American families are refusing to abandon their summer vacations, but they are aggressively cutting how much they spend to make the trips happen, according to a survey conducted by YouGov and fielded between June 16 and June 21, 2026. The poll of 783 U.S. parents of children under 18 found that 63% already had a family trip planned for the season, while only 27% said they would not travel at all — even as the cost of a getaway climbed sharply.
The pressure on household budgets is easy to see. Airfare in May ran 27% higher than a year earlier, according to inflation data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hotel rates and attraction prices have also risen. Yet rather than cancel, most families are making smaller compromises to protect the trip itself.
The most common money-saving move was choosing a closer or cheaper destination, cited by 25% of parents with summer plans. Only 6% canceled a vacation outright, and another 5% switched to a different spot. More than one in five families — 21% — said they were using airline miles or hotel points to help cover the cost. Nearly two-thirds ranked overall price among their three biggest factors when picking where to go.
Spending levels showed how families are budgeting. About half of those traveling expected to spend between $1,000 and $5,000, while 13% planned to spend $5,000 to $10,000, and just 4% expected to top $10,000. The pattern points to households stretching dollars rather than splurging.
Other recent surveys tell the same story. A poll of 5,000 Americans conducted by Talker Research for the fintech firm Current found that 37% would not travel at all this summer, with most of that group saying they simply could not afford a trip. That survey pointed to the rise of “staycations,” “quietcations” and “micro-breaks” as budget-friendly substitutes. Erin Bruehl, vice president of communications at Current, said the trends reflect how practical Americans have become with their money, adding that instead of giving up on travel, people are being smarter about it.
Consulting firm PwC, in its summer spending poll, found that 71% of U.S. adults planned to spend the same or more on summer travel than last year, suggesting demand remains sturdy at the top of the market even as lower-income families pull back. A separate report from NerdWallet, conducted by The Harris Poll, put average summer travel spending on flights and lodging at $3,940 per traveler and estimated that more than 120 million Americans would spend over $475 billion on those costs.
How families are paying is its own economic signal. The NerdWallet survey found that 84% of summer travelers would use credit cards for at least some costs, and while most planned to pay the balance quickly, nearly a quarter said they would carry it. About 17% said they would lean on buy now, pay later services to fund the trip, a sign that some households are borrowing to preserve a summer tradition.
For the travel industry, the numbers cut two ways. Airlines, hotels and theme-park operators are still filling seats, rooms and gates, but a growing share of their customers are trading down — driving less far, staying fewer nights, and choosing value destinations over marquee ones. That behavior supports revenue while squeezing the premium spending that resorts and airlines count on.
The shift is also reshaping where the money lands. Regional attractions, drive-to beach towns, state parks and mid-priced hotels stand to gain as families skip expensive flights. Gas stations, roadside restaurants and campgrounds benefit from the move toward road trips. Meanwhile, credit card issuers and buy now, pay later lenders are capturing a larger slice of vacation spending as families finance trips they will not postpone.
The broader takeaway for the consumer economy is resilience with a catch. Families are treating summer travel as close to essential, refusing to cancel even when prices bite. But they are funding it through points, debt, shorter trips and cheaper destinations — a pattern that keeps travel demand alive while quietly shifting billions of dollars toward the lower-cost corners of the market.
JBizNews Desk | Washington
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