by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 3:55 PM ET, Tue May 12, 2026
Gas prices may be soaring, along with the cost of everything else, but Americans are not giving up on their summer road trips.
New data from Hertz, the car rental company, shows that road trips are experience something of a ‘renaissance’ this summer with 64 percent of Americans planning to hit the road in the coming months.
This is despite the fact that there was 5.4% rise in gas prices in April, following a record 21% increase in gas prices in March, amid the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Over the course the year, gas prices are up a steep 28.4%, a development that’s made it especially challenging for many Americans to make ends meet.
Still, the Hertz report says Americans are turning to road trips as part of a “growing desire to reclaim the road trip as an antidote to modern travel stress, embracing the freedom, flexibility and sense of control that driving brings to summer travel.”
Translation: Even with the soaring price of gas, road trip are still more palatable than flying perhaps, where prices have also shot up. Combine that with newly higher fees to check bags and the elimination of snacks and drinks on some airlines, and suddenly road trips are an especially great way to avoid the price gouging taking place in the skies.
Hertz booking data shows demand is building steadily heading into Memorial Day, setting the tone for a strong summer travel season.
In particular, car rental pickups are expected to peak just ahead of the holiday, with Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, shaping up to be the busiest days nationwide.
Here are some additional road-trip takeaways from the Hertz report.
Family posing for selfie next to car packed for road trip. (Photo Credit: Monkey Business / Adobe Stock)
AI Drives Road Trip Planning
AI is playing an increasingly important role in planning planning road trips especially for younger travelers. The Hertz report reveals:
Among those who plan to travel this summer, 45% have used AI to help plan their summer travel. Broken down by age, that includes: over a third of Gen Z (35%) and Millennials (34%) who say they are already using AI vs. Boomers at 11%.
Where Travelers Are Headed for Memorial Day
The top destinations for car rentals over Memorial Day weekend reflect a mix of theme‑park hubs, major entertainment markets and historic cities:
- Orlando, Florida
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Los Angeles, California
- Denver, Colorado
- Boston, Massachusetts
Scenic view of Route 66 in the American Southwest. (Photo Credit: Adobe/Shambhala)
Destinations
Increasing in Popularity
Destinations seeing notable year‑over‑year booking growth this summer include Dallas, Houston, Portland, Maui and Chicago, reflecting demand for both city breaks and nature‑forward escapes.
Meanwile, some of the country's more iconic routes appear to be making a comeback this year, as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary.
Hertz data points to renewed enthusiasm for road trips tied to the nation’s most iconic routes and heritage destinations.
- Route 66: Trips starting in Chicago – the birthplace of Route 66 – and returning across Hertz locations along the historic highway are up 8% year over year between Memorial Day and July 4
- Historic New England: Bookings tied to Boston and surrounding New England states, including routes connected to the Freedom Trail, are up 14%, reflecting increased interest in heritage travel.
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