Summer 2023 travel trends

There’s no time like summer to make memories to last a lifetime, and 2023 is shaping up to be one for the photobooks. To understand just how people are gearing up to enjoy the season, Vacasa teamed up with Allison + Partners to survey more than 1,000 Americans about their upcoming plans for summer travel.¹

This year, as travelers seek to balance budgets and bucket lists, they’re putting experience ahead of tradition. Whether it’s soaking up the sun on a pristine sandy shore, jet-setting (or set-jetting) for a fun-filled urban adventure or hitting the highway for a good old-fashioned road trip, summer 2023 is all about taking much-needed time to savor new and beloved destinations.

For a closer look at the travel trends heating up for summer 2023, let’s dive into the data.

Trip types and travel companions

• Of the 68% of Americans surveyed who are planning summer travel, 66% are planning a trip with their significant other and 27% are taking a trip with friends. And let’s not forget our furry friends! One in five summer travelers plans to pack along a pet (20%).²
• Holiday trips are on the upswing. The percentage of Americans traveling for one or more summer holiday weekends has increased from 67% in 2022 to 80% in 2023, with 54% of travelers going somewhere for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, 49% going somewhere for Memorial Day, and 41% traveling for Labor Day weekend.²
• It’s weekend travel for the win. This summer, 77% of travelers are choosing quick and easy getaways (2 days or less) to satisfy their wanderlust — but more travelers are taking longer trips, too.²
• Nearly 70% of travelers say they’re planning a trip for three to four days, 63% of travelers are planning a trip for five to seven days, and 43% are planning a trip for seven days or more.²

Travel modes and motivations

• Top priorities for summer travelers? Going somewhere within their budget (41%) and going somewhere that allows them to truly unplug and disconnect (38%).
• Experience trumps tradition. Nearly 60% of travelers say checking a destination off their bucket list, going somewhere photo-worthy, or having authentic cultural experiences are among their top two travel priorities. And just 20% put a premium on creating or building on traditions.
• Nearly 90% of summer travelers have shifted upcoming travel plans or planning behaviors to be more budget conscious (87%), most often by driving instead of flying (33%), monitoring prices to find a deal (32%), or scheduling their trip around the least expensive days/weeks to travel (31%).²
• The great American road trip is making a comeback, with more than three-quarters of summer travelers (78%) planning to drive to a destination by car, RV, airstream, or camper van. Meantime, nearly half plan to hit the skies for an upcoming trip (48%).²
• Thirty-eight percent of travelers plan to book a vacation rental this summer, up from 32% in summer 2022 — with 76% choosing a vacation rental for private and recreational amenities (e.g., full kitchens, pools, and bikes) and more than half choosing a vacation rental because they provide the best value for the money (52%).²

What’s on the summer agenda

• Destinations new and known are calling, with travelers evenly split across visiting a place they’ve never been to (34%), returning to a place they’ve previously visited (35%), and traveling to a combination of somewhere familiar and somewhere new (31%).²
• Most summer travelers are staying stateside (84%), while 44% are traveling internationally.²
• Summer hot spots include beach destinations (57%), city/urban destinations (46%), and national parks (40%), with travelers also opting for attraction-based locations like Las Vegas and Disneyland (36%), lakes (35%), mountain destinations (35%), historic and culturally rich destinations (29%), and movie or TV show set destinations (19%).²
• Travelers are most often taking trips for outdoor recreation like hiking or snorkeling (41%), a family-related event (40%), or exploring U.S. national parks (33%). Also on the agenda? Festivals and concerts (28%), sporting events (22%), and wellness retreats (21%).²