Vacasa reveals summer travel trends and uncovers top, budget-friendly destinations that won’t break the bank

As the summer travel season kicks into high gear, Vacasa teamed up with Allison to see where Americans are heading this sunny season, what’s motivating their vacation plans, and how much they’ve budgeted for their trips. The survey* findings, recently released in Vacasa’s 2024 Summer Travel Trends report, reveal that travelers will be taking multiple trips (five, on average, throughout the summer), most will be staying stateside (89%), and their sights are set on lake and beach destinations (accounting for 63% of all summer travel).

Given the current economic conditions, 81% of summer travelers have shifted their plans or planning behaviors to be more budget conscious. Vacasa reviewed search and booking data to see what traditional summer hot spots are still budget-friendly through Labor Day. Destinations like Panama City Beach, Fla., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Hilton Head, S.C. all offer warm-weather experiences for summer travelers and have average daily rates below $250/night. Travelers say they’re choosing to stay in a vacation rental because they offer the best value for their money (66%), provide access to private amenities (57%), and better location options than other accommodations (43%).

Here’s a look at a few of the travel trends expected to be popular this summer:

• Nearly half of Americans are taking a summer vacation this year (49%), with 56% planning to travel more often than they did last summer.
• Stateside vacations are a popular choice for this season’s travelers, with most Americans choosing to stay domestic this summer (89%).
• On average, summer travelers will be taking five trips throughout the season – most often including weekend and extended weekend getaways (90%) and weeklong trips (67%), and some extending even further into multi-week vacations or longer (36%).
• A rising summer trend, vacation rentals remain a popular option for summer travelers, with 42% choosing to book a stay in a vacation rental over other accommodation options (up from 38%in 2023 and 32% in 2022).
• Summer holiday travel will be big this year, with 72% of travelers planning to travel during the holiday weekends. Fourth of July (43%) will continue to be a top summer holiday that Americans plan to travel for.
• In true summer fashion, travelers are seeking to soak up the sun next to a body of water. (63%), with most travelers heading to the beach (50%).
• Road trips will continue this warm weather season, with more than three-quarters traveling by car, RV, or camper van to their destination (77%), especially those Gen X and older (82%), while 41% of summer travelers will catch a flight.
• More than a third of summer travelers want to build onto vacation memories from previous years by traveling to repeat destinations (34%), with parents of older children (age 18 or older) especially likely to do so (40%).
• Gen Z and Millennials are major contributors to the summer travel scene, with 58% taking trips this season compared to 41% of those Gen X and older.