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 unexpected places to ring in the U.S.’s 250th birthday, according to a report released this week by Expedia. Compared with last year, searches using budget filters have surged 1,265% during the six-week window bookending the July 4 holiday, the Seattle-based company found.
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 global PR at Expedia Group, 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 landmarks. Because of their relative proximity to national parks like Arches and Canyonlands, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone, the following five locations have seen double-digit increases in Expedia searches 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 shows that people are opting for destinations significantly closer to home than in the past few years and are 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 hot spot for the camping crowd. That surge in demand has seen campsite bookings 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 been 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 this year, the motor club association said that more travelers are being drawn to cruise vacations because they know up front how much the trip will cost and can 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 that are discounted. Meanwhile, Google Trends data shows a 400% increase in searches for “budget travel destinations” over the past year.
And while 44% of Americans said a summer vacation feels out of reach this year, 73% are still determined to make one happen, according to the annual “State of Summer Travel Report” released earlier this week by Priceline. Making that trip a reality will likely require some trade-offs, as a survey conducted by the Norwalk, Connecticut-based company found that travelers plan to save money through compromises like staying with friends and family instead of booking 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.”