The summer road trip has always been one of America’s most familiar family traditions: pack the car, choose a route, and see where the road takes you. But this year, that sense of freedom is coming with a higher price tag.
With gas prices still putting pressure on household budgets, RV Windshield Replacement surveyed 3,002 families to understand how fuel costs are changing summer travel plans. The findings suggest that families are not necessarily abandoning the road trip altogether, but they are becoming much more cautious about distance, spending, and how much flexibility they can afford.
Nearly two-thirds of families say high gas prices are making them rethink their summer road trip plans. For many, that means shorter routes, fewer overnight stops, and destinations closer to home.
The survey found that:
• 68% are more likely to take a shorter, in-state road trip this summer because of gas prices.
• 47% would be more likely to invite another family or relatives along to help share costs.
• 86% believe the classic long-distance American road trip is becoming less affordable for ordinary families.
When families were asked what feels most expensive about a road trip right now, fuel was the clear concern. Gas outweighed every other cost by a wide margin, showing how much the price at the pump is shaping vacation decisions before families even leave home.
Families said the biggest road trip costs are:
• Gas: 67%
• Hotels: 17%
• Food: 8%
• Attractions: 6%
• Car maintenance: 3%
But fuel is not the only place families are feeling the squeeze. Once the overall trip budget starts to tighten, many are looking for ways to cut back across the entire vacation. For some, that means skipping souvenirs or eating out less. For others, it means reducing hotel stays, dropping paid attractions, or cancelling the trip altogether.
When asked what their family would cut first from a road trip budget, respondents said:
• Souvenirs: 25%
• The trip itself: 19%
• Restaurant meals: 16%
• Overnight hotel stays: 16%
• Theme parks or attractions: 14%
• Extra sightseeing stops: 10%
The results point to a summer travel season shaped by compromise. Some families are still determined to go ahead, but many are changing the scale of their plans. The long, multi-state route is being replaced by shorter drives, closer destinations, packed lunches, and more carefully planned spending.
Asked which phrase best describes their family’s road trip plans this summer, respondents answered:
• Same trip, tighter budget: 26%
• Staying in-state this year: 18%
• Full-speed ahead: 17%
• Shorter drive, same spirit: 16%
• Road trip cancelled: 16%
• Road trip downgraded: 10%
The survey also identified a clear breaking point. On average, families said gas prices would need to rise by about $1.05 per gallon before they would cancel a planned road trip altogether.
That suggests the American road trip is not disappearing, but it is changing. This summer, families may still be hitting the road — just with shorter routes, fewer splurges, and a closer eye on the fuel gauge.
Experienced road trippers were also asked, based on their own travels, to name the best short road trips families can take this summer. The top 10 were as follows:
#1. Tucson to Grand Canyon South Rim via Sedona — Arizona
This route gives families a dramatic Arizona road trip without needing to leave the state. The drive begins among Tucson’s desert landscapes and saguaro-filled scenery before moving north toward Sedona’s red rocks, where scenic pull-offs, canyon views, and slower-paced exploring can make the journey feel special without heavy spending. The final stretch to the Grand Canyon delivers the kind of unforgettable view that still defines the American road trip.
#2. Nashville to Gatlinburg via Chattanooga — Tennessee
This Tennessee route works because it feels like several different vacations in one manageable drive. Nashville brings the music, food, and city energy, Chattanooga adds riverfront scenery and family-friendly outdoor stops, and Gatlinburg finishes the trip with mountain views and easy access to the Smokies. It is a strong option for families who want a full summer getaway without turning it into a long interstate haul.
#3. San Francisco to Eureka / Avenue of the Giants via Mendocino — California
For families looking for scenery rather than expensive attractions, the drive north from San Francisco offers plenty. The route quickly swaps city streets for ocean views, cliffside stops, and quieter coastal towns. Mendocino gives the trip a slower, more relaxed feel, while the redwoods around Eureka and the Avenue of the Giants create a memorable final stretch that can be enjoyed largely outdoors.
#4. Charlotte to Asheville via Boone — North Carolina
This route turns a relatively manageable drive into a proper mountain escape. Leaving Charlotte, families gradually move into Blue Ridge scenery, cooler air, and slower mountain roads. Boone offers a relaxed middle stop before Asheville adds arts, food, outdoor space, and mountain views. Much of the appeal comes from the landscape itself, which helps keep the trip rewarding without depending on paid attractions.
#5. Salt Lake City to Moab via Price and Green River — Utah
This Utah route builds steadily as the scenery changes from mountain views around Salt Lake City to canyon roads, red rock landscapes, and wide desert skies near Moab. Price offers a useful family stop along the way, especially for dinosaur history, while the final approach into Moab feels unmistakably Southwestern. For families using a national parks pass, the route can offer strong value as well as big scenery.
#6. Phoenix / Scottsdale to Monument Valley via Flagstaff — Arizona
Starting in the Sonoran Desert and climbing toward the cooler pine forests around Flagstaff, this route gives families a striking change of scenery without needing an overly complicated itinerary. Route 66 touches, mountain air, roadside diners, and the vast landscapes of Monument Valley help make the drive feel like a classic road trip while keeping much of the experience centered on views rather than expensive activities.
#7. Jacksonville to Orlando via St. Augustine — Florida
This Florida route is a good example of a shorter trip that still feels varied. Jacksonville offers beaches and waterfront space before the drive moves into the historic streets of St. Augustine, where families can spend time walking, exploring, and stopping for ice cream without building the whole day around costly attractions. Orlando provides the bigger finale, with the option to mix theme parks with lower-cost outdoor alternatives.
#8. Albuquerque to Taos via Santa Fe — New Mexico
This route blends desert scenery, art, history, and mountain air in a way that feels distinctly New Mexican. Albuquerque provides the starting point, Santa Fe brings plazas, galleries, adobe architecture, and walkable streets, and the High Road toward Taos adds a more rugged, elevated feel. It is a strong option for families who want culture and scenery without relying on a packed paid itinerary.
#9. Portland to Bend via Hood River — Oregon
The drive from Portland to Bend gives families a trip where the route itself is part of the experience. The Columbia River, waterfalls, cliffs, orchards, and small-town stops around Hood River help break up the journey before the road climbs toward Bend and its outdoor trails, mountain scenery, and relaxed summer feel. It is a practical choice for families looking for variety without excessive distance.
#10. Portland to Bar Harbor / Acadia via Camden — Maine
This coastal Maine route offers a classic New England summer trip on a manageable scale. Portland gives families seafood, harbor views, and walkable streets before the road becomes quieter and more scenic toward Camden. Bar Harbor and Acadia provide the dramatic finish, with ocean cliffs, pine forests, scenic drives, and outdoor exploring that can make the trip feel memorable without requiring a heavily monetized schedule.
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Photo: iStock
