New Survey: More Than Half of U.S. Adults Plan to Vacation Close to Home This Summer

(July 29, 2020)

Local parks and recreation provides many activity options for close-to-home vacations

Ashburn, Va. (July 29, 2020) —  More than half (54 percent) of U.S. adults are likely to vacation close to home this summer given the global COVID-19 pandemic, according to a newly released National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) poll. Local park and recreation professionals and their agencies provide a variety of safe and affordable nearby activities for everyone — including:

  • Walking/Hiking/Biking
  • Swimming
  • Picnicking
  • Taking a Virtual Class
  • Gardening
  • Fishing

Vacationing close to home this summer is especially popular among Millennials and parents, according to the recent poll. Sixty-one percent of Millennials say they are more likely to pick a vacation spot close to home. Sixty-six percent of parents are more likely to vacation close to home, as well. The group least likely to vacation close to home this summer is baby boomers. Less than half (48 percent) of baby boomers indicate they will pick a vacation spot close to home, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“With local parks and recreation, families and individuals don’t have to look far to find fun, safe and affordable summertime activities close to home, even during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA’s vice president of research, evaluation and technology. “Local park and recreation professionals and their agencies work hard to provide communities with year-round activity options that engage and inspire people of all ages, and right now is no exception. We encourage everyone to explore the innovative ways their local parks and recreation is addressing COVID-19, and how they can safely participate in the activities they enjoy during the pandemic.”  

As facilitators of health and wellness opportunities, park and recreation professionals nationwide are committed to ensuring all people have safe access to the parks and facilities that provide a much-needed respite from the day-to-day stresses of the pandemic, as determined by their local and state health officials. This includes many of the park and recreation-sponsored activities and programs offered during the summer. NRPA proudly supports park and recreation professionals in their efforts to safely serve the public during the pandemic, and encourages people to follow the recommendations set forth in this Joint Statement on Using Parks and Open Space While Maintaining Physical Distancing. 

To view the interactive charts with the survey results, click here.

To view the full-size infographic, click here.

To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.   

###

About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.