Aug 9, 2026 · 32 min
Americans rethink the vacation as travel costs and tensions rise
Vacation? In this economy?
The episode shows how inflation, geopolitical anxiety, overtourism, and unequal access are reshaping what a restorative break can mean.
- 1Travel now carries financial and political pressures that make expensive international vacations feel less accessible and less welcoming.
- 2The American family vacation grew from cars, highways, motels, national parks, and postwar prosperity, but freedom on the road was unequal.
- 3A meaningful break depends less on distance than on interrupting routine, spending time together, and disconnecting from work and phones.
Don't miss
Susan Sessions Rugh’s history of the American family vacation connects national parks and road travel to both postwar freedom and the exclusion of Black travelers.
The brief
Hotels, flights, gas, and other travel costs are rising even as leisure demand remains strong, leaving vacationers to weigh price against the promise of escape.
Travel anxiety now extends beyond budgets: geopolitical tensions, border concerns, declining U.S.-Europe travel, and backlash against overtourism complicate the idea of being welcome abroad.
Historian Susan Sessions Rugh traces the American family vacation through cars, highways, motels, national parks, and Disneyland, while noting that road-trip freedom excluded Black travelers.
The episode reframes vacation as a break from routine rather than a display of wealth, suggesting local outings, public transit, new restaurants, or a carefully planned staycation.
The final test is presence: candles, ambient sounds, themed activities, and a faux hotel can change home, but phones and work can still defeat the mental break.
Featuring
Susan Sessions Rugh
Hannah Sampson
Are We There Yet? The Golden Age of American Family Vacations
Grand CanyonBooks & mentions
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.