New research shows cost is keeping millions home this summer. Here’s how families are getting creative — and why our state is actually ahead of the curve.
Summer is almost here, and if you’re feeling torn between wanting to plan something memorable for your family and wincing every time you look at your bank account — you are far from alone.
A new national survey of 5,000 Americans found that four in ten people won’t be taking a single trip this summer. Not a weekend away. Not a road trip. Nothing. And the reason is almost always the same: it’s just too expensive right now.
The survey, commissioned by Current and conducted by Talker Research, found that 52% of those skipping summer travel simply can’t afford it. Others are focused on saving money (25%) or paying off debt (22%). A fifth specifically called out anxiety about the rising cost of travel itself — not just their personal finances, but the sense that everything associated with a trip has gotten pricier and keeps getting worse.
It’s a lot. And for families trying to balance all of it while also wanting to give their kids a summer worth remembering, the pressure is real.
Here’s the Good News: Massachusetts Is Still Showing Up
Before we get too deep into the hard numbers, here’s something worth celebrating. Massachusetts ranks fourth in the country for summer travel plans, with 72% of residents planning to travel this summer. Only Illinois (77%), Texas (74%), and New Jersey (73%) ranked higher.
That’s not nothing. It says something about how resourceful and determined Bay State families are — even when the budget is tighter than we’d like, we find a way to make something happen.
The question is how. And that’s where it gets interesting.
Smarter, Not Smaller
Among people who traveled last summer and are planning to again this year, the approach looks noticeably different. Nearly a third (32%) are planning to visit different types of destinations than they did in 2025 — more affordable ones, closer to home, less about checking a bucket list item and more about actually relaxing without financial stress.
Thirty-one percent say they’re being more budget-conscious overall, and 25% are deliberately choosing more affordable destinations. Day trips and in-state adventures are on the rise (22%), and shorter trip lengths are increasingly common (22%).
For Central Mass families, this honestly isn’t a downgrade — it’s an opportunity. We live within easy reach of some genuinely wonderful destinations that don’t require a flight or a week off work. The Berkshires. The Cape. The White Mountains just over the border in New Hampshire. Vermont. The Maine coast. A long weekend in any direction from Worcester can feel like a real reset if you go in with the right mindset.
The Trends Defining Summer 2026
The survey asked Americans what they think the biggest summer travel trends will be this year. The top three are worth knowing — because they’re practical, they’re accessible, and they might reframe how you think about your own summer plans.
Staycations came in first (32%) — staying within your own city or state for a casual trip, returning home to sleep. No hotel required, no airport chaos, just a more intentional way of exploring your own backyard. If you’ve never done a “tourist in your own town” day with your kids, this summer might be the time.
Quietcations landed in second (30%) — vacations focused on unplugging and recharging in a calm environment. Less itinerary, more stillness. For moms who are running on fumes, this one has obvious appeal.
Micro-breaks rounded out the top three (also 30%) — short trips, like a long weekend, that give you the psychological reset of a vacation without the full cost or logistical weight. A Friday-to-Sunday somewhere beautiful can do a lot of good.
Rounding out the list: city-cations (staying at a hotel in a nearby city, 21%), pet-friendly travel (20%), and destination dupes — finding a closer, more affordable version of a far-away place, like a local white sand beach instead of a tropical resort (18%).
The Social Pressure Nobody Talks About
Here’s a layer of this research that feels worth naming, especially for a community of moms who are constantly bombarded with other people’s highlight reels.
The survey found that 42% of Americans feel social pressure to be well-traveled, and 49% feel pressure to spend money while traveling. Those numbers spike dramatically among younger people — 60% of Gen Z and 52% of millennials feel pressure to be well-traveled, and 62% of Gen Z feel like they need to spend on their trips.
Seventeen percent of Americans have actually traveled to a destination exclusively so they could say they’d been there. Not because they wanted to go. Just to have the story.
We’re not here to judge — the pull of that kind of validation is real and understandable. But it’s also worth asking, especially as we’re making summer decisions for our families: who is this trip actually for? What do we actually want out of it?
“Costs are increasing, yet the societal pressure to travel remains very real,” said Erin Bruehl, VP of Communications at Current. “What stands out is how resourceful Americans are being in balancing the desire to travel with the realities of their budgets. They’re shortening trips, staying closer to home, and searching for more affordable options that will still allow them to have experiences that matter.”
Making Peace With the Summer You Can Actually Have
If your summer looks like a few day trips, a long weekend somewhere close, and a lot of afternoons at the town pool — that’s a real summer. That’s a good summer, actually.
The research keeps coming back to the same truth: what people want from travel is connection, rest, and a break from routine. None of those things require a plane ticket or a luxury resort. They require intention, and a little creativity — both of which Massachusetts moms have in abundance.
So whether your summer involves a week on the Cape or a Saturday at Wachusett Mountain followed by ice cream in town, you’re not missing out. You’re just doing it your way.
And 72% of Massachusetts agrees with you.
Survey methodology: Talker Research surveyed 5,000 Americans (split evenly by state and generation) on behalf of Current, conducted online March 13–25, 2026.
