It appears 2020 is the year of the road trip. We already did ours, a road trip with Lexi to Scottsdale, AZ last March. It seems a decade ago. But we did enjoy the nice weather, a Giants Spring Training game, Portillo’s Chicago beef, vegan pizzas, and a loooong drive through Palm Springs, SoCal, and the desert to get there.
For the 4th of July, this seems to be the consensus:A new study found that Americans will take an estimated 36.8 million
road trips over the Fourth of July weekend.
According to travel data company Arrivalist, road trip travel will be down 11 percent from the 41.1 million people AAA predicted would hit the road in 2019, despite the Independence Day weekend being the biggest road trip event so far this year.
On Thursday, AAA Travel predicted Americans would take 700 million trips this summer, a 15-percent decline in journeys as compared to last July through September. The 2020 forecast marks the first decline in summer travel since 2009.
The study also found that 97 percent of respondents would be traveling this summer via road trip, while air travel is expected to drop by an astounding 73 percent. Rail, cruise ship and bus travel are also likely to fall by 86 percent.
From RealSimple: Travelers are thinking smaller, shorter, and closer to home, and locations within driving distance are ideal for families. Vr
1960s FAMILY WITH THREE DAUGHTERS AT TABLE BY AUTOMOBILE AND TRAILER FIVE EATING FOOD VACATION MAN WOMAN GIRL. H. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS/CLASSICSTOCK/Everett Collection (kc3535)
bo has seen a 15 percent increase in demand for vacation homes within 500 miles of home. Families seem to have their sights set on any lake, river, beach, or mountain they can get to easily by car. And all the proof is in Vrbo’s top trending spots for Fourth of July, 2020. I do not endorse VRBO, btw.
So, while I am hardly an expert on road trips, I strongly suggest you avoid the Chevy Chase style trip to Wally World, like the Griswold family. Perhaps just a nice drive to the coast, or lake resort? For us, perhaps Monterey or Pismo on the coast, or Lake Tahoe in the Sierras.
Gas prices are moderate, but are hotels and restaurants safe? If you have your own camping gear or motor home/trailer, you might be safer. My dear friends from high school are towing their 5th wheel to Gold Beach, OR to spend the summer. Others are headed to the nearby mountain lakes or central coast camp grounds or trailer parks.
I don’t know of anyone, other than myself, thinking they can get out of the area on a big silver bird. My friend Ric flies all over the country rescuing animals for Wings of Rescue. Kudos to him for placing the welfare of animals above his own safety and comfort. If you would like to donate, please go to his website. I can tell you that his work is both needed and self inspired. I am proud to call him my friend.
So, follow the advice of the great Ray Charles:
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back
No more
But whatever you do this 4th of July, please stay safe. And keep your car is great condition. Carry plenty of food and water.
And do not pull a Clark Griswold!!!
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