World Cup Summer Is Shaping Road Trip Plans

GSTV, a video network at gas stations nationwide, partnered with MFour on a survey of viewers and found 72 percent plan to travel by car this summer. About 41 percent said they are excited for the FIFA World Cup, and 57 percent expect to travel more than they did last year.

Among viewers attending a World Cup match, 53 percent plan to drive at least one hour to get there, with many expecting trips of five hours or more. Another 30 percent of viewers who are not attending matches still plan summer road trips tied to other sporting events.

Despite higher fuel costs, 38 percent said gas prices have not changed their travel plans. About 45 percent expect to drive 500 miles or more, 42 percent said they enjoy road trips, and 32 percent cited flexibility as a reason to drive rather than fly.

GSTV calls it the summer of game tripping, which is corny but accurate.

World Cup host cities mean hotel spikes, crowded flights, and a lot of let's just drive and tailgate planning across the country.

For AAPI friend groups that already treat food stops as half the trip, this summer rewards flexible cars with good highway range and trunk space.

Hybrid crossovers look smarter than ever when gas prices are ugly but flights are worse and schedules are rigid.

The 53 percent driving an hour or more to matches, with many going five hours plus, mirrors how soccer fandom actually works in diaspora communities.

Watch parties bleed into road trips, and a single weekend can mean driving from one metro area to another just to catch a group-stage game with the right crowd.

That 38 percent say gas has not changed their plans is either confidence or denial, depending on your household budget.

Either way, the survey confirms Americans are still committed to summer driving.

If you are planning a long haul, build in fuel stops, download offline maps, and pack the cooler like you mean it.