US Travel Plans Crumble Under Pressure as Inflation and Affordability Concerns Keep Millions From Planning their next Trip

Image generated with Ai

Rising costs, debt worries, and financial stress are forcing millions of Americans to cancel or delay their summer travel plans, survey data reveals.

As Memorial Day approaches and the summer season looms, a new Bankrate survey reveals that only 46% of U.S. adults intend to travel during the summer months. Of these, 38% plan to journey within the United States, while just 15% anticipate traveling abroad.

A notable 24% of Americans are opting out of vacations altogether, while 23% remain undecided. Another 10% plan to stay home and enjoy a staycation.

Financial hardship stands out as the top reason why many are skipping summer travel. Among those choosing not to travel, nearly two-thirds (65%) cite affordability as the key barrier. Within that group, 68% say the cost of everyday living has become unmanageable, and 64% specifically point to the high price of travel. Other reasons include prioritizing other financial obligations (45%) and dealing with debt (29%).

Non-financial reasons are also deterring travel this year. Roughly 23% say they’re simply not interested in a vacation right now, while 16% cannot take time off work, and another 16% find the process of traveling too overwhelming. Health and safety concerns play a role as well, with 15% citing worries about flying and another 15% concerned about their personal health or age.

Generational differences highlight who is most affected by these financial challenges. Among those not traveling, 73% of millennials (29–44 years old) say they can’t afford it, followed closely by 68% of baby boomers (61–79), and 67% of Gen X (45–60). Only half of Gen Z (18–28) report affordability as their main concern.

Debt is also becoming a factor for those who do plan to hit the road. Nearly 1 in 3 (29%) say they will incur debt to fund their travel. This includes 23% planning to carry a balance on their credit cards, 5% using buy-now-pay-later services, 4% borrowing from friends or family, and 2% taking personal loans. Respondents could select more than one payment method.

Younger travelers are more willing to borrow for their trips—34% of millennials and 31% of Gen Z plan to take on debt for travel, compared to 29% of Gen X and just 22% of baby boomers.

When it comes to payment preferences, 56% of travelers say they’ll use cash, followed by 47% who prefer debit cards. Credit cards remain popular, with 42% planning to pay them off in full, while 23% will carry balances. Meanwhile, 20% will use travel rewards or airline miles.

Survey Methodology
The data comes from a survey conducted by YouGov Plc on behalf of Bankrate, carried out between March 10–12, 2025. A total of 2,238 U.S. adults participated, including 1,024 who plan to travel this summer. The online survey adhered to quality standards, using demographic quotas and weighting to ensure representation of the U.S. adult population.