Road trips, camping, and staycations: 7 charts show how the coronavirus pandemic has changed vacations

Of the many activities that Covid-19 made riskier — indoor dining, getting a haircut, grocery shopping — travel is probably both the most anticipated and the priciest. Understandably, many Americans still aren't ready to travel. Overall, less than one-third, 28%, of U.S. consumers surveyed say they feel comfortable going on vacation, according to data from Morning Consult. Only 12% say they feel comfortable traveling abroad.

What you'll do when you arrive at a vacation destination poses its own problem. Many cultural institutions and attractions that are usually big tourism draws are closed. And even if they are open, most Americans don't feel safe visiting. Only one-fifth of U.S. consumers say they feel comfortable going to a museum, and 17% say they feel comfortable going to an amusement park. 

These challenges have resulted in consumers spending less on travel. From March 9 to August 24 of this year, Americans spent an average of $635 on travel, according to Status Money, which collected spending data from approximately 1 million people. Last year from March 4 to August 26 Americans spent $1,445.

With nowhere to go, fewer people are taking time off work. From April to July, time-off requests dropped 34% compared to the same period last year, according to Zenefits data reported in The Wall Street Journal. Many who already had trips scheduled had to back track on their plans. This year, almost half, 49%, of Americans have canceled a trip due to Covid-19, according to data from Destination Analysts. 

Here is how else the pandemic has affected Covid-19 spending on travel. 

Many Americans who are still traveling during the pandemic are opting to drive instead of fly. Earlier this year, AAA forecasted 97% of people vacationing this summer would do so by car, and just 2.1% would travel by airplane. That's down significantly from last year, when 7% of vacationers took to the skies. 

Uneasiness about flying is valid, Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a pulmonary and critical care medicine physician told Grow. "Travel that needs people to be compacted, whether it's in a train, bus, or plane, will always be high risk," he says. "Planes are, for me, the scariest, because you are relying on everyone else doing the right thing."

Last year on August 29, almost 2 million people took flights, according to the Transportation Security Administration, which tracked how many people passed through TSA checkpoints. This year on the same day, only 591,734 people took flights. Overall, air travel is down about 70% from the same time last year.

Instead, consumers are opting in for shorter trips, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. In August, trips of 500 or more miles were down 25% from the same time last year, while trips of 100-250 miles were up more than 50%.

Instead of planning international getaways, many Americans are spending time outdoors. Parks and public lands have experienced some of their highest usage during the pandemic, according to The Trust for Public Land. 

As a result, spending on camping gear has also increased significantly. From May to July camping equipment sales grew 27% over last year, according to data from the NPD Group. Camp furniture sales for items like chairs, tables, and hammocks grew 37%, and tent sales grew 43% compared to last year. 

As Americans attempt to make the most of staying put, many are spending on experiences or products that will make their homes more enjoyable and using vacation time to take advantage. About a quarter (26%) of people have already taken a staycation and another 40% plan to do so during the pandemic, according to data from Morning Consult. 

However, some generations are embracing the reality of staying home more than others. Over one-third, 35%, of millennials have taken a staycation during the pandemic, but only 17% of baby boomers and 27% of Gen Xers have done the same.

Some consumers are shifting their focus and money to home improvements. Home Depot and Lowe's have seen sales surge during the pandemic, according to data from Placer.ai, a site that analyzes consumer foot traffic patterns. 

In June and July, Home Depot experienced approximately 19% more visits than it did during the same months last year. Lowe's saw an even bigger increase in traffic: In June and July visits increased 30.9% and 25.8%, respectively, over last year. Home improvement spending is up over 20% since March, according to Status Money.

And, of course, some people are trying to create their own slice of paradise right in their backyard. In June, searches for pool and spa professionals were three times greater than a year earlier, while searches for landscape contractors and deck and patio professionals more than doubled, according to data from Houzz, an online home remodeling platform.

By the end of July, pool construction permits were up 32.2% over the first seven months of 2019, according to data from the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. Poolcorp, an international distributor of swimming pool supplies and outdoor living products, reported a 14% growth in sales for the second quarter over the same period last year.

As the pandemic continues and the weather cools down, we'll see whether people adjust their travel habits further, by either heading to warmer climates or stocking up on items that can help them better enjoy a long winter at home.

More from Grow: 

• As restaurants, theme parks, and movie theaters reopen, here’s what doctors say is actually safe
• What to do with your unused vacation days, according to a career expert
• 60% of Americans now consider themselves savers ― these 4 tips can help you become one, too