Summer Travel Plans: Americans' Vacation Trends And Insights

Summer is a popular time for Americans to travel, with many choosing to take vacations during the warmer months. In 2022, surveys showed that around 80% of American adults intended to travel that summer, with 42% planning to travel more than once. This figure increased to 85% in 2023, according to the Summer Travel Survey & Trends 2023 report by The Vacationer. The majority of these trips are domestic, with international travel also increasing in popularity despite global conflicts. Affordability is a key factor in Americans' travel plans, with inflation and credit card debt influencing their decisions.

Domestic travel is the most popular option

There are several reasons why domestic travel is so popular. Firstly, it is more cost-effective than international travel, especially with rising inflation and living costs. Domestic travel is also more convenient, as it often requires less time off work and has fewer travel-related hassles such as jet lag and lengthy flights. Domestic travel is also appealing to Americans who want to explore their own country and experience the diverse culture, nature, and cities that the US has to offer. The US is a large country with varying landscapes, from beaches to mountains, and vibrant cities, offering something for everyone.

Domestic travel is also more accessible to Americans of all ages and backgrounds. While younger people are more likely to travel internationally, older generations still prefer to travel within the US. In a 2022 survey, only 14-27% of people over 45 planned to travel internationally, while 60-79% of people over 60 did not intend to travel at all. Domestic travel allows older Americans to explore their country without the challenges of international travel.

Road trips are a popular way to travel domestically, with nearly 80% of Americans choosing to travel by car in 2022. This allows travellers to explore multiple destinations and experience the journey itself. Domestic travel is also more appealing to those with families, as it is often more comfortable and familiar, especially with young children.

While international travel is increasing, with 20-23% of Americans travelling abroad in 2022, the majority of Americans still prefer to explore their own country during the summer. This trend is likely to continue, with domestic travel offering a convenient, cost-effective, and appealing option for Americans of all ages.

International travel is also common

The younger a person is, the more likely they are to travel internationally. In 2022, 26.7% of American adults aged 18-29 planned to travel abroad, while only 14.07% of American adults over 60 planned to do so. This trend continued in 2024, with 15% of all Americans planning international travel, and 36% of those being millennials.

In addition, men are more likely than women to travel internationally, with 44.81% of men and 39.62% of women saying they would travel more in the summer of 2022 than the previous year.

Despite concerns from Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Americans still intended to leave the country, with over 20% planning to travel internationally.

Americans are taking road trips

Americans are taking to the open road in their droves this summer. In fact, nearly 80% of American adults say they will take some sort of road trip. This equates to about 206 million Americans.

Of those planning a road trip, 18.70% will be travelling within 100 miles of their home, 21.35% within 250 miles, 21.53% within 500 miles, 11.59% within 1,000 miles, and 6.75% will be travelling more than 1,000 miles from home.

This summer's road trip trend is not limited to a particular age group. While younger people are more likely to travel internationally, the majority of summer travel will be domestic. Sixty-two percent of respondents said their travels will be domestic-only, with just under a quarter (23%) planning to travel both domestically and internationally, and 6% travelling internationally only.

The trend spans the generations, with 90% of American adults aged 30 to 44 intending to travel this summer, along with 88% of 45- to 60-year-olds, and 87% of 18- to 29-year-olds.

The road trip craze from 2020 and 2021 is certainly not dying out in 2023.

Many are flying

Air travel is a popular choice for Americans during the summer months. In 2022, over half of American adults (50.82%) chose to fly, with 28.10% flying once and 22.72% flying multiple times. This is a notable increase from 2021, where only 173 million American adults said they would travel. In 2022, nearly 131 million Americans (a combination of those who flew once and those who flew multiple times) took to the skies.

Younger Americans are more likely to fly, with 63% of 18-29-year-olds intending to fly in 2023, compared to only 38% of those over 60. This is also reflected in the international travel statistics, where younger people are more likely to travel abroad. In 2022, 26.7% of 18-29-year-olds travelled internationally, compared to only 14.07% of those over 60.

The popularity of air travel is also reflected in the choice of vacation spots. While the majority of summer travel is domestic (62% in 2023), there has been an increase in international travel. In 2022, 20.44% travelled internationally, and in 2023, 23% of American adults planned to travel abroad, representing another increase over 2022.

The increase in air travel is also reflected in the choice of payment methods. Credit cards are the preferred payment method for 62% of summer travellers, who use them for at least some of their trip expenses. This is likely due to the rewards and benefits that travel credit cards offer, such as no foreign transaction fees or trip cancellation insurance.

Overall, the data shows that air travel is a popular choice for Americans during the summer, especially for younger generations and those travelling internationally.

Some are going into debt to travel

While many Americans are travelling, some are going into debt to be able to do so. A 2023 study found that 25% of Americans believe it's worth going into debt for a holiday. The same study found that the majority of people going into debt to travel do so by charging expenses to a credit card.

Gen Z and millennials are the top generations to go into debt to travel. A Bankrate survey found that 47% of millennials and 42% of Gen Z plan to go into debt to pay for a vacation.

Michael Goldberg, a consumer habits specialist, said that younger generations want authentic experiences. They want to experience the best a city or country has to offer, as is often shown on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Goldberg said:

> "Every meal, you know, when it’s put on Instagram, looks like the most amazing outstanding meal ever. You know, in some ways, like these are over-styled and, social media and how amazing it can make things look is like playing a role in some of this FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) in terms of folks plunking down their credit cards and buying tickets to go on vacation."

Goldberg also said that the ability to track the price of flights and hotel rooms plays a role. People might feel like they're getting a once-in-a-lifetime deal that they can't pass up. However, they might not have the cash to pay for it, so they borrow money at high-interest rates. This can have long-term effects on their ability to get approved for big purchases like a home or car.

Revenge travel

The post-pandemic "revenge travel" boom is in full force, despite rising inflation. An estimated 92% of those surveyed in a Forbes Advisor survey said they plan to travel as much as they did in 2023, and more than half of Gen Zers and millennials said they planned to travel more.

Remote working

Remote working may also be a contributing factor to the increase in travel. In a recent survey, 34% of US CEOs said they expect workers to be back in the office five days a week in the next three years, down from 62% in 2023. The ability to work from anywhere is appealing to those looking to fit more travel into their schedules, regardless of their bank balance.

Social media

Young people are also likely to be influenced by their peers who are showcasing their travel experiences online. Julie Beckham, a financial expert and AVP/Financial Education Development and Strategy Officer at Rockland Trust, said:

> "FOMO (or fear of missing out) has a lot to do with saying yes to travel we can't afford. We are very uncomfortable talking about finances as a society and it can cause people to overspend to keep up with their friends or appearances on social media."

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