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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 go on vacation inside the US this year. Borrring!
But… the good news is that one of the most fun ways to travel is making an epic comeback this year.
While the first set of results of the survey are a downer because there are so many great places to explore in the US, at least there’s hope for a revival of a long-lost travel trend.
As digital nomadism and solo travel take over the planet, there’s an old-fashioned way to see the world.
As winter plans come to an end, the classic all-American tour is calling out the names of travelers 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) has American travelers ready to put rubber to pavement this spring.
A majority of participants, 63% in fact, will pack their bags and travel exclusively by car on their next trip.
A variety of factors have led travelers to the decision to revive the classic way of seeing the sights.
Most importantly, revenge travel is best achieved by any means necessary. If that means maintaining a speed of 100 km/h on the highways and back roads instead of taking to the air at almost ten times that speed, then that’s what travelers are ready for.
But why now?
Lower fuel prices
In an emerging world of electric cars, they’re not exactly suited to road trips with the extra pit stops for charging and the sweat-inducing range anxiety drivers face.
You can’t turn on the news without hearing political ping-pong back and forth about gas prices, but the reality is that fuel prices have dropped significantly since September of last year.
Remember the post-pandemic car rental fiasco? Well, that’s long gone too. The bottom line is that traveling by car is a lot cheaper these days.
These cost-saving measures are now much more attractive and just in time to make plans for spring break.
Nostalgia
Do you ever have those thoughts of “the good old days”? We all do. Because we live in a fast-paced society, sometimes it’s nice to take a step back.
In other words, the “scenic route” can be a lot more fun than the “give it to me now” way. Even though airfares are also falling, travelers are looking for nostalgic experiences.
Maybe you have a longing to visit a place you went as a child or you simply seek peace by listening to the radio during a long drive instead of having music imposed on you by algorithms.
There is no right or wrong answer, but we are all looking for it in one way or another. Growing up, we probably all had our own dreams about traveling, but we certainly all had the same dream: getting our driver’s license.
There’s just something elusive about an all-American road trip.
Avoid the hassle
Air travel may be the safest, but it can also be the most frustrating in several ways. From overbearing TSA agents to flight delays to being herded like cattle and locked in tight spaces, at least you’ll have more control behind the wheel.
Sure, depending on where you’re going, you might get stuck in traffic, but is there anything worse than flight delays or even cancellations?
Booking flights to faraway places is undoubtedly the most efficient, but when it comes to visiting destinations in our own backyard, road trips have become a lost art.
Flying over the ocean, national parks and iconic cities offer incomparable views, but a drive along the coast or the infamous Route 66 is a completely different atmosphere that planes simply can’t match.
Furthermore, taking pets on planes is a nearly impossible task. You can take the whole crew without anyone’s permission and enjoy the open road at your own pace.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and 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 in the post.
