Fourth of July Travel Trends

Millions of Americans will travel for the long Fourth of July holiday weekend this year. As demand to get away continues to increase more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the way July 4th revelers are traveling and the experiences they value have changed, even if only slightly. Global RV rental and outdoor travel marketplace Outdoorsy recently released its July 4th travel trends report, shedding new light on how and where summer vacationers will travel in 2022. Whether it's prioritizing pet-friendly accommodations or booking a trip further out, some of the key takeaways paint an intriguing picture of how Americans are venturing out this Fourth of July.

No surprises here. According to Outdoorsy, bookings for trips this Fourth of July are already up four percent year over year. That's notable seeing that 2021 bookings reached record levels and were up a whopping 77 percent from pandemic-plagued 2020.

Outdoorsy also found that Americans are booking their summer trips further out in 2022. This year, the book-to-departure window for the Fourth of July is 93 days or roughly three months, compared to just 87 days last year and 77 days amid the peak of COVID-19 in 2020.

Many new travelers are hitting the road to celebrate the season this year compared to in years past, with Outdoorsy reporting that four out of every five July 4th bookings (80 percent) are from first-time Outdoorsy RV renters.

Travelers have priorities on the road, and based on Outdoorsy's most recent search filter data, pet-friendliness and air conditioning are two of the most important features among this year's Fourth of July globetrotters.

Denver is the hottest metro destination for the Fourth of July this summer, according to Outdoorsy's trends report, followed by Seattle, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Portland and Anchorage. San Diego, Dallas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and San Antonio also made the top 10 as holiday travelers are clearly seeking out the sun and outdoor adventure.

Outdoorsy also dove into the data to reveal the destinations that are growing fastest in popularity for July 4th trips this year. Flagstaff, Arizona leads the way, edging out Vallejo, California; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Salem, Oregon and Traverse City, Michigan. Omaha, Nebraska; Knoxville, Tennessee; Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Kalispell, Montana; San Antonio/New Braunfels, Texas and Boise, Idaho are also gaining momentum.

Some of the most affordable holiday destinations can be found in the Southeast, according to Outdoorsy. Myrtle Beach ($187 per night), Jacksonville, Florida ($190 per night) and Charleston, South Carolina ($200 per night) are among the most wallet-friendly this summer, as are Columbus, Ohio ($205 per night) and Bakersfield, California ($215 per night).