Younger Generations Are Embracing This Affordable 1960s Travel Trend In 2026

President Dwight D. Eisenhower spent much of the 1950s advocating for an interstate highway system, with Americans reaping the benefits of this advocacy by the following decade. Road trips became a pivotal experience throughout the '60s, and now younger generations are starting to embrace the practice for themselves. An April 2026 Numerator survey found that 83% of millennials and 78% of Gen Zers were planning a vacation for summer 2026 — higher concentrations than any older age groups. The same study found that an overwhelming majority of travelers were planning on taking a car for their journey – a finding that many experts have similarly echoed in 2026.

Much of this surge in road trip culture has occurred more recently, and is fueled by affordability. Per Nerdwallet, airfare costs shot up 20.7% between April 2025 and April 2026, while rental car prices trended downward over the same time frame (not to mention how much more you can save on rental cars through Costco). Meanwhile, a survey from camping company KOA found that Gen Zers interested in renting a recreational vehicle (RV) shot up 27% between 2024 and 2025, while millennial interest increased by 6%. And while some of these studies were published before the Iran War-fueled oil supply crisis led to extreme increases in gas prices, there are still financial and logistical reasons that road trips are growing more appealing in the eyes of younger Americans.

Both Blacklane and Nerdwallet have published studies suggesting that flying isn't necessarily cheaper than driving in 2026, even with elevated gas prices. Namely, fuel costs are at least a part of the forces controlling airfare pricing. With jet fuel a central expense for most airlines, chances are good that elevated gas prices for your car also means elevated prices for airlines. Per a May 2026 report from Kayak, the average plane ticket price increased by almost $100 from January to May 2026, due in large part to elevated jet fuel prices.

The question of whether driving is ultimately more affordable than flying can have a lot to do with where you're going, and how many people are going with you. Particularly, those only traveling a few hundred miles often have a better chance of saving money by taking a car instead of a plane. For longer trips, you could potentially save more per mile by plane but might face some of the same fuel-influenced price issues that you would with a car. Plus, any potential savings that flying might provide to long-distance travelers would likely be offset with a larger group or family. Every flyer needs their own plane ticket, but groups on the road can divide travel expenses. 

There's also the added freedom that comes with driving yourself. You don't need to accommodate an airline's schedule, or find a way to get to the airport. In fact, Hilton reports that 76% of people who prefer traveling by car cite the freedom they have to go when and where they please as a road trip's central appeal.