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Despite the economic uncertainty caused by President Donald Trump’s tariffs, most Americans still plan to take a vacation this summer. According to the American Automobile Association., more than a third say they will take a road trip of at least 50 miles or more that includes an overnight stay.
“Americans still prioritize vacations as an essential part of life,” AAA Vice President of Travel Debbie Haas said in a statement. “People view summer travel as a vital way to invest in their well-being and create lasting memories.”
What travel looks like this summer is likely to be more local and budget oriented. A recent summer survey from the travel center company Pilot found 53% of vacationers are planning to take more short trips or weekend getaways than in previous years.
The Pilot survey found 58% of travelers plan to take a trip to a lake or beach this summer, and 51% plan to visit the mountains or a national park. Overall, 57% said they planned to travel 200 miles or less to get to their vacation spot.
According to the summer travel trends survey from the vacation home rental company Vacasa, 89% of travelers plan to take weekend-long or extended weekend escapes of three or four days. Nearly four out of five respondents in the survey said they are making budget-conscious decisions because of inflation and cost-of-living concerns.
Three-quarters of summer vacationers will travel by car, according to Vacasa, and 87% of Americans who plan to travel say they will remain in the United States this year instead of traveling abroad. But they still plan to travel.
“I think there’s a misconception out there that travel is slow, but the reality is travel is back,” Vacasa Vice President Kristen Taylor told Spectrum News. “We’re back to where travel was pre-pandemic.”
According to an Auto Club Group survey of residents in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, two-thirds of Americans plan to take a trip between now and Labor Day. The survey found that about one-third of respondents plan to take more vacations this summer, and about 20% plan to take less.
“More people are interested in taking a summer trip, so the enthusiasm is still there,” said Auto Club Group spokesperson Mark Jenkins. “But because of concerns about the economy, there are some Americans who are a little bit hesitant to lock in travel plans.”
Of those who plan to take fewer vacations, the majority were worried about their personal finances and/or the economy, the survey found.
Jenkins said the delay in summer planning among hesitant travelers is creating opportunities for people to find deals, discounts and incentives that ordinarily would not be available heading into peak summer travel months of June and July.
Catering toward this summer’s trend of shorter, more budget-oriented trips, Jenkins said many cruise lines are now offering extended weekend trips instead of weeklong or 10-day trips. About 90% of travelers also plan to drive to their destinations.
“Travel providers are seeing interest in shorter vacations,” Jenkins said, “and they’re adjusting to meet that demand.”
