Summer Travel After Coronavirus: How Americans Are Planning Vacations

While states may be scaling back their social distancing guidelines and certain businesses like restaurants are reopening, the coronavirus pandemic has still changed the lives of Americans in many ways. It's canceled events like graduations and birthday parties and postponed music festivals and events, and it will continue to have ripple effects for the foreseeable future. Continued concerns about coronavirus as well as self-quarantining have affected many aspects of how Americans are planning their summer vacations.

According to a survey of 2,000 U.S. adult drivers conducted by travel center company Pilot Flying J, here are the ways that the coronavirus pandemic has changed how Americans plan to travel this summer.

More than half of respondents plan to take a road trip this summer, so travelers might find highways more crowded than usual due to coronavirus concerns. More than a third (35%) of respondents said they'd prefer driving over flying post-COVID-19. People reported they would be willing to add an average of six hours and 38 minutes to their travel time so that they could drive instead of fly.

Many Americans have felt cooped up in quarantine, and after binging feel-good shows and perfecting their bread-baking techniques, they're ready for some fresh air. More than 50% of survey respondents reported that the pandemic has made them more likely to take an outdoors-focused trip. If you're looking for breathtaking natural sights, check out some of the most photogenic spots in every state.

Because of the pandemic's effect on the economy, many people have been focusing on saving money during quarantine. But the majority of people who took the survey admitted they were still trying to save money on their next vacation. More than half (54%) of respondents said they have taken advantage of travel deals and discounts available due to COVID-19. More than 30% of those surveyed took a discounted trip when the pandemic began but before travel restrictions were instituted. And about 20% have booked a cheaper trip for the future.

With the stresses of working from home and kids doing remote learning, soaring unemployment rates and the mental health strain the pandemic has taken, many Americans said they were thinking about taking more than a short weekend getaway this summer. Of those planning to travel, 65% admitted to considering a three-month hiatus from work and traveling instead this summer.

If you had your heart set on kicking back on the deck of a cruise ship before the coronavirus pandemic, you'll likely have to rebook your summer cruise. While the situation is ever-changing, as of May 21, the U.S. State Department states that American citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship. Many cruise lines have suspended some if not all summer sailings. If you decide to book a future cruise, most cruise lines have adopted flexible cancellation policies.