Travelers take to the roads in droves come the summertime. When vacation season hits full swing, vacationers have long had a tendency to get behind the wheel and take to the open road, and that tradition seems to be especially appealing to modern travelers.

The 2026 Trends Report from Hilton indicated that 71 percent of travelers surveyed indicated their intentions to drive on their next vacation. Road trips are favored for a variety of reasons, including a sense of spontaneity that is not available when vacationers are traveling on airline’s schedules.

With so many vacationers expecting to hit the open road this summer, it can benefit all drivers to embrace strategies designed to help motorists steer clear of traffic.

Choose alternative routes when mapping trips on GPS. Modern drivers rely on mapping applications to get them to and fro on long road trips, and some of those apps may allow drivers to choose alternative routes that are less busy. Many mapping apps default to the fastest route, but Apple Maps and Google Maps also offer options to avoid highways and tolls. Those alternative routes tend to be less heavily trafficked than the primary routes. Drivers also can look for specialized navigation apps like Calimoto. Calimoto is popular among motorcyclists who use it to find the most scenic and winding routes as opposed to the fastest. Such roads tend to be less crowded, which can be ideal for vacationers who aren’t in a hurry but hoping to avoid traffic.

Wake up early. While it might not be for everyone, those who can rise early can beat many of their fellow travelers to the road. Peak congestion periods vary by region, but it’s generally best to avoid departing during times of day associated with morning and evening rush hour. That’s between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Roads tend to be considerably less congested between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., but it’s important that drivers who intend to hit the road at this time get sufficient sleep the night before departing and avoid driving drowsy.

Depart a day early. If possible, drivers can plan to leave for vacation a day early. For example, leaving on a Thursday as opposed to a Friday can help drivers avoid weekend road trippers and others who are starting their own lengthier trips on Friday. It also can help to return home a day early or leave as little driving as possible for the final leg of the trip, particularly if it’s on a Sunday. Roads tend to be packed with returning vacationers and weekenders on summer Sundays, making those days a particularly busy time to travel.

Dust off the map. When confronting a traffic jam, many travelers will utilize the same mapping apps to find alternative routes. That means the traffic may just be shifting from one busy road to another road that may soon become just as crowded. Drivers are urged to bring along a traditional map to find local roads that mapping apps are unlikely to recommend.