Summer 2026 was expected to mark a strong return to big vacations for many Americans. Instead, rising fuel prices, uncertainty around long-haul routes and a more cautious economic outlook are reshaping the kinds of trips people feel comfortable taking. We spoke with travellers across the US to learn how their plans are evolving.

This year’s travel season is proving unusually complex. Flight paths across parts of the Middle East have been disrupted, gas and jet fuel prices have climbed and operational challenges have rattled confidence. The result is a summer defined less by spontaneity and more by careful calculation.

A recent survey by US News and World Report found that 65% of Americans have already adjusted their summer travel plans due to higher costs, with 31% either switching destinations or cancelling altogether. While roughly two-thirds still intend to travel, an Ibotta Summer Outlook survey revealed that one-third expect to take fewer trips than usual.

“Summer 2026 is centring on three priorities: confidence, simplicity and reassurance,” said Alison Zacher, global managing director at luxury tour operator Scott Dunn. “Since early spring, we’ve seen travellers gravitate toward destinations that feel safe, are easy to access and provide dependable support on arrival.”

That shift has prompted tough choices and practical substitutions: trading Disney for the Smoky Mountains, cross-country flights for regional sports weekends, ambitious road trips for shorter getaways and intricate international itineraries for more straightforward routes.

“Travellers are more strategic than they’ve been in years,” said Jim Augerinos, owner and travel advisor at Perfect Honeymoons. “The desire for meaningful experiences hasn’t gone away. People are just being more thoughtful about how they achieve them.”

Walter Bennett of Chicago had hoped 2026 would be the year his family of four finally visited Disney World in Orlando. But after layoffs hit his company in February, the estimated $9,000 (£6,650) cost for flights, accommodation, park tickets and meals felt too risky.

“I kept my job, but seeing colleagues lose theirs made everything feel uncertain,” he explained. “Spending that much on a vacation right now doesn’t seem wise.” He also noticed flight prices climbing each time he searched.

Instead, the family is planning a nine-hour drive to Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, renting a cabin near Gatlinburg. “We’ve never been, and the kids are excited about hiking and white-water rafting,” Bennett said. “We’re expecting to spend about $2,200 to $2,500 (£1,630–£1,850) in total.”

The cabin’s kitchen will help reduce dining expenses, and many top attractions – including Great Smoky Mountains National Park – are free or inexpensive. A parking pass costs $5 (£3.70) per day or $15 (£11) for a week, keeping overall expenses manageable.

Augerinos says he is seeing similar patterns among clients who still want standout vacations but are redefining what that looks like. “I’m booking more Montana ranch stays, national park trips in Utah and Wyoming and high-end domestic experiences that still feel special,” he said. “For many travellers, the big international journey is being postponed until conditions stabilise.”

Jagdish Khubchandani, a public health professor at New Mexico State University, had planned to fly to Delhi to support his mother during surgery. However, conflict involving Iran complicated travel routes. “When I looked at flights, everything felt uncertain,” he said. “There were warnings that certain airspaces might close.”

For now, he is monitoring options as airlines introduce alternative routes to Asia through Europe. If he finds a dependable itinerary, he is prepared to accept an extra four to six hours of travel time for greater peace of mind.

His caution reflects a broader trend. “There is uncertainty this summer, but people still want to travel,” said Joanna Reeve, general manager at Intrepid Travel. “They’re simply modifying where they go, when they depart and how they structure their trips.”

With US gasoline prices climbing above $4.50 (£3.35) per gallon in early May, even the traditional American road trip is being reconsidered.

Last year, Oregon resident Eric Goranson saved for a week in Boston to watch the Red Sox host the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park. “My girlfriend is a lifelong Red Sox fan, and I’m devoted to the Mariners, so it felt like the perfect summer getaway,” he said.

But escalating fuel and travel expenses led them to cancel. Instead, they purchased tickets to see the Mariners play in Seattle, only a three-hour drive away. “We still get to enjoy baseball together, but without the heavy costs,” he said. The savings also allow for additional camping trips closer to home in Oregon and Washington.

For Gabrielle Wallace, who typically drives between Kansas City and Portland, Maine, fuel prices have altered her routine entirely.

“It’s a 1,500-mile drive each way, and with gas prices this high, it no longer makes sense,” she said. She is now weighing the option of a shorter trip by plane, though she admits she will miss the extended road journey. “Spending months in Maine and making the drive has always been a highlight of my summer.”

While some travellers are steering clear of long-haul routes, others are finding opportunity in the disruption. Frequent flyer Janice Lintz is avoiding connections through the Middle East but is seeking out destinations where demand has dipped and prices have softened.

She recently returned from the Seychelles, noting that altered travel patterns created unexpected advantages. By choosing a different connecting hub, she secured lower fares and found beaches far less crowded than usual.

“It felt like the ideal moment to visit,” she said. “I was able to negotiate better rates, and having stretches of beach almost to myself is rare these days.”