Many Americans are cutting back on travel amid a spike in fuel prices, opting for trips closer to home and fewer meals out.The gap is growing between higher-income travelers and those who can't afford to take their usual vacations.Leila Register / NBC News; Getty ImagesJuly 25, 2026, 7:00 AM EDTThis article is part of “Unaffordable America,” a series examining rising economic inequality in the U.S. and the policies that drive it.Shorter getaways. Campgrounds instead of hotels. Car trips rather than cross-country flights. For many Americans feeling the pain of higher gas prices, summer vacation is looking different this year.Just a moment.We are getting your experience ready.