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Well, there’s good news and bad news. Let’s start with the bad news. According to a new survey, only 25% of Americans plan to take a vacation within the U.S. this year. Borrrring!
But…the good news is one of the most fun ways to travel is destined to make an epic comeback this year.
While the first set of survey results are a downer since there are so many awesome places in the U.S. to explore, at least there’s hope for a resurgence for a long lost travel trend.
While digital nomadism and solo travel are taking over the planet, there is an old-school way of seeing the world.
Now that winter plans are coming to a close, the classic all-American road trip is calling travelers’ names yet again this spring.
No more icy roads and snow plows, just open roads and blue skies to some of America’s top destinations.
Survey Says…
The American Survey (powered by What If Media Group) resulted in U.S. travelers ready to put rubber to pavement this spring.
A majority of participants, 63% in fact, will pack up their bags and travel exclusively by car on their next trip.
A variety of factors have caused travelers to come to this decision to revive a classic way to see the sites.
Most importantly, revenge travel is best served by any means necessary. If that means sticking the highways and backroads at 60 mph rather than taking to the skies at nearly tenfold speeds, that’s what travelers are ready to do.
But, why now?
Lower Fuel Prices
In a world emerging with electric cars, they’re not exactly catered to road trips with the extra pit stops to charge up and the sweat-induing range anxiety drivers face.
You can’t turn on the news without hearing back-and-forth political ping-pong about gas prices, but the reality is fuel has dropped significantly since last September.
Remember the rental car fiasco after the pandemic too? Well, that’s long gone as well. The bottom line is traveling by car is a whole lot cheaper nowadays.
These cost-saving measures are much more appealing now and just in time to make plans for Spring Break.
Nostalgia
Ever have those thoughts of “the good ol’ days”? We all do. Being that we live in just a fast-paced society, sometimes it’s nice to take a step back.
In other words, the ‘scenic route’ can be much more enjoyable than the give-to-me-now way. Despite airfare dropping as well, travelers are seeking nostalgic experiences.
Maybe you have the desire to visit a place you went to as a child or are just seeking peace by listening to the radio on a long drive rather than being force-fed music by algorithms.
There’s no right or wrong answer, but we all seek it in one way or another. Growing up, we probably all had our own dreams of traveling, but we definitely all had the same dream of getting our drivers license.
There’s just something intangible about an all-American road trip.
Avoid The Hassles
Air travel may be the safest, but it can also be the most frustrating in multiple ways. From overbearing TSA agents to flight delays to being herded like cattle and being squeezed into tight spaces, at least you have more control behind the wheel.
Sure, you may hit some traffic jams depending on where you’re going, but is there anything worse than flight delays or even cancellations altogether?
Booking flights to far-flung places is undoubtedly the most efficient, but when it comes to visiting destinations in our own backyard, road trips became a lost art.
Flying over the ocean, National Parks and iconic cities does provide incomparable views, but a coastal drive or the infamous Route 66 is a whole different vibe planes just can’t match.
Plus, bringing pets on planes is a near-impossible task. You can bring the whole crew with nobody’s permission needed and enjoy the open road at your own pace.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.