With summer fast approaching, travel planning is in full swing and it’s clear that many Americans are desperate for a break. Search interest in ‘vacation packages’ has surged 1,400% in the past 30 days, showing that Americans are actively locking in their summer travel plans.
A study by Icelandair reveals the top 10 U.S. states most in need of a vacation, based on vacation search volumes, weather conditions, and mental health metrics. Topping the list is New York, where over 30,000 vacation-related searches were recorded in recent months. Alaska and Ohio follow closely, with residents searching for relief from long winters, gloomy weather, and high stress levels.
With harsh weather, low sunshine hours, and high levels of stress driving the need for an escape, these findings are more relevant than ever.
Key insights:
- New York Tops the List: New York’s high ranking was influenced by its low weather score of 3/50
- Washington was found to have the least clear days a 58 a year, whilst Alaska receives the least hours of sun, 2061 a year – making sunshine escapes a must
- Louisiana had the highest rate of mental health issues, with two in five residents suffering from anxiety or other mental health challenge
- Expert reveals the important roles taking time off to travel plays for your mental health
New Yorkers are in desperate need of a vacation study reveals
Icelandair analyzed vacation-related search volumes, weather statistics, and mental health metrics across all 50 U.S. states to indicate which states were in most need of a vacation.
- New York ranks first, with over 30,000 vacation-related searches in June.
- Alaska and Ohio follow closely behind, with residents searching for breaks due to harsh weather and high stress.
- Washington was revealed to have the lowest number of clear days each year at 58, whilst Alaska gets the least hours of sun at just 2061 each year.
- Other states in the top 10 include Oregon, Washington, and Pennsylvania, driven by a mix of poor weather and mental health challenges.
A study has revealed the top 10 U.S. states where residents are most in need of a vacation. Leading the list is New York, followed by Alaska and Ohio, where harsh weather conditions and high stress levels are driving people to search for much-needed break.
The study, conducted by Icelandair, Iceland’s flagship airline, analyzed various factors including search volume for vacation-related terms, weather data, and mental health metrics across all 50 states. Each state was given an index score out of 150, where the lower the score, the more in need of a vacation the state was. The results show that states with challenging weather and higher stress levels are seeing the most significant increases in vacation-related searches.
Top 10 states most in need of a vacation
<div class="flourish-embed flourish-table" data-src="visualisation/19220834"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script><noscript><img src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/19220834/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="table visualization" /></noscript></div>New York was found to be the state most in need of a vacation, clocking in over 30,000 vacation-related searches in June. The Empire State was found to have the 12th most searches per capita across the 50 states. New York’s high ranking was also influenced by its low weather score of 3/50, derived from a combination of just 2,120 sunshine hours and an average of 63 clear days per year. The city’s mental health score also contributed significantly, with over a third of the city’s population suffering from stress and anxiety. Together, the state’s overall score of just 23/150 made it clear that New Yorkers are in desperate need of a vacation.
Alaska’s weather score significantly impacted its high ranking, largely due to the state’s extreme weather conditions. With the lowest sunshine hours of all the states at 2,061 a year, Alaskans face a long, harsh winter that contributes to their strong need for vacations. Despite the poor weather conditions, Alaska’s mental health score ranked 27th, with 31.6% of the population experiencing stress and anxiety. However, the weather score was enough to place Alaska as the second state most needing a break, with an overall score of 30/150.
Third in the ranking, Ohio, known as the “Buckeye State,” experiences a varied climate, making it a quintessential representation of the American Midwest. Long stretches of overcast days and just 2,183 sun hours a year. Ohio’s residents experience less sunlight throughout the day than most other states, contributing to a sense of gloom and increased fatigue. Additionally, Ohio’s mental health data showed 35.2% of the state’s population is dealing with anxiety and other mental health challenges, further fueling the demand for vacations and contributing to its overall score of 34/150.
Other notable findings revealed that Louisiana had the highest rate of mental health issues, with two in five residents suffering from anxiety or other mental health challenges. In contrast, Minnesota emerged as the state with the highest per capita searches for vacation-related terms, indicating a strong need for a break among its residents.
Icelandair spoke to life coach, Bayu Prihandito about the importance of taking time off for your mental health
”Nature has this natural power to bring us back to the present moment, to ground us back to our roots away from our internal chatter often filled with worries and stress. So for our minds, nature is almost like a ‘reset button’, back to baseline, back to a state of calmness and peace.
Urban environments, while stimulating, can also be overwhelming due to their noise, pollution, and endless distractions. Meanwhile, rural areas offer a more contrasting experience – tranquility, slow-living, and cleaner air. This shift can help us reflect, realize that there can also be a life where we’re not always chasing something, but more a life of just being here and now.”
Notes to the Editors
- To know more about Bayu Prihandito, please visit: https://lifearchitekture.com/
- For additional information, please contact:
- Olivia – [email protected]
- Gretta – [email protected]
Methodology:
The study was conducted by analyzing vacation-related search volumes, weather statistics, and mental health metrics across all 50 U.S. states. States were ranked based on a combined score, with lower scores indicating a higher need for a vacation.
- Search Volume – We analyzed a combination of keywords in each state including general search terms like ‘holidays’, ‘vacation ideas’ and ‘how to relieve stress’ and also work leave-related terms such as ‘next public holiday’, ‘how to use annual leave effectively’ and ‘PTO tips’. This was then measured per capita to ensure a fair comparison across states. The higher the search volume, the lower the score.
- Weather Score is a combination of:
- The % sun number measures the percentage of time between sunrise and sunset that sunshine reaches the ground, the higher the number the higher the score.
- The average total hours of sun each state has per year, the higher, the better.
- The average clear days, where cloud covers no more than 30% of the sky during daylight hours, the higher, the better.
- Mental Health Score – Percentage of the state population that suffers with their mental health and/or anxiety. The higher the percentage, the lower the score.