Summer Vacation: Where Travelers Are Headed In The Carolinas

CHARLOTTE, NC — Summer is in full swing and Americans are increasingly turning to road trips for holiday getaways amid the ongoing pandemic, according to the auto group AAA.

In fact, says AAA, 97 percent of summer trips this year are road trips, up by 10 percent over the last five years. By comparison, air travel is down 74 percent, and other modes, such as rail, cruise ships and bus travel are down by 86 percent, said AAA, who predicts the pandemic will wipe out about 150 million trips this summer.

"Road trips allow travelers to make their own schedule and customize stops based on comfort level and interests," AAA said. "For families, especially those with small children, it is an easy and less expensive way to travel. And an added benefit right now – gas prices remain low."

Two of the top driving routes requested from AAA are in the Carolinas:

1. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
2. Denver, Colorado
3. Dallas, Texas
4. Asheville, North Carolina
5. Williamsburg, Virginia

When it comes to traffic congestion, drivers in South Carolina are more likely to see clogged highways that drivers in North Carolina this summer, AAA said. South Carolina drivers will also see cheaper gas. North Carolina gas prices are about $2.04 per gallon, compared to an average of $1.92 per gallon in South Carolina, AAA said.

AAA recommended some tips for traveling this summer amid the pandemic:

• When at a gas pump, wear disposable gloves or using a plastic sandwich bag to avoid touching the pump handle.
• When back in your car, be sure to clean your hands with sanitizer or wipes.
• Prior to your hotel stay, call ahead to ensure your hotel is still open and asking about any restrictions or changes to the check-in process. It’s likely that the hotel has reduced the number of times guests have face-to-face interactions with other guests and hotel staff.
• When you check into your room, remember to wipe down surfaces with disinfecting wipes. Pay special attention to surfaces such as light switches, door knobs, faucets and remote controls.
• Pack face coverings, gloves and cleaning supplies – like disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer and a thermometer.
• Take all necessary travel documentation, including health insurance cards.
• Keep up with the latest state and local travel restrictions with AAA’s Covid-19 Travel Restrictions Map

Travelers in the Carolinas are also booking cruises and tours this summer. "Most cruise lines have suspended all departures until at least August 1, with only limited offerings after that," AAA said.

The most popular cruise and tour destinations include:

• Florida
• Italy
• Ireland
• Wyoming
• Germany

“Though cautiously and more spontaneous, AAA booking trends show that Americans are in fact still making travel plans for this summer,” Tiffany Wright, AAA spokesperson, said in a statement.

This summer, travelers are perhaps unsurprisingly not as interested in big cities that draw large crowds, AAA said. Orlando, for example, has slid eight places in destination searches, while Denver surged up 10 places to the No. 1 destination this year.

The top travel destinations this summer, according to AAA, include Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, Portland, Oregon; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Orlando, San Diego and Nashville.