With airfare and gas prices up, war in the Middle East, Spirit Airlines ceasing operations, and a hantavirus outbreak, there are plenty of complications affecting summer travel this year. However, according to a number of statistics, these complications aren’t hindering travel entirely, but instead leading people to adjust their plans and reevaluate what they want out of travel.
According to a survey by US News and World Report, 65% of Americans have altered summer travel plans because of rising prices, while 31% are changing destinations or cancelling vacations. Twothirds of Americans are still planning to travel over the summer, according to an Ibotta Summer Outlook survey.
Airfares, based on estimates from travel booking sites and data from major airlines, are up by more than 20% compared to last year. Gas prices are likewise up $1.38 from last year and up 53% since the start of the Iran war. The national average per gallon of gas reached $4.55 as of this month.
Despite these statistics, the American Automobile Association projected that a record number of Americans were traveling over Memorial Day weekend. 45 million individuals were either flying or driving at least 50 miles from their homes, which is up slightly from last year’s record of 44.8 million.
Many believe that traveling isn’t going to let up because of higher costs. One Adam Sacks, the president of Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics consulting company, says that “survey data is indicating there’s a lot of concern about gas prices,” but that there is “a disconnect between how people feel and how they act.”
However, there is evidence to suggest that people are finding ways to cut back on travel expenses in certain areas. Hotel bookings, for example, are lessening. Laura Lee Blake, the CEO of a hotel owners' association, told CNN that travelers appear to be skipping the hotel portion of their vacations.
She said that travelers might “skip an overnight stay to save money.” She added, “Maybe they visit family members along the way, or they stay with friends instead of booking a hotel.”
There is also evidence that people are choosing to stray less far from home on their vacations, with Expedia finding that 63% of U.S. travelers are planning on domestic travel this summer.
Airbnb news states that “travelers are looking for short-haul escapes, with a third of people choosing to stay closer to home.” They find that 86% of travelers are interested in “rural getaways” nearer to where they live.
People are similarly choosing vacation spots that are more economical, some of which are right here in Texas.
DRIFT Travel Magazine, a notable digital travel and lifestyle publication, actually ranked South Padre Island first on its list of “10 Affordable Family Summer Vacation Destinations for 2026.” It earned the spot because of its free public beaches, affordable hotels, and lowcost family attractions. The city of Austin is also touted as an affordable option for an urban vacation by a number of travel news outlets.
A further increase in fuel prices may potentially decrease summer travel, but as of now, data finds that people are still willing to take their vacations as usual.