Cars.com Finds 89% of Memorial Day Travelers Prefer to Road-Trip Even as More Americans Become Vaccinated

Rhea-AI Summary

Americans are eager for summer travel, with a Cars.com survey indicating that 60% plan to travel this Memorial Day weekend, a 66% increase from last year. Despite rising gas prices, 89% of travelers will opt to drive, reflecting continued trust in personal vehicles over other transportation forms. Over 40% of travelers are fully vaccinated. The survey also highlighted a significant impact of limited rental car availability on the decision to travel by personal vehicle. Most travelers plan to visit family and friends, indicating a strong desire for in-person connections as health guidelines evolve.

Positive

• 60% of Americans plan to travel this Memorial Day weekend, a 66% increase from 2020.
• 89% of travelers prefer driving to their destination despite rising gas prices.
• Over 40% of travelers are fully vaccinated, indicating a positive health trend.

Negative

• Limited rental car availability is impacting travel choices, leading to increased reliance on personal vehicles.

CHICAGO, May 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans are ready for the return of summer travel, according to Cars.com^TM (NYSE: CARS), a leading digital automotive marketplace and solutions provider.  More than half of Americans (60%) plan to get away this Memorial Day weekend, up more than 66% compared to last year, according to Cars.com's national survey. Despite growing vaccination rates and rising gas prices, 89% of travelers will drive to their holiday destination, up from 85% during Memorial Day weekend 2020.¹

"It's clear that car ownership will prove to be a durable post-pandemic travel trend," said Jenni Newman, Cars.com's editor-in-chief. "Memorial Day marks the first major travel holiday since vaccination efforts began across the country, and Americans are excited to finally see family and friends in person. But even after widespread vaccination availability, we continue to see people prioritize travel by car because they don't quite trust other forms of transportation yet."

Additional insights revealed by Cars.com's survey on Memorial Day travel include:

• The car is the star, regardless of rising gas prices. Only 12% of respondents say they will fly this year, and nearly half (46%) say that in the face of increasing costs at the pumps, they plan to drive anyway.¹
  
  
• Dosed and ready to travel. More than 40% of Memorial Day travelers are fully vaccinated, with 12% still in the process and 15% planning to get their shots before traveling. Only 21% plan to travel unvaccinated.¹
  
  
• Lack of rental car availability prompts travel in personal cars. More than 1 in 3 respondents say the limited availability of rental cars somewhat or greatly impacted their decision to drive a personal vehicle instead of flying to their destination.¹
  
  
• Family reunions? Check. For those leaving town, most (40%) say they will visit family, signaling a long holiday weekend filled with many overdue hugs. Travelers also plan to hit the beach (28%) and visit friends (24%).¹
  
  
• GET. ME. OUT. Last year's travelers focused on shorter trips close to home, contrasting with the 57% of road warriors who plan to travel as far from home as possible this year.¹

"Despite the majority of vacationers reporting full or partial vaccination status, we still recommend that anyone traveling for Memorial Day weekend follow the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," added Newman.

To learn more about the recent Memorial Day survey, great deals and other car-buying tips and tricks, please visit Cars.com/events/Memorial-Day.

¹ Cars.com's survey conducted May 8-11, 2021; 1,365 responses

About Cars.com

CARS is a leading digital marketplace and solutions provider for the automotive industry that connects car shoppers with sellers. Launched in 1998 with the flagship marketplace site Cars.com and headquartered in Chicago, the Company empowers shoppers with the data, resources and digital tools needed to make informed buying decisions and seamlessly connect with automotive retailers. In a rapidly changing market, CARS enables dealerships and OEMs with innovative technical solutions and data-driven intelligence to better reach and influence ready-to-buy shoppers, increase inventory turn and gain market share.

In addition to Cars.com, CARS brands include Dealer Inspire, a technology provider building solutions that future-proof dealerships with more efficient operations and connected digital experiences; FUEL, which gives dealers and OEMs the opportunity to harness the untapped power of digital video by leveraging Cars.com's pure audience of in-market car shoppers, and DealerRater, a leading car dealer review and reputation management platform.

The full suite of CARS brands include Cars.com™, Dealer Inspire®, FUEL™, DealerRater®, Auto.com™, PickupTrucks.com™ and NewCars.com®. For more information, visit www.Cars.com.

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SOURCE Cars.com Inc.

FAQ

What percentage of Americans plan to travel this Memorial Day weekend according to Cars.com?

60% of Americans plan to travel this Memorial Day weekend, which is a 66% increase compared to last year.

How many travelers prefer driving over flying according to the latest Cars.com survey?

89% of travelers prefer to drive to their holiday destination, compared to only 12% who plan to fly.

What health trend is indicated by the Cars.com survey regarding Memorial Day travelers?

Over 40% of Memorial Day travelers are reported to be fully vaccinated.

What factor influenced many travelers to use personal vehicles instead of rental cars?

Limited availability of rental cars influenced over 1 in 3 respondents to decide to drive their personal vehicles.

What are the top destinations for travelers this Memorial Day as indicated by Cars.com's survey?

Most travelers plan to visit family (40%), followed by beach trips (28%) and visiting friends (24%).