Summer travel behavior is a window into the national mood and a key indicator of economic momentum.
New findings from an SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus poll conducted April 18 – April 21, 2025 explore how Americans are approaching their 2025 summer vacation plans.
Where and How Americans are Planning to Travel This Summer
Nearly three in four (74%) say they plan to travel this summer, and domestic travel remains the dominant choice. Sixty percent of Americans plan to venture beyond their home state for an overnight stay, while 54% are planning overnight getaways within their own state. Meanwhile, one in four is preparing for an international trip.
Four in five summer travelers are planning multiple trips this season, with domestic travel leading the charge.
Travelers staying within their home state are the most likely to double up on vacations: just over half (52%) of in-state travelers plan to take two or more trips, followed closely by 44% of out-of-state domestic travelers. In contrast, just one in four international travelers (25%) expects to take more than one trip.
How Americans Plan to Spend Their Leisure Travel Time
- Connection and restoration top the list. For many travelers (82%), summer travel is a time to reconnect and recharge. Spending quality time with family or friends is the leading priority for 71% of travelers, while over half (56%) plan to unwind with relaxing activities.
- Nature is calling. 77% of travelers intend to immerse themselves in the great outdoors. This includes visits to lakes or beaches (53%), exploring or enjoying natural landscapes (47%), trekking through national or state parks (40%), pitching tents to camp under the stars (20%), or heading out to hunt or fish (12%).
- Curiosity leads the way. Three in five travelers (61%) say they plan to enrich their summer through new experiences, whether that’s sightseeing in a city (44%), exploring cultural institutions like museums, zoos, or aquariums (37%), or diving into new hands-on adventures like learning to surf or taking a glassblowing class (15%).
- Adventure seekers abound. More than half (55%) of summer travelers are chasing thrills and unforgettable experiences. Culinary exploration is the most popular form of adventure for 36%, followed by theme park visits (22%), and adrenaline-fueled activities like ziplining, ATVing, skiing, or snowboarding (18%).
- Self-care isn’t an afterthought. 43% of travelers say summer is a time to indulge. From retail therapy (38%) to restorative pampering—spa visits, room service, and all the little luxuries (13%)—many are carving out time to treat themselves.
How 2025 Travel Plans Stack Up Against ‘Typical’ Years
More than half of Americans (56%) say they plan to travel less this summer for at least one type of leisure trip—whether internationally, out of state, or within their home state.
That said, many Americans still report domestic travel plans that are largely consistent with past years. Just over half say they intend to travel about the same amount as usual within their home state (56%) or to another state (54%) with an overnight stay. However, about three in ten say they plan to travel less than they typically do within their state (28%) or out of state (30%).
International travel reveals an even steeper decline. Nearly half (45%) of Americans say they’ll be traveling internationally less than they usually would, compared to just 43% who expect their travel abroad to remain about the same.
Summer Travel Among Households with Kids
Households with children under 18 are especially eager to hit the road this summer. A striking 85% of households with kids say they plan to travel, significantly higher than the 70% of households without children who say the same.
When it comes to how households spend their time while traveling, those with and without children share many of the same priorities. Both groups are equally likely to say they plan to relax or reconnect with loved ones (81% of households with kids and 82% without), enjoy nature and the outdoors (77% of households with kids and 76% without), seek learning and discovery opportunities (61% for both), pursue adventure and new experiences (56% of households with kids and 54% without), or treat themselves through activities like shopping or pampering (47% of households with kids and 42% without).
Households with children are significantly more likely than those without to prioritize visiting amusement parks (30% vs. 20%) and going camping (28% vs. 17%).
Not surprisingly, those who aren’t planning to travel at all this summer, non-travelers, are the most likely to report dialing back. A full 62% of this summer’s non-travelers say they’re traveling less internationally, 56% say the same for domestic out-of-state travel, and nearly half (49%) are traveling less in state.
Even among those who are traveling this summer, many are making concessions. About one in five summer travelers report they’re traveling less domestically—both out-of-state (21%) and in state (20%) —and nearly two in five (39%) are cutting back on international trips. Half say they’re opting for a shorter or more budget-conscious getaway (48%), and 30% admit that economic uncertainty may still derail their plans altogether, acknowledging they may decide to cancel their trip.
Why are Americans scaling back?
The short answer: money. The top reasons for cutting back on travel this summer are financial, whether it’s an effort to save (54%) or simply not having enough disposable income to cover the costs (42%).
Work-related challenges are also a barrier for many. One in five say they’re unable to take time off right now, while 10% express concerns about job stability.
International travel is facing additional headwinds. One in four Americans who are traveling less this year cite concerns about leaving the country (25%), pointing to a mix of safety, regulatory, or logistical uncertainties that continue to weigh on travelers’ minds.
How Politics and the Economy are Shaping Summer Travel Plans
Nearly half of Americans (46%) say they’re concerned about traveling internationally because of developments in the nation’s capital. 42% say they’re hesitant to plan for summer vacations because they’re unsure how the political landscape might shift.
According to our Economic Attitudes Tracker, Americans are broadly adjusting their spending behavior amid sustained concerns about inflation, the job market, and the risk of recession. These concerns are playing out in summer travel plans as well—42% say the current state of the economy has affected their travel, and 41% cite specific worries about a possible recession as a factor in their decision-making.
About one in four Americans still haven’t decided whether they’ll take at least one of these types of trips this summer, with the most uncertainty surrounding in state trips (16% undecided).
Want more insight?
Read the Accompanying Blog Post by SSRS VP Jenny Berg >>
Methodology
This study was conducted by SSRS on its Opinion Panel Omnibus platform. The SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus is a national, twice-per-month, probability-based survey. Data collection was conducted from April 18 – April 21, 2025 among a sample of 1,031 respondents. The survey was conducted via web (n=1,001) and telephone (n=30) and administered in English (n=1,005) and Spanish (n=26). The margin of error for total respondents is +/-3.7 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus data are weighted to represent the target population of U.S. adults ages 18 or older. View the questions used for this analysis, along with the responses >>
The SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus is conducted on the SSRS Opinion Panel. SSRS Opinion Panel members are recruited randomly based primarily on nationally representative ABS (Address Based Sample) design (including Hawaii and Alaska). ABS respondents are randomly sampled by Marketing Systems Group (MSG) through the U.S. Postal Service’s Computerized Delivery Sequence File (CDS), a regularly-updated listing of all known addresses in the U.S. For the SSRS Opinion Panel, known business addresses are excluded from the sample frame. Additional panelists are recruited via random digit dial (RDD) telephone sample of cell phone numbers connected to a prepaid cell phone. This sample is selected by MSG from the cell phone RDD frame using a flag that identifies prepaid numbers. Prepaid cell numbers are associated with cell phones that are “pay as you go” and do not require a contract.
The SSRS Opinion Panel is a multi-mode panel (web and phone). Most panelists take self-administered web surveys; however, the option to take surveys conducted by a live telephone interviewer is available to those who do not use the internet as well as those who use the internet but are reluctant to take surveys online.
