Navigating the Family Road Trip
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who
cherishes the time-honored tradition of the family road trip, complete with
sing-a-longs and car games, you’re not alone. Despite rising gas prices,
people are taking even more road trips now than they did growing up, and
where do they want to go next? According to Rand McNally’s “Great American
Road Trip Survey,” American families want to go to a Disney theme park
followed by a national park. While on their way, most would choose to have
Chevy Chase keep them company and pass the time by looking at the passing
sights.
To celebrate its 150th anniversary and the long-standing tradition of the
family road trip, Rand McNally, America’s largest commercial maker of
national and local maps, street guides and atlases, conducted the “Great
American Road Trip Survey.” The survey polled nearly 4,000 consumers from
all 50 states, as well as celebrity road trippers such as Jamie Lee Curtis
and Doris Roberts to find out what America thinks about the family road
trip. Respondents shared their “road trip” must-haves and top places to
visit while on the road.
“For 150 years, Americans have trusted Rand McNally products to help them
navigate millions of family road trips,” said Rob Apatoff, CEO, Rand
McNally. “Capturing America’s love of the family road trip in this survey
was such an entertaining way for us to mark this milestone.”
Rand McNally Survey Highlights:
– 96 percent of respondents have taken at least one road trip in their
lifetime
– 40 percent of childhood road trips lasted a week
– 76 percent of respondents usually take a road trip for their vacation
– Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California ranked
No. 1 as ideal destinations for parents and children
– Asked what celebrity they would most like to share the family road
trip with, Chevy Chase was voted No. 1
– Top two in-transit pastimes? Looking at passing sights (67 percent)
and playing games (63 percent)
– Top road trip disagreements? Personal space/seating arrangements
(54 percent) and when to stop for breaks (27 percent)
– Best stop for a bathroom break? Restaurants
– Best places to stop for the night? Hotels and motels (56 percent)
followed by bunking with family and friends (54 percent)
– Who navigated? Mom (47 percent) followed by dad (41 percent)
– Best food for the road? Potato chips, candy and cookies
Other highlights from the national “Great American Road Trip Survey”
include:
On the Road Again
– Most Americans have taken a road trip with kids (86 percent)
– Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or Disneyland Resort in California
rank supreme as destinations parents want to take their children on
a family vacation (39 percent)
He Said, She Said
– Opposites attract as women would prefer to ride with Brad Pitt while
men would choose Jennifer Aniston
– More men found gas stations provide suitable restrooms on the road
than women
– For women, visiting a relative’s home is their No. 1 road trip
destination when they are traveling without children. Men preferred
national parks
Democrats, Republicans and Independents Agree…
– Members of each party would campaign to visit their ideal vacation
spot — Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or Disneyland Resort in
California
– Chevy Chase would be their top celebrity candidate to share a road trip
– No secret about it — restaurants offer the best bathrooms on the road
The Age Old Question
– Jennifer Aniston, Ben Stiller and Jessica Simpson claimed top rank as
the most popular celebrities to take a road trip with for 18 to 28
year olds
– The young and the young at heart (aged 18 to 49) agreed on Disney as
the ideal vacation spot
Road Trip Scrap Book
– Road trip memories fell into a few main categories:
– Accidentally leaving a loved one behind at a rest stop
– Being chased by animals or attacked by bugs
– Desperately needing to use the restroom or getting car sick
– Getting lost
– Cars breaking down, running out of gas, or receiving speeding
tickets
– Torturing siblings
Celebs Hit the Road
Actresses Jamie Lee Curtis, Doris Roberts, Leah Remini and Patricia
Richardson and singer Mark McGrath were happy to share their family road
trip memories.
Television mom Doris Roberts agreed with popular opinion, saying she would
most like to head to a Disney theme park, but Jamie Lee Curtis would rather
spend her time in the second most popular destination, a national park.
Mark McGrath could lead a band of celebrities, including Leah Remini and
Patricia Richardson, on a trip to their shared ideal destination — the
ocean, lake or beach.
“Marie Barone” aka Doris Roberts and Jamie Lee Curtis once again agreed
with popular opinion, saying playing games was their favorite way to pass
time in the car. Mark McGrath favored playing games and reading, leaving
the singing to Patricia Richardson who named games, reading and singing as
her top three road trip activities.
Like her opinionated character Carrie Heffernan, Leah Remini spent a lot of
time arguing, as she usually passed time in the car by bickering with her
siblings. Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark McGrath, Leah Remini and Doris Roberts
said choosing a radio station most commonly disrupted the harmony of their
past road trips. Like most consumers, Patricia Richardson was too
concerned with fighting for her personal space to decide between classical
or top 40.
About Rand McNally & Company
Rand McNally is North America’s largest commercial maker of national and
local maps, street guides and atlases. The company’s print and electronic
products include America’s No. 1 Road Atlas, The Thomas Guide® map books,
custom-made wall maps on the Web, wireless navigation solutions and online
maps, directions and trip planning at www.randmcnally.com .
Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2006, Rand McNally offers the most
trusted tools to discover, map and navigate your world. The company leads
the way with innovative products and services for the consumer, business,
education and commercial transportation markets. For more information,
visit www.randmcnally.com or call (800) 333-0136.
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Contact:
Tricia Ryan
Leslie Albensi
Joanna DiNizio
Coyne Public Relations
973-316-1665