Enterprise finds Northeasterners take fewest days for leisure trips

ST. LOUIS – Northeasterners take the fewest number of days for leisure trips and report traveling most often for entertainment such as concerts and sporting events, according to a study released by Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
In comparison, Midwesterners and Southerners are willing to drive farther, Enterprise said.
The study found that Americans prefer shorter weekend road trips compared with week-long vacations, and that two-thirds prefer to take a one day or weekend road trip as opposed to 31 percent who prefer to take at least a week-long trip.
More than half – 57 percent – report that they would drive up to 300 miles one way for a weekend trip, and nearly 75 percent prefer to drive to destinations because of the freedom it provides.
“Our study found that Americans are willing to drive long distances for a little rest and relaxation, even if it’s just over a weekend,” Steve Short, vice president at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, said in a statement.
Other findings:

  • Forty-two percent of men were likely to take a road trip because they like to drive, versus a quarter of women. In contrast, women were 1.5 times more likely than men to report that they take road trips because they come back rejuvenated and refreshed.
  • Forty-one percent of women reported that they’re likely to have rented a vehicle for a road trip to prevent wear and tear on their own cars, versus merely a quarter of men. Comparatively – by a margin of 11-to-1 – men claim they’ve rented a vehicle for the opportunity to drive a new car compared with their female counterparts.
  • Millennials (ages 25–34) report having the least amount of time to take road trips. More than half (51 percent) are unable to take more trips because they can’t be away from work.
  • Millennials will make time on a road trip for food (35 percent), but are less likely to take time for scenic drives and attractions.
  • Younger adults (under age 45) are more likely to value spending time with family on road trips, compared with their older counterparts.
  • Westerners are almost three times more likely than those in other regions to take a road trip for outdoor recreation. Almost one-third (31 percent) of them drive to their destination because of its remoteness.
  • Southerners are almost twice as likely to involve family in their road trip decision compared to their counterparts in other regions (19 percent compared with 10 percent). They are also inclined to drive the farthest for a day trip (244 mile round trip) compared with Northeasterners (202 mile round trip).

Enterprise, which, operates more than 5,500 offices, said the 2014 Enterprise Leisure Travel Survey was conducted from May 14 to 21 by Gfk and included information from 1,001 U.S. travelers who took at least one road trip over the previous year.

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