Only 45% of Americans Plan Summer Trips, Driving Shift to Lower-Cost U.S. Destinations
Updated
Updated · nomadlawyer.org · Aug 13
Only 45% of Americans Plan Summer Trips, Driving Shift to Lower-Cost U.S. Destinations
3 articles · Updated · nomadlawyer.org · Aug 13
Summary
Just 45% of Americans plan paid-accommodation summer travel in 2026, the lowest level in six years, as households pivot from pricier overseas vacations to cheaper domestic options.
Rising costs are squeezing demand: 32% say travel is too expensive, 35% say they cannot afford it, and the average vacation budget has climbed 17% from 2025 to $4,069.
That pressure is reshaping who travels and where they go, with households earning $100,000 or more now making up 55% of travelers, up from 50% a year earlier.
Value-focused demand is flowing to places such as Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Atlanta, Myrtle Beach and Phoenix, where late-August flights can be up to 9% cheaper and road trips can cut airfare costs.
The shift is also redirecting tourism spending toward regional airports, highways and secondary U.S. destinations, supporting local service jobs even as overall summer travel softens.