Survey Uncovers Parents’ Road Trip Preferences
The sun dips low on the horizon as a little boy gazes out the car window. Outside, rolling hills and endless fields go by, punctuated by the occasional herd of cows grazing lazily. “Cows on my side!” the boy cries, and his older brother laughs before scrounging through the snack bag for a treat.
Mazda understands the importance of these moments. When designing cars, we’re building a vehicle for creating the type of memorable experiences that last a lifetime. From ensuring a comfortable ride to providing engaging driving dynamics, the Mazda goal is to enhance both drivers’ and passengers’ time spent on the road.
To gain deeper insight into the road trip experience, we conducted a survey of 2,523 U.S. adults. You can read the wider findings from that survey here. In this article, however, we will delve into what parents seek to achieve when road tripping, where they are planning to go, and what features they value most in a road trip vehicle as they embark on their adventures in the summer of 2024.
Why parents with kids at home go on road trips
Our survey found that 93% of North Americans enjoy road trips – a strong majority. But traveling with kids isn’t easy, full stop. Would respondents with children feel differently about time on the road?
Before we dig into the answer to that question, a quick note on methodology is in order. In our survey, we asked respondents to classify themselves as either:
● Parents with kids at home: People who have children who still live in their household
● Empty nesters: People who have children who live outside of their homes and have self-identified as “empty nesters”
● Others: Includes both non-parents and parents whose children do not live at home with them, but do not consider themselves “empty nesters”
Of these three groups, parents with kids at home are the most likely to say they enjoy road trips at 95%, compared to 93% for empty nesters and 90% for the “other” group. Parents with kids at home were also 19% more likely than others to have plans to take a road trip this summer.
When parents with kids responded to the question of why they enjoy taking road trips for vacation, their responses were roughly similar to other parent groups; their top responses were for scenic views (80%), adventure (70%), and flexibility (69%).
However, parents with kids at home differed from the other two groups in their emphasis on affordability (they are 11% more likely to say they enjoy taking road trips for cost savings) and, more significantly, bonding time. Parents with kids at home are 27% more likely than others to say they enjoy taking road trips for bonding time.
Now, we recognize that not every moment on a road trip is one for the memory books, but road trips can create cherished moments of connection and adventure. When you pull out of your driveway for a road trip, you’re stepping away from your daily to-do list and typical distractions. This offers parents and kids invaluable bonding time.
The shared experience of breaking out of routine, of going on a journey together as a unit and exploring a new place, fosters a sense of togetherness that just doesn’t happen the same way on, say, a plane full of stewards and strangers. It happens on the road, in a car.
Where parents are taking their families on road trips in 2024
The top destinations for parents with kids at home reflect a desire to be out in nature, to give kids space to have fun and explore, and to also leave a little time for parents to kick back and relax. When asked what type of destination they are planning to visit during their summer road trips, parents with kids at home selected the beach 59% of the time, followed by visiting family and friends (39%) and exploring national parks (36%).
In fact, while the beach was the top destination across all groups, parents with kids at home were 18% more likely to have plans to go to the beach on their summer road trip — perhaps because the beach typifies all the qualities of travel noted above. Along those same lines, parents with kids at home were also 27% more likely to have plans to go to a campground on their summer road trip.
Finally, parents with kids at home selected theme parks as a summer road trip destination 32% of the time, making them 78% more likely than other groups to do so. If you’re a parent and this last stat helps you feel seen, here are a few more:
In 2024, the maximum amount of time, in hours, that most (39%) parents with kids at home are willing to drive to reach their destination on a road trip is 6-10 hours.
In 2024, most (41%) parents with kids at home prefer to take a balanced approach (meaning a mix of the quickest route and the scenic route) when selecting a route to their destination on a road trip.
No matter where you’re going this summer, getting there in comfort will make your road trip that much more pleasant for you and your family. We’ll discuss in-depth what vehicle types and features parents with kids at home deemed essential to a successful road trip below, but a few aspects bear mentioning in light of the above.
Namely, of all the baseline features — think things like comfortable seating or fuel-efficiency — the ones that parents with kids at home were more likely to deem essential are AWD or 4WD (18% more likely) and exterior cargo capacity (42% more likely). Given the types of destinations these parents are headed to, these preferences make a great deal of sense.
The ultimate road trip vehicle features according to parents
Ample space in a car appeals to road trippers, and parents with kids in tow are no exception to that rule. The top 3 choices of vehicle for a road trip for parents with kids at home are 3-row SUVs or crossovers (29%), 2-row SUV or crossovers (28%), and sedans (15%).
In particular, parents with kids at home are 93% more likely than others to say they are most likely to take a 3-row SUV or crossover on a road trip.
For those seeking a road trip companion that combines spaciousness and comfort, the Mazda CX-90, a 3-row midsize crossover, is an excellent choice. With a spacious interior that seats up to 8 and ample cargo space, the CX-90 and many other Mazda crossover SUVs offer comfortable seating and plenty of room for all your essentials on the journey ahead. The CX-90 also comes in a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) version. With a PHEV, parents have the flexibility to use electric-only propulsion for their commutes or errands, and the vehicle’s internal combustion engine for longer trips, including road trips. We’ll discuss road tripping in EVs more below.
In addition to needing more room for kids in the car, parents expect their road trip vehicles to protect the precious cargo they’re carrying. This goes beyond child-centric systems like LATCH, although parents with kids at home were 167% more likely to find LATCH systems essential to a road trip vehicle.
For example, parents with kids at home were more likely to find the following safety and driver assistance features essential in a road trip vehicle:
● Hill launch assist: 50% more likely than all others
● Head-up display: 43% more likely than all others
● Driver monitoring: 32% more likely than all others
● Parking sensors: 26% more likely than all others
● Adaptive cruise control: 14% more likely than all others
● Cross-traffic alert: 13% more likely than all others
● Collision warning: 13% more likely than all others
● Emergency brake assist: 11% more likely than all others
● Backup camera: 6% more likely than all others
Parents expect their road trip vehicles to be equipped with advanced safety features to ensure their children's protection during long journeys. These enhanced safety measures allow parents to focus on creating enjoyable and memorable travel experiences.
All Mazda vehicles are built with safety in mind, and our 2024 lineup reflects this commitment. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards top scoring vehicles in certain tests with their prestigious TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ accolades. The 2024 Mazda3 Sedan, Mazda3 Hatchback, CX-30, CX-50 (built after August 2023), CX-90, and CX-90 PHEV have all earned IIHS’s highest award, the 2024 TOP SAFETY PICK+. Earning the next highest, TOP SAFETY PICK award is the 2025 model year CX-70 and CX-70 PHEV.
Similarly, parents with kids at home are much more likely to see it as essential that their vehicle be equipped with the latest in entertainment and convenience technology.
Parents are more likely to find the following necessary for an enjoyable road trip journey for the whole family:
● Rear passenger entertainment: 87% more likely than all others
● Remote start: 42% more likely than all others
● Rain sensing wipers: 27% more likely than all others
● Adaptive headlights: 23% more likely than all others
● Smartphone integration: 15% more likely than all others
● Security systems: 10% more likely than all others
All in all, parents expect their road trip vehicles to do more and offer comprehensive features that cater to their family's needs. They look for cars that combine advanced safety and cutting-edge entertainment and convenience technologies to ensure a smooth, enjoyable, and stress-free travel experience.
Parents with kids at home are the most likely to plan on taking a road trip in a hybrid, PHEV, or EV in 2024
Parents with kids at home are 38% more likely to consider a vehicle being an EV or hybrid essential for a road trip and are 88% more likely than others to have plans to take a road trip in an electric, hybrid (HEVs), or plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEVs) in 2024.
The most common reason parents with kids at home plan to take any type of electric vehicle on road trips is cost savings when it comes to fuel (70%). However, parents with kids at home are also 37% more likely to say they take an EV on road trips because they appreciate the technological advancements associated with electric vehicles, and 18% more likely to say they will take a type of EV on road trips for environmental reasons.
Should you ever find yourself in a situation where there are no charging stations nearby, your PHEV will automatically switch the means of propulsion from its electric motor to the gas-powered engine, giving you peace of mind that you can continue on your journey. While driving the CX-70 PHEV or CX-90 PHEV you can also deploy “Charge Mode” which utilizes the gas engine to charge the battery up to a preset level.
Mazda: Road trip vehicles perfect for making memories
From spacious crossover SUVs ready for off-road exploration to award-winning Sedans and trusted Hatchbacks, our lineup is designed with your family's comfort, connectedness, and safety in mind. Whether you're exploring new destinations or sticking to the beaten path, Mazda has the ideal vehicle to make your road trip memorable and enjoyable.
To learn more, explore our wide range of vehicles online or schedule a test drive at a Mazda dealership near you to see first-hand how our vehicles can elevate your road trip experience.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is based on the latest competitive information available at the time of posting. Information herein is subject to change without notice and without Mazda incurring any obligations. Please review a variety of resources prior to making a purchasing decision. Visit Resource Center for more articles.