Weekend getaways are having a moment.
Americans are planning more trips but keeping them shorter, often choosing drive-to escapes to stretch budgets and time.
In Deloitte’s latest summer survey, 53% of Americans plan a leisure vacation this season (up from 48% in 2024), and many are adding quick getaways to the calendar.
Drive time beats flight time for short breaks.
This summer, 83% of travelers said they’d drive to their destination, with over half choosing the car instead of flying because of airfare costs.
Holiday weekends show the scale: 45.1 million people traveled for Memorial Day—a record—while Independence Day week was expected to move 72.2 million travelers.
Key stats: Weekend & Short Getaway Travel
- 73% of Americans planned a getaway with at least one overnight stay during summer 2024.
- 41% of those travelers arranged multiple short getaways (100+ miles from home), not just one big trip.
- Budget per night for 3-night getaways is high (~$587/night), showing people are willing to spend more for quality on shorter breaks.
- The average trip length has crept upward: about 4.6 nights away in 2024.
- ~17% of Americans say they’ll take a “micro-cation” (4 days or less) in 2025.
- Road-tripping, traveling with family across generations, and “slow travel” (less packing, more staying in one place) are strong trends among short-getawayers.
- About 53% of adults intend to take at least one short getaway in the near future (next few months).
- Inflation is affecting decisions: 53% of leisure travelers are less likely to do overnight trips when costs (lodging, travel) go up.
- More trips, shorter stays: Travelers are adding quick getaways even as budgets tighten.
- Drive-to dominates: 83% plan to drive to summer destinations; 54% say they’ll drive instead of fly to save money.
- Local & nearby: Airbnb says nights stayed within 300 miles of home have nearly doubled in five years; over half of U.S. Labor Day stays are within driving distance.
- Holiday surges: 45.1M Memorial Day travelers (record) and 72.2M around July 4 show intense long-weekend demand.
- Quick overnight plans are common: 74% of Americans plan to travel this summer; 60% will go beyond their home state and 54% will also do in-state overnights.
Are weekend getaways mostly road trips now?
Yes. Affordability and flexibility keep road trips on top for short breaks.
In 2025 polling, 83% said they’d drive to their summer destination; more than half cited airfare costs as the reason to skip flying. For long-weekend peaks like Memorial Day, road trips made up ~87% of all trips.
Why it matters: Cars enable last-minute plans, short distances, and multi-stop weekends—ideal for a 2- or 3-night reset.
How far are people going for a quick escape?
Close enough to keep the commute short.
Airbnb reports that local travel (within 300 miles) has nearly doubled over five years, and more than half of Labor Day bookings were within driving distance.
That aligns with SSRS findings showing Americans are mixing in-state and neighboring-state overnights.
Which weekends are the busiest?
Holiday weekends. This year:
| Weekend | Travelers / Activity |
|---|---|
| Memorial Day (May) | 45.1M travelers (record) |
| Independence Day (late Jun–Jul 6) | 72.2M travelers forecast |
| Labor Day (late Aug–early Sep) | ~17.4M TSA screenings Thu–Tue |
Pro tip: Peak outbound road traffic hits Thu 1–8 p.m. and Fri noon–8 p.m. on long weekends; go before noon or after 8 p.m. to avoid jams.
If I fly for a weekend, what saves the most?
Avoid the classic Fri–Sun pattern.
Hopper’s data shows Sunday is usually the most expensive day to fly.
Shifting to mid-week departures can save about 14% (≈$42 per domestic round-trip).
For a long weekend, depart mid-week and return Saturday or Monday, not Sunday.
Are people trading week-long vacations for quick trips?
Many are. Deloitte finds more travelers overall and more trips, but tighter budgets—a setup that favors short, value-focused getaways.
NerdWallet also reports 87% of Americans plan at least one night away this summer, underscoring the appeal of quick breaks.
What are trending styles of weekend trips?
- Short-haul, short-stay: Expedia highlights short-haul hotspots and off-peak getaways rising in 2025.
- Stay local: Airbnb points to last-minute staycations and domestic escapes as a 2025 summer trend.
- Detour destinations: Travelers are picking nearby alternatives to big hubs (e.g., Girona instead of Barcelona) to save time and money.
Weekend Getaway FAQ
How common are short getaways in 2025?
Very. Americans are adding quick getaways even as budgets tighten, according to Deloitte’s summer survey.
Are people really driving more than flying for short trips?
Yes. 83% plan to drive to summer destinations; 54% will drive instead of fly due to airfare costs.
When are the busiest weekend travel days?
For long weekends, expect Thu afternoon and Fri afternoon/evening peaks on roads; aim for before noon or after 8 p.m.
Any quick booking hacks for weekend flights?
Skip Sunday returns. Mid-week departures save ~14% on average; consider returning Saturday or Monday.
Sources
- Deloitte Insights — Right-sized American summer: 2025 Deloitte summer travel survey
- AAA — Memorial Day 2025 Travel Forecast
- AAA — Independence Day 2025 Forecast
- Axios — Labor Day 2025 TSA screening expectations
- GSTV via NACS — Over 80% Will Road Trip This Summer
- Airbnb Newsroom — Local Travel on the Rise (Labor Day)
- SSRS — 2025 American Summer Vacation Plans
- NerdWallet — 2025 Summer Travel Report
- Hopper — 2025 Travel Booking Hacks
- Expedia Newsroom — Summer Travel Outlook 2025
- Expedia Newsroom — Unpack ’25: Travel Trends
- Airbnb Newsroom — Summer Travel Trends 2025
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