Summer Statistics

As we move into the dog days of summer, we also move into the season of travel and vacation. Though not the busiest times of the year to fly, early July and late August have historically seen increased fliers, both domestically and internationally. It’s not just by plane: AAA predicted that, for Independence Day, 61.6 million people would hit the road to reach their vacation destination, a 2.2% increase over last year’s numbers. Where all these travelers are headed, and who they are, lends insight into the social, political, and economic considerations of the modern American.

The Vacationers

According to a SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus and a survey conducted by Numerator.com, nearly three quarters of Americans are planning to travel for summer vacation. Many of these travelers tend to be Millennials and Gen Xers, with 69% of Millennials and 68% of Gen Xers saying they had or were planning to take a vacation this summer. Gen Z and Boomers lagged behind, at 64% and 61% respectively, perhaps due to economic uncertainty, health reasons, or fluid work or education commitments. 

The majority of travelers also tend to come from higher-income households: 77% of households with incomes over $125,000 plan to vacation, while 69% of middle-income households ($40K-$125K) and only 55% of low-income households (<$40K) have plans to go on vacation this summer. In fact, of these low-income households, over a third confirm that they will not take a vacation this year. This isn’t surprising, given that the top reasons Americans give for not traveling this year are financial.

Whether high-income or low-income, Millennial or Gen X, most traveling Americans have children. 85% of households with children under 18 are planning summer vacations, while only 70% of households without children say the same. The destinations of these families vary: 58% of traveling families are seeking relaxation-focused getaways and beach destinations, though 30% are visiting amusement parks and 28% are going camping. Wherever these families are going, many of the reasons for traveling remain the same. 81% of travelers with children are prioritizing relaxation and connection with loved ones on their vacation, 77% prioritize enjoying nature and the outdoors, and 56% prioritize the pursuit of adventure and new experiences.

The Destination

Children or otherwise, Americans are planning on traveling to a variety of places for their vacations. In general, the majority of travelers are interested in getting lost in nature. 53% of vacation travelers want to visit a lake or beach, 47% are interested in exploring natural landscapes, 20% are interested in camping, and 12% want to hunt or fish. Visiting national and state parks is also popular, with 40% of Americans expressing interest in traveling to a park. However, 6% of travelers initially expressed interest in visiting a National Park and later changed their mind, with 39% of these citing concerns around the condition of the parks and services due to government layoffs. 

Only around a quarter of travelers plan to vacation internationally in 2025. According to a study conducted by Ipsos, the top international travel destinations for Americans were France, Italy, and Canada. These nations were the same top destinations of 2024 as well. Whether vacationing internationally or domestically, most travelers prefer to stay overnight in hotels. Over half of American travelers are staying in hotels, significantly higher than the second and third highest choices for accommodation, with family and friends (34%) and in vacation home rentals (25%) respectively.  

The Non-Travelers

Though there are plenty of Americans traveling this summer, there are many that aren’t. Even of those traveling, more than half claim that they plan to travel less this year than previous years, whether domestically or internationally. Of the quarter of Americans who are not traveling, their primary reasons for doing so are financial. 52% say that they cannot afford to travel right now, and 25% say that they don’t wish to spend money out of fear of an impending recession. 

However, it’s not just about money. Other reasons for not traveling cited are concerns of travel safety, worries of getting home safe, lack of free time due to work, and, overwhelmingly, politics. 46% of Americans say they are not interested in traveling abroad due to developments in Washington, D.C, and 42% are worried about planning a vacation due to fear of political shifts within the federal government. Additionally, a whopping 59% of consumers planning to travel abroad express worries about anti-American sentiments in other countries, with 11% claiming to be very worried about such sentiments. 

It’s not surprising that summer remains a popular travel time of the year. With kids out of school, pleasant weather, and few holiday commitments, it remains the easiest time for families to vacation. Whether you’re planning on traveling this year or not, you can be sure you won’t be alone to enjoy the warm summer days of 2025.