Only 45% of Americans Are Booking Paid Lodging for Vacation This Year, the Lowest in 6 Years
Americans are still planning summer trips, but where they sleep is shifting as travel costs stay high across the country. A new national survey from The Vacationer found that only 45% of U.S. adults said they plan to book paid lodging for vacations in 2025. That is the lowest share the survey has recorded in six years, and it points to more travelers choosing to stay with family or friends, take shorter trips, or skip overnight travel altogether.
The survey found a six-year low for paid vacation stays
The Vacationer released its 2025 Summer Travel Survey on May 13, 2025, and said 45% of Americans plan to use paid lodging such as hotels, motels, resorts, vacation rentals, hostels, or campgrounds. The same survey said 54% do not plan to book paid lodging this year. That 45% figure was down from 49% in 2024 and below every reading the company reported since 2019.
The survey was based on 1,097 U.S. adults age 18 and older, according to The Vacationer. The company said the poll was conducted online in early May 2025. In the same release, The Vacationer reported that 53% of Americans plan to travel this summer, which means a sizable share of travelers may be relying on unpaid stays, day trips, or other lower-cost options.
What the shift could mean in states and local travel markets
The survey is national, so it does not break out results for California, Texas, Florida, New York, or any other state. The Vacationer has not released a state-by-state list showing where paid lodging demand is falling the most. That means local hotel and short-term rental operators do not yet have a public map of which markets are most affected by the 45% figure.
Even so, the national number matters to local tourism economies because lodging taxes, hotel occupancy, and overnight visitor spending often depend on paid stays. In places like Orlando, Las Vegas, and Myrtle Beach, overnight visitors are a core part of tourism revenue, according to local tourism agencies. The survey does not estimate how many hotel room nights or rental bookings could be lost, but it does show a smaller share of Americans planning to pay for a place to stay in 2025.
Higher costs remain the main backdrop for travel decisions
The broader context is affordability. The Vacationer said inflation and travel prices continue to shape vacation choices in 2025, and that matches federal data showing shelter and travel-related costs remain elevated compared with pre-2020 levels. Travelers who do not book paid lodging may be choosing free accommodations with relatives, using points, or limiting trips to destinations close enough for a same-day return.
For travelers, the practical takeaway is straightforward: fewer Americans are planning paid overnight stays, but that does not mean vacations are disappearing. It means trip planning is changing, with more households looking for cheaper ways to travel in 2025, according to The Vacationer’s May 13 release. Hotels, rentals, and tourism agencies will likely keep watching summer booking patterns as the season develops, while the survey offers an early snapshot of how cost pressures are shaping where Americans stay.
