In honor of this year’s National Road Trip Day, we’re having fun remagining the road trip and learning more about Americans are thinking about travel this summer as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. We did some research and found out that many are looking forward to a summer road trip as a cure for their cooped up blues.
Our survey of 2,000 U.S. drivers, conducted by OnePoll, uncovered some pretty interesting trends that give us a peak at when, where and how people are planning to get back on the road. Considering that more than half (54%) of respondents said they haven’t left their home state in over two years, we hope National Road Trip Day will inspire people to explore once they are ready.
Watch this short video to learn more!
As a result of COVID-19, two-thirds of Americans are inspired to travel MORE over the summer. In fact, according to those that participated in the survey, 53% plan to take a road trip this summer. Not only are people looking forward to road tripping, they are excited to explore a new outdoor destination.
The top places people plan to visit are: Family (49%); landmarks within their state or neighboring state (38%); friends (38%); and, taking a cross-country trip (34%).
And, many are thinking about driving instead of flying to their destination – adding up to six hours and 38 minutes to their trip to travel by car.
The top reasons people would prefer to drive instead of fly on a trip are that it: allows more flexibility in the trip (44%); is more affordable (42%); gives additional opportunities for sightseeing (39%); people are worried about flying post-COVID-19 (35%) and allows people to more easily explore other places along the way (34%).
Summer vacations have always been a cherished American pastime, but some are really planning BIG this season. 65% of those surveyed said that they are seriously considering taking a three-month hiatus and traveling for the whole summer. Count us in! (Really, though, our travel centers and friendly team members will be there along the way to help keep you and your gas tank full).
Although many have appreciated this extra time with their loved ones, some people are ready for a little distance from their quarantine-mates. 62% admitted they might need a break after being quarantined together for weeks on end. The time inside has also inspired many people to make plans to visit friends and family they haven’t seen in a while. In fact, during quarantine, more than half (56%) of people reconnected with friends or family members they hadn’t communicated with in a while.
Of course, it is important to stay safe wherever and whenever you decide to travel. We asked people for their top ways to stay safe while on the road and learned they intend to: travel with spare masks and gloves (50%); only stopping at pre-planned places where they know it’s clean/safe (40%); and bringing different supplies (37%).
Where are the best places to stop along the way? We may be biased, so we asked that too! People will feel most comfortable stopping at: fast food restaurants (48%); travel centers/gas stations (41%); only places they know have increased their cleaning procedures (41%); and restaurants, other than fast food (41%).
Know that our top priority is keeping everyone at our locations safe and healthy, with frequent cleaning, social distancing and extra precautions, like our team members wearing masks. Whenever you are ready to go, the road will always be there for you and so will we.
Share your road trip experiences and plans on Facebook by using #NationalRoadTripDay and #RoadTripReimagined. See you there!
