Are so many more people taking road trips?
 

It seems like the U.S. forum had been busiest lately with new posters (a good thing!) many who post for the first time about very ambitious sounding road trips (coast to coast, NY to Florida, winter trips through the midwest). We've seen 20-somethings, families with teenagers, other variations

I really can't figure out if many are fake requests, designed to keep people busy . If they are fake, well at least the tone stays civilized

Are people suddenly being directed to Fodors for road trip advice? From where?

Are so many more people taking road trips instead of other types of vacations? It seems like we're seeing lots of people who have enough vacation time for 2 week to month long trips which so I don't think this is necessarily about money saving.

Your thoughts?

I find it hard to be able to offer much, because it seems that most of them want to see everything and most of the time seems very unrealistic. I just don't get spending one night at each spot in CA for example.

I think the uptick in questions is, in part, seasonal. People are looking to plan spring and summer holidays now.

There have been some unusual trips. I usually try to just ask a couple questions and give fairly non-detailed advice at first. If they come back and answer the questions, then I'll make more of an effort to help.

I think it's a combination of people having time off over the holidays/winter break for a quick trip, people planning spring break or summer vacations now, and people just screwing around. Like I said, if the OP never comes back then I figure at least I didn't waste much time on my response.

The recovering economy combiners with relatively low gas prices I'd guess. Seems to be a lot of pent up travel desires

I know people drive because of the economy etc. It just seems like the sudden (in my opinion) influx of people who found Fodors and also have weeks of time, and the money for the longer number of nights of lodging, gas prices--not really so low for this time of the year--car rentals, traveling 2000+ miles is curious. It can be cheaper to fly so money can't be the only factor, and some of these trips are for the winter.