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This summer, Americans are trading international itineraries and Aperol spritzes on the Amalfi Coast for all-American road trips, national parks, and nostalgic stateside escapes.
Travel experts say rising costs, economic uncertainty and soaring airfare are pushing more Americans to trade big international vacations for shorter, easier getaways closer to home this summer.
“Compared to last year, we’re seeing weakening demand for Europe,” said Graham Carter, CEO of luxury private tour operator Unforgettable Travel. “We are seeing clients taking longer to confirm trips or asking to push them back to later in the year, or into 2027.”
Rosa Castillo, who works in real estate when she isn’t travel blogging, blowing up social media or co-hosting the “Bon Voyage Besties” podcast, said that global economic uncertainty and looming oil crises are keeping her closer to home this summer.
“As someone with a full-time corporate job and limited PTO, the uncertainty of being stranded abroad can create unnecessary stress and a significant financial burden if plans shift unexpectedly,” she said. “Because of that, I’ve been leaning into day trips throughout New Jersey and New York City.”
After years of post-pandemic revenge travel and overcrowded hot spots abroad, Americans are once again pivoting to a different kind of summer vacation. From scenic rail journeys and nostalgic beach towns, to adult summer camps and national park adventures, here’s a look at a slower, more relaxed way to experience the best this country has to offer.
National perks
With Yosemite, Arches and Glacier National Parks eliminating reservation requirements for 2026, you can expect a surge of visitors this summer. Plan accordingly and book in advance, experts caution.
Just outside of Yosemite, properties like Firefall Ranch are capitalizing on the demand with immersive outdoor experiences ranging from guided excursions and wellness-focused programming to communal dining and adventure activities.
From the red-rock mesas and serpentine slot canyons of southern Utah, Red Cliffs Lodge Zion, located less than a mile from Zion National Park, is drawing travelers seeking a blend of luxury and adventure in the heart of Zion Canyon.
Wet-hot American summer camps
Across the country, nostalgic adult summer camp-style resorts are booming as travelers seek low-key, outdoorsy escapes that blend wellness, recreation and Americana.
For rustic summer camp vibes, Kenoza Hall offers stand-alone bungalows and rooms in a restored 1880s boarding house, complete with plenty of cozy reading nooks and a lake ideal for canoeing and swimming. Meanwhile, Wylder Windham offers a playful Catskills escape with wood-fired saunas, pickleball clinics, live music and riverside relaxation against the backdrop of Windham Mountain.
In California’s Lost Sierra, Greenhorn Ranch is tapping into the growing appetite for nostalgic, summer camp-style escapes, where days are spent horseback riding, fly-fishing, skeet shooting and archery before live music, karaoke and s’mores around the fire pit at night.
Opening this summer near San Luis Obispo, Nightsky Camps is serving a more design-forward take on the trend with a 45-key outdoor retreat set within California’s Central Coast landscape. Further north, Dawn Ranch blends redwood forest scenery with safari-style tents, private fire pits, complimentary Fender guitar sessions and easy access to kayaking and tubing along the Russian River, while Under Canvas White Mountains offers a New England version of the experience surrounded by rolling meadows, orchards and mountain hiking trails.
‘Radius runs’ and road trips
Road trips are a quintessential American getaway, and despite rising gas prices, according to Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report, 71% of Americans are planning to drive on their next vacation. Allianz Partners reports that classic American road trips from Route 66 to California’s Pacific Coast Highway are expected to surge in popularity this year as travelers embrace nostalgia and the freedom of the open road.
“Travelers aren’t necessarily giving up vacations in 2026, they’re simplifying them,” Carolin Fuller, director of consumer marketing at Campspot, said. “We’re seeing people move toward trips that feel more reliable, flexible and financially manageable, which is why camping, RV travel, and nearby road trips are resonating so strongly right now.”
In addition, Fuller said “radius runs” — i.e., trips within easy driving distance — along with a growing preference for shoulder-season camping in May, September and October to avoid crowds and high prices, are also surging in popularity.
Beach bashes are back
American beach towns are seeing renewed interest this summer, as travelers trade crowded European coastlines for nostalgic seaside escapes closer to home.
According to Tripadvisor, Myrtle Beach was the top trending domestic destination this year, signaling a broader return to easy, family-friendly coastal vacations built around boardwalks, beach days, mini golf and long weekends by the water.
Further south, Hilton Head Island and nearby Bluffton continue to attract travelers looking for a slower, more laid-back version of luxury centered around golf, boating, seafood and Lowcountry charm beneath Spanish moss-draped oaks.
On the West Coast, San Diego once reigned supreme as the country’s preeminent summer playground thanks to its always-sunny disposition, surf culture and laid-back beach towns.
Passport-free escapes
As travelers rethink expensive and logistically complicated international trips this summer, passport-free Caribbean destinations like Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are booming as Americans look for easier tropical escapes closer to home.
According to US Customs and Border Protection, travelers sailing on closed-loop itineraries that depart from and return to the same US port including itineraries on cruise lines like Virgin Voyages and Royal Caribbean that don’t need a passport, are fueling renewed interest in domestic and near-domestic cruising.
At the same time, Great Lakes cruises are quietly booming, with operators like Viking Expeditions drawing travelers aboard sleek, Scandinavian-inspired ships through some of North America’s most underrated landscapes.
Meanwhile, travelers craving a Mediterranean-style coastal escape without the long-haul flight are turning to jewels like Catalina Island, just off the Southern California coast, where the recently renovated Pavilion Hotel channels old-school California glamour with breezy courtyards, waterfront rooms and nightly wine socials around the fire pit.
The great American rail revival
From luxury sleeper journeys aboard the Rocky Mountaineer to nostalgic national park itineraries that eliminate the stress of airports and rental cars, rail travel is emerging as one of the biggest trends shaping domestic travel this summer.
Leading the charge is Canyon Spirit. Running straight through the heart of the American Southwest, this newly launched luxury train winds through dramatic red rock canyons and desert landscapes. Meanwhile, Alaska’s legendary routes aboard the Alaska Railroad continue to draw travelers seeking cooler-weather escapes, glacier views, wildlife sightings and access to remote wilderness impossible to reach by car.
Companies like Railbookers are making nostalgic cross-country rail journeys easier than ever with itineraries like Yellowstone to Yosemite by Rail, which brings travelers face-to-face with iconic American landmarks including Old Faithful and the Continental Divide, all while making the journey part of the experience itself.
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