Rising Gas, Grocery Costs Lead Americans To Rethink Summer Trips.

Nearly half of Americans have changed their summer vacation plans because of rising costs, with many shortening trips, choosing less expensive options or canceling travel altogether, according to a new survey from email and SMS marketing platform Omnisend.

The survey found that 47% of respondents have postponed, shortened, downgraded or canceled a summer trip due to cost concerns. Among those affected, gas prices were the most frequently cited factor at 46%, followed by groceries and everyday bills at 29% and hotel and vacation rental prices at 24%.

While 59% of respondents said they have travel plans this summer, only 17% are taking a major trip that involves flights or paid lodging. Instead, many consumers are turning to lower-cost alternatives, including taking shorter or cheaper trips than originally planned (21%) and choosing day trips or local outings (20%). Another 14% said they plan to stay home entirely.

“Americans aren’t giving up on summer. They’re giving up on the idea that a memorable vacation has to involve flights, hotels, or a hefty price tag,” says Marty Bauer, e-commerce expert at Omnisend. “A vacation budget no longer exists in isolation — it’s competing with higher fuel costs, grocery bills and other everyday expenses that have become harder to ignore. So, people are becoming much more creative about finding breaks that fit their budget instead of abandoning the idea of a getaway altogether.”

Among the 29% of respondents who said they are spending less on travel this year, many said the money is being redirected toward essential expenses. Nearly half (47%) said they are using the savings for groceries, while 28% are putting the money toward rent or mortgage payments. Another 23% said they are using funds originally intended for travel to pay down debt.

“There was a time when skipping or downgrading a vacation might have meant spending that money on a home renovation or new furniture,” added Bauer. “Today, that’s increasingly not the case. Before families decide where they want to go, they’re deciding whether that money would be better spent putting food on the table, staying on top of bills or paying down debt. That’s a very different kind of spending than we typically associate with summer.”

The Omnisend survey was conducted by Cint in June 2026 and included 1,075 U.S. consumers.