How Much Are Americans Spending on Vacation This Summer?

 This summer, 45% of Americans plan to take a vacation that requires a flight and/or paid lodging, according to NerdWallet. On average, they expect to pay $3,940. 

That comes out to more than 120 million travelers spending over $475 billion on flights and lodging alone. 

But how will they pay for their vacations? The large majority will charge their credit cards in some capacity. 

1. Credit cards (84%) 
2. Cash on hand (59%) 
3. Money from savings (43%) 
4. Buy now, pay later services (17%) 
5. Cash advance app (13%) 

Using credit cards for travel can have its benefits, but NerdWallet reveals that only 26% of summer vacationers who put their travel expenses on a credit card paid off that balance with the first statement last summer. The remaining 74% likely incurred or are still incurring interest on their vacation, and 35% still hadn’t paid off their balances at the time of the survey (February 2026). 

With flight and lodging expenses high, 89% said they plan to take actions to save money while traveling this summer, including: 

1. Driving instead of flying (35%)
2. Choosing lodging based on price instead of amenities (33%) 
3. Using credit card points/miles to cover expenses (32%) 
4. Choosing a vacation rental over a hotel/resort (29%) 
5. Choosing a flight based on price instead of convenience (28%) 

Still, 42% said they would rather skip vacation altogether than book budget travel – a sentiment held more by younger Americans than older ones.