MMGY Global: Survey Findings Indicate Surge in Road Trips and RV Travel for Fourth of July Weekend

As the summer travel season kicks into high-gear, many travelers are looking to trade-in crowded fireworks displays for the solitude of the great outdoors and wide-open spaces to celebrate this year's Fourth of July weekend. Chris Davidson, EVP, Insights & Strategy at MMGY Global - the world's largest integrated global travel marketing firm - predicts road trips and recreational vehicle travel will dominate this year's Fourth of July weekend as people can safely social distance from the comfort of their car. Based on the latest MMGY Global Travel Safety Barometer survey findings, travelers' confidence in transportation safety, especially car travel, is on an upswing, with the Transportation Safety Barometer increasing from 56 to 60 in the past month [scale being O (extremely unsafe) to 100 (extremely safe)].

American History Road Trip Through South Dakota

As National and state parks across the country plan to welcome visitors for the holiday weekend, we have rounded up a selection of U.S. destinations that are opening their gates for RV visitors and implementing social distancing measures to keep residents and visitors responsible and safe.

South Dakota is the perfect destination for RV travel and a road trip, where travelers can drive along gorgeous rolling prairies, twisting mountain roads, and past iconic American monuments like Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and the Mickelson Trail open to hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers. “Camping is off to a great start and our guests are mindful and compassionate under these extreme circumstances that are before us today. Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch camping is up 20.7% over 2019,” said Gwyn Wathen, Marketing Director, Recreational Adventures Co. "Fourth of July travel looks great for the Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch. We are showing a 93% Occupancy rate right now. Guests wish to be in the heart of the Black Hills especially with Mt. Rushmore’s July Third fireworks celebration”. 

• Lewis and Clark Recreation Area: Take your RV on the great journey west along the original route of Lewis and Clark in Yankton, SD. The Lewis and Clark Recreation Area and Campgrounds and resort offer a family-friendly stay along the Missouri River and Lewis and Clark Lake, where campers can fish for their dinner, enjoy 6 miles of bike trails, try their hand at archery and more. 
• Badlands National Park: For those who want to spend the night in the midwest’s largest National Park, where ancient animals once roamed and buttes and canyons were formed by thousands of years of natural erosion, Cedar Pass Lodge and Campgrounds offer spectacular views of the Mars-like terrain. The campsites are situated within easy walking distance to the Cedar Pass Lodge, general store and restaurant, making it easy to gather any needed supplies or grab a bite to eat when you tire of camp-fire staples. Cedar Pass is also nearby famous and family-friendly Badlands hiking trails, the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, and Fossil Exhibit Trail. Well-known as a dark-sky park, be sure to fit in time to stargaze from your campsite, or plan your visit around the yearly Astronomy festival, kicking off on August 14. 
• Just a short drive to both Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial, KOA at Palmer Gulch Lodge offers campsites, RV hookups, and cabin lodging on a family-friendly resort, representative of a quintessential Black Hills stay. Park the RV on your roomy site, and spend your days exploring the various swimming holes, taking horseback trail rides, and trying your hand at the South Dakotan gold-rush tradition, gold panning. Seasonally, the resort also offers a Chuck Wagon Dinner Show, complete with cowboys, locally-sourced steaks, and plenty of Black Hills tales.
• George S. Mickelson Trail: Once a long-haul railroad and mode of transportation for wild west legends like Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane, The George S. Mickelson trail is now over 100 miles of bike trails through the scenic Black Hills of South Dakota. Park the RV at Historic Deadwood’s Days of ‘76 campgrounds, and then hit the trail to bike your way through converted railroad bridges and rock tunnels before making your way back to enjoy the campground located on Whitewood Creek. Whistler Gulch Campground is located just minutes from Main Street of Deadwood and the Deadwood Trolley, where you can enjoy historic museums, lively shootout reenactments, and western saloons, including the famous Saloon #10 where Wild Bill met his end. 
• Spearfish, SD: Known for the scenic Spearfish Canyon, the growing town offers spectacular outdoor adventure for those looking to explore. Spearfish Campground, offers the perfect place to park the RV and enjoy the great outdoors on this publicly funded and kept campground. The Campground is located adjacent to the D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery and Spearfish City Park, and is situated on Spearfish Creek, where campers can take advantage of the city’s incredible trout fishing.   

St. Pete/Clearwater

Dreaming of hitting the open road in search of some socially distanced sunshine and sand? Head south to the quirky and often overlooked cultural and artistic hub that is St. Pete/Clearwater, FL, where the destination has reopened safely and effectively with new health and hygiene measures. To aid in the road-trip planning process, check out the dedicated webpage Tips for Visiting St. Pete/Clearwater which includes all relevant information about enjoying the destination safely and responsibly. With 24 cities and towns to choose from, start with Tarpon Springs at the far north and end with Tierra Verde in the south. Notable stops include:

• Camping: Set up camp at Fort Desoto Park for gorgeous sunsets and year round residents include pelicans, herons, egrets and plovers. Sea turtles nest along the beach in summer and you'll often see dolphins from the Gulf fishing pier. A full list of places to camp in the destination can be found here. 
• Beaches: St. Pete/Clearwater boasts 35 miles of white-sand beaches including St. Pete Beach, Clearwater Beach, Honeymoon Island State Park, Madeira Beach, and Pass-A-Grill. There truly is a beach for everyone!
• Towns: Explore the beach towns the destination is known for, including Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach but don’t miss Safety Harbor, where you can jam out in a gazebo at their Third Friday Music Series. Then pop over to Dunedin, which offers seven craft breweries within a 10-minute walk of each other (insider tip: be sure to try the fish tacos at Florida’s oldest: Dunedin Brewery). Enjoy Greece without a passport in Tarpon Springs (AKA the “Sponge Capital of the World”) and savor some unforgettable baklava. 
• Dolphins: On the way to Clearwater Beach, be sure to stop at Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA). Much more than an aquarium, CMA has an ambitious mission to inspire people to care for the natural environment. Their work in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured marine animals is known internationally - in large part, because of the heartwarming and inspirational stories of CMA's rescued wildlife, including Winter, the dolphin with a prosthetic tail. As part of a larger expansion project, the CMA is working on an enhanced living habitat for its resident non-releasable animals, tripling its current habitat space. The brand-new dolphin habitat is slated to open this summer. 
• St. Pete Pier: Finally, following a decade-long development, the highly anticipated St. Pete Pier is set to open this summer as the Southeast’s largest waterfront playground, boasting 26 acres of activated waterfront park located in St. Pete, Florida’s vibrant downtown. The St. Pete Pier is sure to redefine the meaning of the word “pier” by functioning as an all-encompassing entertainment district that is an extension of St. Pete’s vibrant and flourishing city center. The project is complete with a picturesque urban beach area, a unique children’s playground, a variety of modern-Florida dining spots, a pop-up marketplace with local vendors, eco-tourism opportunities and more. From children to seniors, nature lovers to art enthusiasts, fishermen to foodies - the St. Pete Pier has something for everyone.

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, FL

Home to more than 100 barrier and coastal islands, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel offers the perfect road trip getaway to get fresh air, stretch your legs and enjoy nature. The destination is now open with social distancing measures in place to keep residents and visitors responsible and safe. Explore new ways to island-hop all from the comfort of your vehicle:

• From Fort Myers, take the Sanibel Causeway to Sanibel and neighboring Captiva Island, two "old Florida" island retreats with no chain restaurants or buildings higher than a palm tree. 
• Spend the afternoon on Sanibel, exploring and biking within the 25 miles of trails that span the 6,400 acres of J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge as it celebrates 75 years of wildlife protection. 
• Take a 30 minute drive to Fort Myers Beach, to camp along the beach at Red Coconut RV Park, a vintage style park that dates back to the 1920's, and sits on 450' of white sand.  
• For those seeking resort style amenities, visit Gulf Waters RV Resort, a beautifully landscaped, full service RV park on Fort Myers Beach.
• Take a detour to Cayo Costa, via Captiva Cruises as the remote campgrounds are only accessible by boat. The dedicated state park’s complete lack of development affords visitors unspoiled white-sand beaches. Campers truly feel like they have the entire 9-mile-long island to themselves. 

 Texas

West Texas Roadtrip:

A West Texas road trip is an essential experience for Texans and visitors from neighboring states alike, as the diversity of landscapes experienced during the drive is unexplainable. From Dallas, Houston, Austin or San Antonio, the drive West offers views of green rolling hills and flatter desert plains all leading up to arrival in one of the most geographically diverse and untouched corners of the American West. 

• Stop in Marfa, the walkable Texas art destination where life slows down, and grab a bite from Marfa Burrito or Convenience West before settling down to view the mysterious glowing orbs in the sky known as the Marfa lights. 
• Take a quick drive to Alpine to view the beautiful historic murals, following a drive through the actual ghost town of Terlingua, the proud home of the Chisos Mining Company, and the original Chili Cookoff. 
• Set up camp at Big Bend State Park, Texas’ largest state park known as the “other side of nowhere.” Enjoy the stargazing at night, as the dark skies of West Texas are some of the best in the nation. 
• Enjoy a night at the scenic Terlingua Ranch RV Park, located conveniently between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park and enjoy the beautiful landscapes while relaxing with onsite amenities like a swimming pool, bathhouse and more. 
• Drive the Davis Mountains scenic loop, a 75-mile stretch of Texas highway, the highest public highway in the state and certainly among the most scenic, prior to heading back home. 

BBQ Roadtrip: 

Summer presents the perfect opportunity to embark on a BBQ road trip and enjoy the cuisine throughout Central Texas, while maybe even learning a thing or two about Texas history through delicious bites. A long weekend is the perfect amount of time to experience one of the four regions of Texas BBQ all while taking part in the celebration of National Barbecue Month throughout the month of May. While in this region, camp at parks like McKinney Falls State Park and Lockhart State Park with a tent or RV and enjoy the beauty and quiet of the Central Texas hills. Stops along the way include: 

• Austin - Start in the state capitol, which just so happens to be one of the best BBQ cities in the country. Order from Franklin’s BBQ ahead of time and beat the line, try the Tex-Mex BBQ tacos of Valentina’s BBQ, or head east for the smoked meats of Micklethwait Craft Meats, one of Texas Monthly’s Top 10 Best BBQ joints in the state. 
• Lockhart - The “Barbecue Capital of Texas” is an irrefutable right of passage, with notable restaurants inclusive of Kreuz Market, Smitty’s Market and the original Black’s BBQ. 
• Elgin - Known as the “Sausage Capital of Texas” a stop at Southside Market, who has been serving homemade sausage for over 120 years, is a must as you drive through this quintessential small Texas town. 
• Driftwood - A scenic route through the Texas Hill Country leads to the home of the original Salt Lick, known for world-class barbecue cooked over an open flame

And if you’re still craving the delicious BBQ bites after the weekend road trip, check out Travel Texas’ list of BBQ To-Go, featuring some of the best BBQ joints which are currently shipping nationwide. 

East Texas Roadtrip: 

With a state as vast as Texas, East Texas can often be overlooked when planning a road trip. However, it offers some of the more unique opportunities for enjoying quality time in nature and is just a quick drive from neighboring states such as Oklahoma, Louisiana or Arkansas. Set up camp at Caddo Lake State Park and kayak, canoe, or fish at picturesque Caddo Lake, a treasure that offers beautiful views of Cypress trees draped with Spanish moss over the maze of the bayou. Nearby family-friendly road trip experiences include The Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari or a trip to go birding in the Big Thicket National Preserve.   

The Ultimate SoCal Beach Roadtrip in California

• Start your journey in San Diego, where you can explore outdoor activities like Balboa Park, La Jolla Cove and Torrey Pines State Reserve. When you’re finished exploring San Diego’s beautiful shores, head to Old Town for authentic Cali Mexican food. End your night at the waterfront Mission Bay RV Resort, overlooking the shores of De Anza Cove. 
• Head north to Orange County to explore the beach towns of Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach. Soak in the sun at some of the area’s top beaches like Crystal Cove and Victoria Beach. Be sure to walk along the iconic pier and take a surf lesson in Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City USA. Overnight at the beachfront, Bolsa Chica State Beach RV Park. 
• As the last stop on your beach road trip, travelers can explore Malibu, which is home to incredible beaches and parks including Point Dume, Zuma Beach, Leo Carillo Beach, Escondido Falls and more. Grab a bite to eat from Neptune’s Net or walk along the Malibu Pier and enjoy a smoothie from the ultra-trendy Malibu Farm. Spend the night at Malibu Beach RV Park, which overlooks the ocean and is conveniently located between Coral Canyon and Solstice Canyon for excellent hiking. 

Wine Lover’s Guide to California

• Begin the road trip in Santa Barbara and explore the Funk Zone, which is home to the Urban Wine Trail, a self-guided trail of 20+ tasting rooms representing Santa Barbara County wines. At Ocean Mesa, travelers can experience RV and tent camping with the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains as the backdrops. Those looking for a luxury camping offering should check out AutoCamp Santa Barbara for an overnight airstream experience. 
• Next up, head to Paso Robles, one of California’s hidden gem wine regions. Visit top wineries like Daou Vineyards, Eberle Winery and Justin Winery. Traveling with someone who is more of a beer lover? Be sure to check out the original Firestone Walker Brewery. Overnight at Wine County RV Resorts in Paso Robles. 
• Finish your road trip by traveling up the gorgeous Highway 1 to Carmel, passing through incredible Big Sur icons like Bixby Bridge and Julia Pfeiffer State Park. Once in Carmel-by-the-Sea, head to the downtown areas to find quaint shops and tasting rooms. In Carmel Valley, find additional vineyards such as Bernardus Winery, Holman Ranch Vineyards and Joullian Vineyards, which are all within walking distance of one another. Spend the night at Carmel by the River RV Park.

Greater Palm Springs 

Located just a couple of hours from metropolitan hubs such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and more, Greater Palm Springs is a quick road trip destination for a change of scenery. Famed for the wide open spaces and natural beauty of the desert, the region offers endless outdoor activities options to relieve the serious cabin fever we’ve all been experiencing. 

Outdoor enthusiasts traveling by RV will find an abundance of opportunities throughout the region to hike, stargaze and even follow a new self-guided tour exploring the famed windmills. 

Recently reopened Joshua Tree National Park is offering visitors the chance to reconnect with the great outdoors with camping and hikes through the other-wordly landscapes and latest wildflower blooms. When the sun sets, travelers can take in the dazzling canopy of stars as Joshua Tree boasts some of the darkest nights in Southern California. Select individual campsites can be reserved on a first come, first served basis. 

Continuing the trek through the desert region, travelers can participate in a newly released self-guided Palm Springs Windmill audio tour. For about an hour and a half, the tour follows a map through a private wind farm with 10 stops highlighting some of the biggest and most advanced generating wind turbines allowing guests to learn about renewable energy at each shop. After the tour, participants will receive an email with a quiz and bonus information on wind energy. $40 per car.

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