65% still view COVID as a travel concern; 32% to spend $500 or more; 17% to spend $1,000+.
The July 4th Travel Survey for The Vacationer was conducted to gauge travel interest and spending this July 4th as well as any lingering COVID-19 concerns when flying and attending events. The survey included 531 American adults over the age of 18 and was conducted online using SurveyMonkey's interface/audience on our behalf between June 1 and June 2. Eric Jones, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Rowan College South Jersey, analyzed the survey.
Key Stats:
- 51% (or 132 Million Americans) will travel this July 4th. Of the 132 million, 11.26% will travel primarily by plane while 36.59% will do it primarily by car. The remaining 3.56% will primarily travel by public transportation.
- 65% still view COVID-19 as a big concern or a slight concern when considering July 4th travel plans.
- 32% (or 83 Million Americans) will spend more than $500 on July 4th travel. 17% (or 44 Million Americans) will spend $1,000 or more.
Here are the full results:
1. Do you intend to travel for July 4th this year? If so, how?
- Yes, primarily by plane. – 11.26%
- Yes, primarily by car. – 36.59%
- Yes, primarily by public transportation such as bus or train. – 3.56%
- No, I am not traveling for the Fourth of July. – 48.59%
Key Takeaway: Over 51% of American adults intend to travel for July 4th this year. Based on the 2020 census, this figure represents more than 132 million adults aged 18 or older. In fact, 11.26% or nearly 29 million American adults will fly on a plane for Fourth of July travel. The 29 million figure is substantially larger than the 9.5 million passengers TSA screened for Thanksgiving.
2. How much of a concern is COVID-19 for you when considering your July 4th plans this year?
- No Concern at All. – 35.40%
- Slightly a Concern. – 49.13%
- A Big Concern. – 15.47%
Key Takeaway: Almost 2 out of every 3 American adults still rate COVID-19 as “Slightly a Concern” or “A Big Concern” when planning for Fourth of July. Despite more than 50% of Americans having at least one vaccine shot, it’s obvious many people are still very cautious about the ongoing pandemic.
3. How much will you spend to travel on July 4th this year? (flights, hotels, tickets, etc.)
- $0. – 48.59%
- $500 or Less. – 19.31%
- $501 to $1,000. – 14.98%
- $1,001 to $1,500. – 8.17%
- $1,501 to $2,000. – 4.67%
- $2,000 or More. – 4.28%
Key Takeaway: 32.1% of American adults or nearly 83 million people will spend more than $500 for Fourth of July. One in three American adults spending over $500 is a substantial figure for the Fourth of July holiday. Additionally, more than 17% of American adults or over 44 million people will spend more than $1,000.
4. Did you travel for any of the following holidays? (Check All that Apply Except If You Are Checking the Last Choice.)
- Memorial Day 2021. – 27.17%
- Easter 2021. – 15.09%
- Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa 2020. – 23.40%
- Thanksgiving 2020. – 22.26%
- Fourth of July 2020. – 14.72%
- None of these. (If checking this choice, check nothing else.) – 46.23%
Key Takeaway: The amount of people that will travel for Fourth of July this year is nearly double the amount that traveled for Memorial Day. In fact, more people will travel for Fourth of July this year than Memorial Day and Easter combined. Additionally, the expected number of people traveling this year will be 3.5 times more than for Fourth of July last year.
5. What activities will you take part in for Fourth of July this year? (Check All that Apply.)
- Parade. – 16.27%
- BBQ or Cookout. – 73.41%
- Fireworks. – 61.31%
- Beach. – 28.57%
- Lake. – 22.22%
- Sporting Event. – 5.95%
- Movie Theater. – 8.73%
Key Takeaway: Almost 3 out of every 4 American adults or nearly 190 million people will attend a BBQ or cookout for Fourth of July. This is a large percentage of the population. Only one year ago the majority of the United States was still under lockdown.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
