oklahoma is preparing for the 2026 Route 66 Centennial while developing its state park experiences; and Oregon is expanding nature-led, outdoor and sustainable travel across its regions.
Ohio Builds A Bigger Visitor Economy
Ohio’s tourism numbers show how broad the state’s travel offer has become. In 2025, Ohio recorded nearly 245 million visits, generating nearly $58 billion in economic impact and supporting more than 447,000 jobs. The figures include travel across the state, from major cities and events to parks, attractions, restaurants and overnight destinations.
For travellers, the appeal is spread across several types of trips. Columbus combines museums, food, sports and large events, while Cleveland offers lakefront attractions, cultural venues and access to Lake Erie. Cincinnati adds riverfront experiences, historic neighbourhoods and a strong food scene. Outside the cities, Hocking Hills brings hiking, caves, waterfalls and forest landscapes, while Cedar Point in Sandusky remains a major draw for theme-park visitors.
TourismOhio has also expanded destination promotion through a partnership with the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The initiative is designed to introduce convention and business travellers to destinations beyond Columbus, encouraging visitors to add more Ohio experiences before or after their main event.
Oklahoma Turns Route 66 Into A 2026 Travel Journey
Oklahoma enters 2026 with one of America’s most recognisable road-trip themes at the centre of its tourism calendar. More than 400 miles of Route 66 run through the state, passing through Oklahoma City, Tulsa and smaller communities lined with diners, roadside attractions, museums, shops and historic motels.
The Route 66 Centennial is scheduled across 2026, creating a year-long travel opportunity built around the highway’s 100th anniversary. Oklahoma’s centennial programme includes events and development initiatives connected with the historic route, while museums in Clinton, Elk City and Chandler provide stops for travellers interested in road history and Americana.
For road trippers, the route can be combined with Oklahoma’s wider outdoor offering. State parks provide opportunities for camping, hiking, boating, fishing and scenic drives, while destinations such as Lake Murray State Park and Quartz Mountain State Park add recreation-focused stops to an itinerary. The state is also working on park facilities, including restaurant operations at several locations, as it continues to support visitor services.
Oregon Puts Nature And Sustainable Travel In Focus
Oregon’s tourism proposition remains closely tied to its landscape, but the travel experience stretches well beyond a single type of outdoor holiday. The state brings together Pacific coastline, forests, mountains, high desert, rivers, waterfalls, wine country and urban destinations, allowing travellers to combine several experiences within one trip.
The Oregon Coast offers scenic drives, beaches and coastal towns, while the Columbia River Gorge is known for waterfalls, hiking routes and dramatic viewpoints. Crater Lake provides a major natural attraction, and the Willamette Valley connects wine tourism with farms, food and rural experiences. Portland, Bend, Hood River and Eugene add city and small-town options to the itinerary.
Travel Oregon’s 2025 visitor research includes regional studies covering Central Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge, the Oregon Coast, Portland, Southern Oregon and the Willamette Valley. The research examines visitor motivations, trip details and travel behaviour, helping shape destination planning across the state.
Sustainable travel is also built into Oregon’s tourism planning. Visitors can find electric-vehicle routes, car-free trip ideas, eco-friendly accommodation and businesses that support local food and conservation. Outdoor travel remains central, with hiking, cycling, kayaking, skiing, rafting and wildlife experiences available across different regions.
Three States, Three Ways To Travel
Ohio, Oklahoma and Oregon are taking different routes through the 2025–26 tourism cycle. Ohio is broadening the way visitors move between cities, attractions and outdoor destinations. Oklahoma is turning Route 66’s centennial into a major road-trip framework while adding state park experiences. Oregon is connecting nature, regional travel and sustainable choices.
For travellers planning a US trip, the three states offer distinct itineraries. Ohio works for city breaks mixed with parks and attractions, Oklahoma suits travellers looking for a heritage road journey, and Oregon provides multi-region trips built around landscapes and outdoor activities.
That variety creates options for different trip lengths. A weekend can focus on one city or park, while longer holidays can connect destinations by road. Across all three states, travellers can mix cultural attractions, dining, outdoor recreation and heritage stops rather than building an itinerary around one attraction.
The result is a travel map where the journey itself becomes part of the experience, whether that means following a historic highway, moving between Ohio’s cities and countryside, or crossing Oregon from coast to mountains and desert.
