Americans Cut Holiday Travel Plans In 2025 As Cost Pressure And Airport Avoidance Drive Shift To Road Trips: New Report You Need To Know

Published on October 28, 2025

Holiday recreation plans crossed nan United States are shifting dramatically arsenic rising expenses, hectic activity schedules, and changing family expectations reshape nan measurement group move betwixt Thanksgiving and New Year’s 2025. A caller nationwide study of much than 2,300 U.S. adults reveals that this year’s vacation play will spot much group staying adjacent to home, cautiously weighing recreation costs, and avoiding airdrome stress.

Americans Still Prefer Home for nan Holidays

Despite nan affectional propulsion of seasonal reunions, much than half of Americans scheme to observe nan holidays without walking far. According to nan survey:

• 56% will stay home during nan holidays.
• 34% for illustration walking to a comparative aliases friend’s house.
• Only 9% are choosing a vacation vacation destination.

Shorter trips predominate Thanksgiving travel, pinch conscionable 28% of travelers going much than 50 miles from home. However, nan Christmas vacation inspires longer journeys, arsenic 34% recreation beyond 50 miles, and 1 successful 10 Americans study walking much than 500 miles.

Travel Behavior Varies by State

Some authorities residents show a stronger appetite for recreation than others.

Top 10 states astir apt to recreation for nan holidays:

• Ohio – 62.0%
• Connecticut – 58.0%
• Texas – 56.1%
• Iowa – 54.0%
• Washington – 54.0%
• Virginia – 53.7%
• Nebraska – 52.9%
• South Dakota – 52.6%
• California – 50.0%
• New York – 50.0%

Top 10 states astir apt to enactment home:

• Nevada – 72.7%
• Utah – 71.2%
• Hawaii – 68.1%
• Missouri – 66.0%
• Oklahoma – 66.0%
• Michigan – 65.3%
• Idaho – 64.0%
• Pennsylvania – 63.6%
• Kansas – 63.5%
• Indiana – 63.3%

These variations bespeak not only recreation habits but besides geographical realities—Western states pinch agelong distances betwixt cities thin to recreation less, while Midwestern residents are much accustomed to cross-state visits.

Air Travel Declines arsenic Road Trips Become nan Safer Bet

Airports whitethorn beryllium bracing for lighter vacation rushes this year. The mostly of Americans simply aren’t consenting to fly:

• 74% will avoid flying completely this season.
• 26% scheme to return at slightest 1 flight.
• 14% are choosing long roadworthy trips specifically to debar airports.

The superior reasons see hose delays, precocious summons prices, and airdrome congestion. Many travelers are now opting for road trips, which connection greater elasticity and little costs.

Holiday Budgets Tighten arsenic Inflation Bites

Finances are playing a powerful domiciled successful recreation decisions this year:

• 21% will skip recreation wholly owed to cost.
• 20% are cutting vacation gift spending to spend trips.
• 30% expect to walk at slightest $1,000 connected travel.

Many households are prioritizing recreation only erstwhile it feels necessary. As a result, astir half (44%) consciousness obligated to travel to spot family moreover if they would for illustration not to. Meanwhile, 42% would alternatively return a picnic than sojourn relatives, and 12% opportunity their jobs forestall them from traveling astatine all.

Long-Distance Travelers: Colorado Leads America’s Holiday Road Warriors

While galore enactment adjacent to home, a important stock of travelers will spell nan distance—literally.

Top 5 states walking 500+ miles this season:

Colorado stands retired arsenic nan epicenter of long-haul travel, pinch astir one successful 4 residents embarking connected extended journeys, galore taking 10 hours aliases more to scope their destinations. This inclination highlights nan beardown contented of distant family ties and relocation patterns successful upland states.

What This Means for Holiday Travel successful 2025

The vacation recreation scenery is evolving. Americans are still profoundly committed to vacation traditions, but they’re becoming more strategical and cost-aware than ever before. Travelers are spending smarter, walking little often, and staying person to home unless family ties request otherwise. Road trips are king, flights are fewer, and financial unit is forcing galore to rethink wherever and really they celebrate.

This year, vacation recreation is nary longer conscionable astir getting somewhere—it’s astir balancing affectional priorities pinch financial reality.

Image: AI