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As travel costs climb amid inflation and global tensions, many American families are adjusting their vacation plans to stay closer to home. Stephanie Bernaba, a mother of three from coastal Rhode Island who once shied away from the outdoors, is embracing local beaches, hiking trails, and bike rides as affordable alternatives to distant getaways.
“I’ve been trying to do more of that because one, it’s quality time. Two, it’s fresh air. And three, we’re not spending an arm and a leg,” Bernaba explained.
This shift reflects broader trends as the summer travel season kicks off with Memorial Day. Rising fuel prices, partly due to the conflict in Iran and constrained global oil supplies, have pushed gasoline prices to an average of $4.56 per gallon-up sharply from $3.18 a year ago. Airfares have surged by more than 20%, and other travel-related expenses like lodging and dining out have also increased.
Despite these challenges, Americans remain eager to travel, often adapting by shortening trips, choosing nearby destinations, and finding budget-friendly ways to get around. The AAA anticipates 45 million people will travel at least 50 miles over the holiday weekend, while the TSA expects to screen over 18 million passengers.
Analysts describe the current travel spending pattern as “K-shaped”: higher-income households continue to spend on vacations, while lower-income families are more likely to cut back or forgo travel altogether. Many are prioritizing value, reshuffling travel plans rather than canceling them entirely.
For the Bernaba family, this has meant scaling back from a large vacation to a shorter, nearby trip, though costs remain high. A ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard for their car and passengers costs over $400, with hotel rooms running about $800 per night. Another family who had planned to join them canceled after seeing the price tag.
“It’s a pinch being felt all the way around,” Bernaba said.
Other travel stressors add to the complexity. Airlines worldwide are canceling flights and reducing routes to save on costs, limiting options for travelers. Memories of recent U.S. government shutdowns causing flight disruptions linger, and geopolitical uncertainties, including the Middle East conflict, weigh on those considering international trips.
Marta Soligo, a tourism sociologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, notes that unpredictability is a major concern for travelers right now. “Tourists don’t like unpredictability,” she said, which makes simpler, more manageable vacations increasingly appealing.
Jim Wang, a personal finance blogger from Maryland, had planned a trip to Spain to view a solar eclipse but reconsidered after facing the high expenses and complex logistics. Instead, his family will visit Lake Tahoe, where they can stay at a relative’s cabin, hike, and enjoy downtime with limited connectivity.
“The vacations are no longer as grand for the adults. But for our kids, it’s still exciting,” Wang said.
Hospitality expert Nancy McGehee of Virginia Tech observes that many travelers are focusing more on the purpose of their trips rather than the destination. “People are saying, ‘Alright, we can’t do that big splashy trip we wanted to do, but what else can we do?’ It’s more quality over quantity,” she said.
For Bernaba, embracing nature-based, local activities offers a way to spend meaningful time with family without breaking the bank. “Let’s learn how to use the earth to enjoy ourselves because that’s not going to cost as much money,” she concluded.
As families across the country navigate rising costs and uncertainty, a growing number are discovering that memorable vacations don’t always require far-flung adventures-sometimes the best experiences are right in their own backyard.