Americans are trading in their sleigh rides for car rides this holiday season, as they seek comfort in familiar, flexible and budget-friendly travel options more than ever before. New data from Motel 6 and Studio 6 reveals that over half of those traveling to celebrate winter holidays this year will hit the road to their destination (51 percent) rather than take to the sky (13 percent).
The study, which surveyed 2,000 Americans who plan to celebrate winter holidays this upcoming season, found an increase in road travelers from last year (+2 percent OnePoll 2023), a choice driven by the proximity of their destination (46 percent) and the desire to save money (26 percent). For many, the joy of a road trip lies in the journey itself, believing road trips make the travel experience more enjoyable (80 percent), which may be because they admit to having a preferred or “assigned” seat in the car when traveling with family (39 percent).
Other trends found from the survey include:
Cherishing Familiar Places and Traditions
From the family hometown to grandma’s house, travelers plan to lean into a sense of familiarity during the holiday season and visit the places they know and love rather than explore somewhere new (63 percent). Many admit that visiting or traveling to see family and friends is one of their favorite holiday traditions (50 percent) and most use their paid time off to spend quality time with loved ones (54 percent).
Navigating Holiday Lodging
Often, the destination for the celebration doubles as makeshift lodging, as most Americans who celebrate winter holidays will stay at family (52 percent) or friends’ homes (14 percent). However, this can lead to overcrowded houses (30 percent) and challenging sleeping arrangements, prompting travelers to seek alone time less than a day (19.6 hours) into the trip, on average. To avoid sleeping on the floor (26 percent) or making do with the couch (22 percent), one in four travelers will opt for a hotel or motel this holiday season.
Late Planning
Motel 6 found that holiday travelers expect to plan their trips three weeks in advance on average, with some (23 percent) not planning to book ahead at all. Holiday travel plans are often left to the last minute, with many delaying their bookings due to financial constraints (39 percent) or in hopes of finding better deals (35 percent), which in turn causes stress (64 percent). Discounts play a big role in influencing these budget-conscious travelers (21 percent).
Source: Motel 6
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