STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — With summer travel expected to reach its highest point since before the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, millions of Americans are currently planning to take a trip to celebrate our nation’s independence, though high inflation could force some to alter their itinerary.
A new survey from The Vacationer, an online guide to trip planning, found that more than 60% of American adults plan to travel for the Fourth of July this year, representing approximately 155 million travelers, based on the most recent census numbers.
The 155 million expected travelers are roughly an 8% increase from the 143 million projected during last year’s survey, indicating that more and more Americans are returning to travel as the pandemic continues to wane.
The 60% of Americans planning to travel includes 23% who will travel for a friend or family member’s party, 17% traveling for a vacation, 15% traveling for a day trip to a beach or lake and 5% traveling for other purposes.
The survey found that men are more likely to travel for the Fourth of July than women, with 65% saying they intend to travel compared to just 56% of women.
Though millions plan to travel, the high levels of inflation could cause some to adjust their plans, although it’s unlikely they’ll cancel their trips all together.
Roughly 36% said their plans will be affected by the rising cost of everyday items, while 18% referenced high gas prices and an additional 10% cited elevated airfares.
“Despite the continued inflation, our first question reveals that even more people than last year intend to travel. Therefore, we can infer that while inflation will not prevent people from traveling altogether, it will likely force them to make cuts elsewhere. For example, we may see shorter-duration trips, more carpooling, travel closer to home, more cooking during vacation,” said Eric Jones of The Vacationer.
The majority of survey respondents said they plan to partake in perhaps the most…
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