US Travelers Hit the Road as Flight Costs Climb

Americans are increasingly taking road trips amid an inflation- and tariff-related decline in consumer confidence.

That’s according to a Monday (May 12) report from Bloomberg News, citing AAA figures showing that roughly 39 million Americans will drive this Memorial Day weekend. That’s a 3.1% gain from 2024 and the highest level in 20 years.

The report adds that around 3.6 million travelers plan to fly, up 1.7% since last year. This trend is being driven by a decline in gas prices, an uptick in the cost of domestic airline tickets, and concerns about air travel safety following several high-profile crashes and other incidents.

Julie Brinkman, CEO of vacation rental revenue manager Beyond, told Bloomberg that when people are flying, they’re choosing domestic vacations over international trips.

“People still want to take trips, but those trips might be closer to home,” Brinkman said. “They’re also waiting longer to book. They need to know that they have…