Fans are exploring the U.S. between matches, fueling a revival of the American road trip ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary

As global soccer fans travel to the United States this summer, new Hertz data reveals a breakout travel trend: fans aren’t just flying in for matches, they’re hitting the road and turning the tournament into a multi-city, classic American road trip experience.

Rather than staying in one host city, travelers are building flexible itineraries, renting cars to drive between matches and explore more of the country along the way. The result is a clear shift travel behavior, with Hertz seeing a surge in one-way rentals, double-digit growth in secondary markets and rising demand along iconic U.S. routes.

It’s a modern resurgence of the American road trip, one that Hertz has enabled for more than a century, as both international visitors and Americans embrace the freedom of the open road just ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Key trends from Hertz booking data:

• Iconic routes are becoming fan travel corridors: One-way rentals between major metros are surging, including New York–Boston and Los Angeles–San Francisco, alongside high-traffic corridors like Los Angeles–Las Vegas and Orlando–Tampa–Miami. Travelers are opting to drive between cities rather than stay in one place.
• International demand is shaping travel patterns in real time: Visitors from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and China are among the top inbound travelers, highlighting the global footprint of fans currently exploring the U.S.
• Double-digit growth expanding beyond traditional gateway cities: Year-over-year July reservations are rising in several markets, including Kansas City (+25%), Philadelphia (+17%), Houston (+12%), Seattle (+10%) and Boston (+8%), reflecting broader interest across a wider range of destinations.
• Affordability is accelerating the shift to cars: With one-way rentals averaging roughly $60-70 per day for a midsize vehicle, travelers are increasingly choosing cars as a cost-effective option, especially compared to purchasing multiple plane, train or bus tickets. One vehicle can accommodate an entire group, offering both savings and flexibility.

“We’re seeing this play out across our Hertz network in real time. Fans aren’t just attending matches, they’re renting cars to see more of the country and turning their trips into flexible, multi-stop journeys that go far beyond a single city,” said Adnan Manzur, Senior Vice President of North America Customer Operations at Hertz. “It’s creating a moment where both international visitors and Americans are rediscovering what makes traveling here so unique.”

From Matches to Mils: A Social-Driven Travel Moment
This trend is also gaining traction online, with international visitors documenting cross-country journeys that blend match attendance with sightseeing.

One example: Freddy from Germany, whose viral U.S. match-hopping journey became a real-time case study in this shift. When a travel delay in Vermont put his next match at risk, a Hertz team member stepped in – helping him get back on the road and turning a disruption into a defining road trip moment.

Take Freddy from Germany, whose viral match-hopping adventure across the U.S. because a real-time case study for this shift. When Freddy shared he was recently stuck in Vermont trying to get to the Boston match, Robert at Hertz stepped in to help, turning a travel hiccup into a moment of connection between fans and a defining road trip moment.

Iconic American Travel Experiencing a Measurable Comeback
The influx of global visitors is also influencing domestic travel. As international travelers explore the U.S., Americans are also finding renewed inspiration to hit the road, rediscovering classic routes:

• Route 66 is seeing heightened demand during its centenary year, with trips starting in Chicago and returning to Hertz locations along the route up 12% year over year during July.
• Historic New England travel is climbing, with bookings tied to Boston and surrounding routes connected to the Freedom Travel up 11%, signaling rising interest in heritage-driven itineraries

A Defining Travel Moment for the U.S.
As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, Hertz data shows this summer shaping up as more than a peak travel season – it’s a turning point. Global tourism and domestic exploration are converging, creating a nationwide shift toward more flexible, experience-driven travel.

And increasingly, that journey is happening on the road.

*Travel insights are based on Hertz internal data as of the date of release.