Many Americans have one thing on their minds when it comes to Fourth of July travel this year: What’s the best bang for the buck?
That question is leading people to some perhaps surprising places to ring in the U.S.’s 250th, according to a report released this week by Expedia. Among people searching for travel in a roughly six-week period bookending the July 4th holiday, there’s been a 1,265% increase in searches using budget filters compared to the comparable periods last year, according to data from the Seattle-based company.
In addition to the surge in budget-related searches, travelers are also looking to stretch their dollars by using rewards, choosing all-inclusive stays, or considering off-the-beaten path destinations, Melanie Fish, vice president of Expedia Group Public Relations, said in a statement. “This summer, travelers are less ‘where do I want to go?’ and more ‘how do I make this trip work?’”
Making a trip work this year might mean traveling to some smaller destinations that provide access to iconic destinations. Thanks to their relative proximity to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone, that’s led to double-digit increases in Expedia searches for travel to the following destinations compared with 2025:
- Moab, Utah
- Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Flagstaff, Arizona
- Mariposa, California
- Bozeman, Montana
It may be tempting to think that these travelers have swapped the crowds at fireworks shows in major cities for the relative tranquility of the great outdoors, but the parks could also be teeming with people. That’s because all national parks will offer free entry for three days this year—from July 3 through July 5.
SAVING ON CAMPING
The trend in budget-conscious travel this year is even leading some Americans to try to save money on their annual summer camping trip, according to data Hipcamp shared with Fast Company.
As with Expedia, trends on the campsite-booking app suggest that people are “making it work” by being a bit more practical with their summertime plans. Data from the San Francisco-based company show that people are opting for destinations that are significantly closer to home than the past few years and choosing lower-cost campsites.
“Travel can feel expensive right now, but people still need a real break,” Alyssa Ravasio, founder and CEO of Hipcamp, said in a statement.
National parks are, no surprise, a hotspot for the camping crowd. That’s seen demand for campsites spill further afield from the parks themselves, where reservations are often snatched up quickly when online bookings become available.
Summertime bookings for campsites within 30 miles of Arches National Park jumped 60% compared with 2025 for reservations made through June 18 in each year, according to Hipcamp. And there’s likewise double-digit increases in bookings in a 30-mile radius of three other national parks: Mount Rainier, Yosemite, and Glacier.
ALL-IN ON ALL-INCLUSIVE
While roughing it isn’t exactly everyone’s idea of a dream vacation, another trend indicates that Americans are being a bit more budget-conscious this summer.
Expedia has seen searches for all-inclusive stays jump 50% from 2025, while AAA expects that more Americans will spend the holiday on the high seas. Among the 72.2 million Americans projected to travel 50-plus miles for this year, the motor club association said that more travelers are being drawn to cruise vacations because they know upfront how much the trip will cost and enjoy all-inclusive dining and various entertainment options once aboard.
VALUE IS THE THEME OF 2026 SUMMER TRAVEL
Even beyond the upcoming holiday, a steady drumbeat of data from travel-related companies in recent weeks shows that Americans have value on their mind whether they’re camping, cruising or careening halfway around the world this summer.
A report from Expedia-owned VRBO showed that 37% of summer vacation rental bookings are for properties offering a deal or discounted. Meanwhile, Google Trends data shows there’s been a 400% increase in searches for “budget travel destinations” in the past year.
But Americans are determined to make a vacation happen, no matter what.
While 44% of Americans said a summer vacation feels out of reach this year, 73% still plan to make one happen, according to the annual State of Summer Travel Report released earlier this week by Priceline. That might entail some trade-offs, as a survey conducted by the Norwalk, Connecticut-based company found that travelers are willing to save money by doing things like staying with friends or family instead of a hotel or driving in lieu of flying.
“What we’re seeing is a traveler who hasn’t pulled back on the aspiration but is being more deliberate about how they get there,” Brigit Zimmerman, CEO of Priceline, said in a statement. “People are cutting back everywhere else, spending more time researching deals, and making trade-offs they later regret.”