GasBuddy Says Prices are Having Minimal Impact on Summer Travel

If you are hitting the road for summer vacation, you are not alone. According to the “2026 Summer Travel Survey” from GasBuddy, American road trip culture is showing resilience even as gas prices surge to levels not seen in years. They say despite the high price of gas, 56% of Americans still plan to drive more than two hours this summer, though that’s down from 69% last year, a meaningful shift reflecting the financial strain on travelers. Of those still hitting the road, 38% expect to drive more than five hours to their destinations, and the majority plan multiple trips. Cost is now the dominant travel consideration, cited by 53% of respondents as a top priority, with 67% saying gas prices are directly impacting their driving plans and 36% saying rising costs are causing them to take fewer road trips altogether. The current national average is $4.09 a gallon.