Summer Travel Survey: Two-Thirds of Americans Say Rising Gas Prices Have Impacted Their Plans

Summer travel is back on the agenda for most Americans, but it looks a little different than it used to. From long-awaited trips to family-friendly beaches, hidden towns off the beaten path, and bucket-list visits to the most beloved national parks, outside influences are impacting summer travel this year.

Gas prices and higher travel costs are reshaping where people will go, how they’ll get there, and what they're willing to give up to make the trip happen. But what measures will they go to, and to what extent are high gas prices affecting travel plans? Our Research team at Only In Your State surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults nationwide to understand how rising costs are shaping their summer travel decisions and which travel anxieties concern them most. 

Key findings 

• 82% of Americans are planning a summer trip. Among those who aren't, nearly 3 in 4 cite travel costs as the primary reason.
• 45% of travelers have increased their budget since planning began, and two-thirds have adjusted plans because of rising gas prices.
• High ticket prices are the top air travel concern heading into summer, cited by 67% of travelers, ahead of flight delays (60%) and TSA lines (41%).
• Water is the dominant theme of summer 2026: beaches (64%), lakes and rivers (60%), and coastal cities lead the destination list, while theme parks and culinary trips lag at 30% and 24%.

Americans’ summer travel plans

For many Americans, summer is a prime time for travel. Kids are out of school, the days are long, and warm, sunny weather can be found across the country. It is no surprise, then, to find that most Americans are planning some kind of vacation trip this year. 

More than four-in-five Americans, 82%, say they will travel for at least one leisure-based trip this summer, showing just how common it is for people in the U.S. to visit somewhere fun during this time of year. Warm summer weather appears to be a major influence on where travelers are heading on vacation, as three of the four most popular summer destinations are outdoor-based. 64% of respondents planning to travel this year say they will visit a beach or coastal area, making it the top overall vacation plan. Other popular outdoor travel destinations include visiting lakes or rivers (60%) and visiting a dedicated nature space such as a National Park (54%).  

While the majority of Americans are planning to travel this summer, a significant portion aren’t going anywhere. Nearly one-fifth of people (18%) say they have no summer travel plans. Of that group, nearly three-quarters cite the high cost of travel as a reason they are staying home, the most common rationale given. General economic uncertainty is the number-two motive, with 41% of homebodies citing it as a reason to avoid traveling this year.

What budgeting looks like for summer travel

Of course, traveling costs money, and costs like transportation, lodging, food, and attractions can add up quickly. While these financial concerns are enough to keep some Americans home, many more feel that the cost of travel is worth it, and they make plans and budgets to get the most out of their summer trips. 

Just 4% of travelers say they are undecided about how much their summer travel will cost, underscoring how much planning and preparation go into summer trips for most Americans. Around two-thirds of respondents (65%) plan to spend $3,000 or less on their trips this year, including 41% who plan to spend between $1,000 and $3,000. Just 9% are budgeting more than $5,000 for summer travel. 

We also found that nearly half of people (45%) have increased the amount they are budgeting for their trips this year, while just 18% have adjusted their financial expectations in the opposite direction. While some of those budgetary increases can be attributed to extended stays, additional experiences, and improved accommodations, it seems likely that more practical considerations, such as rising fuel costs, are also contributing to higher budgets. 

How Americans are managing their travel costs

There are many factors impacting travelers' wallets this summer, as rising airfares, higher gas prices, and inflation are driving Americans to seek ways to keep costs manageable while still enjoying their summer vacations.

About a third of people (32%) have taken the ultimate step of canceling a planned trip altogether because of travel costs. For those still looking to get out and see the world this summer, the most common cost-cutting measure is choosing hotels based solely on affordability rather than amenities, which 69% of travelers are doing. 

Despite recent increases in gas prices, driving can be more affordable than flying, depending on the distance to the destination. As a result, 61% of respondents say they are driving instead of taking to the skies this summer. Nearly the same percentage say they are cutting back on the number of paid activities they will partake in during their vacation this summer, while 59% are planning to eat out less often while traveling this year.

As mentioned, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have led to a 50% increase in gas prices since March, prompting many consumers to change their habits and plans to manage fuel-related expenses. In fact, 66% of travelers said that rising gas costs specifically have caused them to change their summer travel plans. That includes 6% who said they have canceled at least one previously planned trip entirely, and more than a quarter (27%) who have made major alterations to their summer travel plans, such as making shorter trips, visiting fewer places than originally planned, and staying closer to their home than they would otherwise like. Only 20% of respondents claim that gas costs haven’t factored into their planning at all. 

Air travelers are concerned about high ticket prices and flight delays

For some trips, flying is the only reasonable option for getting where travelers want to go this summer. While air travel is typically quicker and more convenient than other methods of travel, flying comes with unique concerns, annoyances, and anxieties that customers will have to deal with this summer. 

Among people planning to fly for at least one leisure trip this summer, high ticket prices are the number one concern, cited by more than two-thirds of travelers. The same geopolitical issues that are impacting automobile gas prices are also driving up fuel costs for airlines, which are in turn increasing airfares to cover higher fuel costs, a trend that may continue throughout the summer travel season. 

Concerns about flight schedule interruptions are the number two air travel anxiety this summer, as 60% of travelers are worried about their flight being delayed or canceled. No other issue was cited by even 50% of respondents; TSA lines were the third most common concern at 41%. 

Consumers are not simply worrying about air travel without protecting themselves from potential negative impacts should something go wrong at the airport, however. More than one-third of travelers (35%) have booked a nonstop flight as part of their summer travel plans to avoid missing a connecting flight if they encounter a delay. A little less than a third (32%) paid extra to book a refundable airline ticket that would allow them to get their money back should something happen to derail their trip, and a little more than a quarter (27%) have signed up for flight alerts to keep them updated on the status of their flight at all times. 

How to Navigate Delays, Rising Fares, and Other Summer Travel Realities

It’s clear what uncertainties travelers are facing this summer. Here are a few ways to stay one step ahead:

• Plan around the disruptions. High ticket prices and flight delays are the top two concerns for summer travelers this year. Knowing which airport lounges offer day passes can make a long delay far more manageable.
• Grab discounted fares before they climb. Travelers who book flights in advance can save significantly, especially on the popular routes that fill up fastest during peak season.

Methodology

To collect the data for this survey, our team at Only In Your State surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults in May 2026 via a survey platform. All respondents were U.S. citizens over the age of 18 and remained anonymous.