Now more than ever, Americans are embracing the extended weekend trip.
According to Travelzoo's Summer 2017 Travel Trends Survey of more than 1,360 U.S. consumers, approximately three out of four Americans intend to take at least one long weekend jaunt at some point this summer.
What's more, more than half of Americans plan to take more extended weekend getaways this year than they did in 2016. (A long weekend trip is defined as an extra day added to a weekend.)
A majority of Americans will travel domestically by car on their prolonged weekend trips this summer, the survey found, with more than half of U.S. travelers eyeing an escape to the beach. Most indicated they prefer to spend their time relaxing, touring and dining once there.
More than half of respondents also said they are open to taking a spontaneous long weekend trip.
When it comes to their primary summer vacation, however, 60 percent of Americans will travel within the U.S.
The survey also found that four out of 10 Americans traveling more than five hours from home will take a plane or a train to their destination.
While the summer season presents plenty of opportunities to stray from home-including three big holidays beginning with Memorial Day-an overwhelming number of respondents cited visiting family and friends as their top reason for taking a long weekend trip, with 85 percent in agreement.
The survey also reinforced a growing trend among today's road warriors: Almost half of business travelers said they have taken a "bleisure" trip blending work and play. That comes after Airbnb revealed more than 50 percent of business trips booked through the site last year included a Saturday night stay.
[READMORE] READ MORE: Where Will Americans Vacation in 2017?[/READMORE]
"It's a known fact that Americans don't use all of their vacation time. But it's encouraging to see Americans' increasing interest in long weekend trips, whether that means combining business and leisure or a quick jaunt to Europe," said Travelzoo's president of North America Mike Stitt in a statement.
"This trend could ultimately mean more trips and more travel experiences overall for American travelers."
According to the U.S. Travel Association's Project: Time Off initiative, the average American is awarded two weeks of vacation each year. By combining those days with weekends, travelers can maximize their time off.
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