Vacationers to Florida & elsewhere plan to visit beaches, lakes, parks this summer

A majority of U.S. residents will be taking vacations around the U.S. this summer – despite higher gasoline, hotel and airline prices, according to a recent Washington Post-Schar School poll.

The "beaches" page of Visit Florida, the state's tourism marketing agency, is one of its most popular, for example – and even has a nude beach list. 

Meantime, COVID-19 is not a major factor this year in travelers' summer plans, said the survey conducted by The Post and the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University in Virginia.

More than 70% of those surveyed said they would “definitely” or “probably” go away this summer, and 75% said they would travel in a vehicle. (As for June 10, gas prices nationwide averaged $4.99 per gallon, according to AAA.) Another 50% said they would travel by plane.

Nevertheless, those surveyed said inflation, which is at a four-decade high, will impact their plans. About 60% said gas prices are a major factor in their plans, while more than 50% said higher lodging costs and airline fares will impact their summer vacation choices.

Of those surveyed, 78% said they will be taking a vacation in the U.S. and 7% said they will go abroad. Nearly 65% said they will be visiting a beach, 44% said a mountain or lake, 39% said a city and 35% said a national or state park.

The poll was conducted April 21-May 12 among a random sample 1,055 adults nationwide. For more information, click here.