NEW YORK - Proprietors of small enterprises in American vacation areas report growing numbers of residents selecting destinations nearer to home this summer. Many are swapping overseas flights for car journeys, favoring brief day excursions over lengthy beach visits, and preparing their own meals rather than dining out to manage expenses.

This uptick in home-based tourism, while based on observations, aligns with elevated airfares and fuel costs that have raised the price of getaways. The FIFA World Cup and events marking the country's 250th anniversary have offered extra reasons for creating summer experiences without venturing far.

The motor club federation AAA projected that 72.2 million Americans would journey at least 50 miles from their residences between June 27 and the following Sunday. This figure represents a 0.5 percent rise over last year's July Fourth period, driven almost entirely by cruise, bus, and train trips, with driving and flying numbers expected to hold steady.

A drop in international summer travel could benefit local tourism-dependent firms, according to Tarik Dogru, an associate professor at Florida State University's Dedman College of Hospitality. With fewer residents heading abroad or flying long distances, more vacation spending remains in nearby communities, he noted.

"Current economic and travel patterns are likely to channel spending toward small enterprises such as area eateries, nearby attractions, Airbnb hosts, and roadside stops serving cost-conscious travelers on shorter routes," he said.

Should the pattern continue through summer and beyond, it might narrow the travel trade gap the nation has faced since the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, Americans have spent more on foreign trips than overseas visitors have spent here, per the National Travel and Tourism Office.

Morgan Kain, a Baltimore teacher, said her household is limiting travel for budget reasons. The family typically enjoys several summer outings, including a week at a Virginia lake house, and last year spent six weeks in Italy.

"This summer we are keeping to a few short stays and the lake house, but nothing more," Kain said. "Expenses are high across travel, food, and fuel."

Even with higher gasoline prices than last year, 85 percent of Independence Day week travelers planned to drive, AAA noted, as car travel remains less costly than flying in most cases.

Near Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border, several businesses observed more visitors arriving by car from West Coast cities.

Ron Williams, owner of Tahoe Sports, had feared early in the season that economic worries might reduce rentals of boats and Jet Skis. Boat fuel prices also rose amid the Iran conflict, similar to gasoline.

Yet Williams described himself as "pleasantly surprised with how well the business is doing across the board." Advance bookings stand 10 percent above last year's levels at this point.

"People appear to be staying closer to home, and Lake Tahoe benefits from a large drive-up market," Williams said.

Jerry Bindel, who manages three Lake Tahoe rental properties for Pyramid Global Hospitality, also saw demand recover. Ski bookings declined with an unusually warm winter, but hiking and boating seasons brought a turnaround.

Bindel noted signs of careful spending among visitors, including greater use of rental unit kitchens and outdoor grills instead of restaurants.

"We are seeing much more activity with those items this summer," he said.

In Asheville, North Carolina, small business owners have sought a tourism rebound after Hurricane Helene and flooding devastated the area in September 2024.

Aubrey Anderson, who runs a river tubing company, cut her summer staff from 100 to 25 after the storm. Rising reservations and new visitors prompted her to hire 50 workers for the current season at Zen Tubing.

Many newcomers are day visitors from South Carolina, Tennessee, and other North Carolina regions who pay about $30 per person to float the French Broad River. Afterward they often eat, visit breweries, shop, or explore other spots before returning home, benefiting the city overall, Anderson said.

"We are seeing many regional visitors," Anderson said. "People may be skipping longer beach drives this year and choosing something nearby to save money while still enjoying family time."

Factory tours at French Broad Chocolate have increased this summer, said CEO and co-founder Jael Skeffington. Guests frequently buy ice cream or coffee in the cafe and purchase chocolate before departing.

"It supports business, and it matches what people seek - an experience rather than just a meal," Skeffington said.

Soccer fans have filled Kansas City, Missouri, along with other host cities for World Cup matches.

Made in KC, which operates four cafes and 11 shops selling local sauces, Kansas City gifts, and sports team apparel, saw clear increases in traffic at all sites during the tournament, co-owner Keith Bradley said. World Cup items such as $40 hats in team colors sold well.

Visitors from nearby Midwestern cities like Des Moines and Omaha appear more numerous than those from farther away, Bradley observed.

"Some locations sit in tourist zones, but others are in suburban neighborhoods, and those too have drawn World Cup crowds for watch parties, games, and independent exploration," he said.

Mollie Lothman, co-owner of McLain's Bakery with five locations, believes lower food and lodging costs compared with larger host cities have helped.

"Kansas City is one of the smaller World Cup markets but also among the more affordable for families," Lothman said. "That has been a major attraction."