When it comes to road trip priorities, 84% say they most value the convenience of fuel, food and restrooms in one stop.
This statistic—encouraging for convenience stores—comes from a survey of nearly 2,000 road trippers conducted by Knoxville, Tennessee-based Pilot and Campspot, a booking platform for campgrounds, RV parks and glamping resorts based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The survey also revealed what Pilot is calling “one of the biggest trends for this summer: the pop-up escape, which is a one- to three-night, flexible, budget-friendly getaway.”
In the survey, 53% of travelers are planning more short trips or weekend getaways than in previous years, with more than 90% gearing up for pop-up escapes this summer—quick trips typically within driving distance of home.
- Pilot Co. is No. 16 on CSP’s 2025 Top 40 Update to the 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count. Love’s is No. 15. Watch for the full 2025 Top 202 ranking in the June issue of CSP magazine and in CSP Daily News.
In conjunction with this survey and to celebrate the summer travel season, Pilot is launching limited-time offerings and a $15,000 giveaway inviting travelers to share with Pilot what calls them to the open road this summer.
From May 23-30, entries can be submitted by following @PilotFlyingJ on Instagram, liking the National Road Trip Day post and posting a photo or video sharing why the traveler should win using the hashtag #PilotNRTDGiveaway. Three winners will be selected to receive $5,000 in cash and $1,000 in Pilot gift cards to fuel their journeys this summer.
Pilot also is rolling out food offerings like the limited-time Pilot Big Dog or jumbo crispy hot wings. In addition, customers can save by downloading Pilot’s app for exclusive digital deals, including 10 cents off every gallon of gas.
More From Survey
Also of interest to convenience stores, the survey also revealed that 57% of travelers crave a mix of everything, opting for the portable treat of salty and sweet to elevate the journey. Salty offerings like chips and jerky come in second, at 24%, followed by sweets like candy and doughnuts at 8%.
In addition, the survey revealed that the perfect playlist (56%) and meaningful conversations (54%) also top the list of road trip essentials.
“National Road Trip Day marks the official start of summer travel and is an invitation for drivers to pack up, fuel up and enjoy the freedom and excitement of the open road,” said Adrienne Ingoldt, chief marketing officer at Pilot. “This summer, many travelers are fully embracing pop-up escapes, transforming road trips into unforgettable journeys. Whether you’re seeking the beauty of wide-open spaces or just exploring a roadside hidden gem, Pilot is out here to fuel your journey with everything you need to make the most of your miles.”
The survey also noted that 66% of travelers say the best part of a road trip is discovering hidden gems, while 62% enjoy making memories with family or friends and 61% love soaking in the scenic views.
Regarding destinations, 58% of travelers are heading to lakes or beaches this summer, followed by mountains or national parks (51%) and charming small towns (48%), with 57% of travelers saying they’ll travel 200 miles or less to get to their destination.
“Travelers are rewriting the rules of summer getaways by choosing closer escapes, simpler plans and spontaneous moments that bring genuine connection,” said Jeff Bettin, general manager, marketplace at Campspot. “Pop-up escapes show that it doesn’t take a faraway destination or a long itinerary to create something unforgettable.”
The survey was developed by Pilot and Campspot and distributed by Campspot through an online survey between April 3 –11, targeting Campspot customers across North America. A total of 1,829 respondents participated in the survey.
Pilot Co. is one of the largest networks of travel centers in the country, with 655 stores as of Jan. 1. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway.
Love’s Deals
Oklahoma City-based Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is offering buy-one-get-one deals from May 22-27 via the Love’s Connect app on the following items:
- Little Debbie single serve
- Hostess single serve
- Hershey standard size
- Love’s-branded chips
- Love’s-branded Water
- Share a Coke
In addition to saving on food and drinks, customers can save 10 cents per gallon on gasoline and 15 cents per gallon on auto diesel through the Love’s Connect app. AAA members can also save more on fuel purchases by linking their AAA account to the Love’s Connect app.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores was founded in 1964 and has 655 travel stops and convenience stores in 42 states. It provides services and products for professional drivers, fleets, four-wheel customers, RV drivers and more.
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