Americans Prefer Road Trips for Long Personal Travel, Citing Cost and Convenience
A 2026 survey by Upgraded Points indicates that 55% of Americans typically choose to drive for long personal trips, while only 20% opt to fly. The decision between driving and flying is influenced by various factors beyond just travel time. Key issues that encourage travelers to choose road trips over flights include flight costs (75%), delays or cancellations (33%), layovers or connections (32%), and traveling with children or pets (31%). Conversely, factors that might lead someone to fly instead of drive are gas prices (42%), car reliability (41%), heavy traffic (36%), and the need for overnight stops (33%). The survey also found that the threshold for what constitutes 'too far to drive' varies significantly across states, ranging from just over 6 hours in California to nearly 13 hours in Idaho. Despite these variations, 36% of Americans reported being more willing to drive long distances than they were two years prior. 
