Move over, Euro Summer — Americans are staying closer to home this year.

Why it matters: Higher airfare and broader economic concerns have pushed many travelers to rethink long-haul trips.

Zoom in: Travel adviser Erica Christie says clients are shifting toward affordable weekend trips in the Carolinas, New England and California.

• Bookings to Asheville, North Carolina, jumped 174% in the past year, according to Fora, the global travel agency where Christie works.
• South Carolina bookings rose 157%.

Travelers still heading to Europe are swapping popular (and pricey) hot spots like the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como for lesser-known alternatives — including the Italian Riviera near the French border, the Tuscan coast, Montenegro and Malta, Christie tells Axios.

• International jet-setters are also booking "much more last-minute" than usual, and increasingly asking about travel insurance in case plans go awry.

Booking site Expedia reports travelers are choosing Philadelphia, Palm Springs, Fort Lauderdale and Puerto Rico over New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Honolulu.

• London, Paris and Rome are giving way to Dublin and Brussels.

The big picture: The Iran war has sent oil prices soaring, causing airlines to cut flights and raise fares, and drivers to pay more at the pump.

• Flight and hotel bookings have already dipped, Virginia Tech professor Mahmood Khan previously told Axios. "People are very hesitant to make long-term bookings."
• Meanwhile, budget travelers are mourning the loss of Spirit Airlines.

By the numbers: Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Americans say they plan to take a summer vacation this year, up from 66% from last year, per a new survey from transportation company Enterprise Mobility.

• Even so, most travelers (69%) say they're opting for weekend getaways, with about half citing affordability as the reason.
• 89% say they plan to stay domestic for their next trip.

The bottom line: Travelers aren't giving up on summer — they're getting more strategic.

The Dominican Republic and Morocco are trending summer destinations for U.S. travelers this year, per Kayak search data.

Driving the news: Interest in the D.R. could reflect new routes and affordability, Kayak's Kayla DeLoache tells Axios.

• "International fares are getting expensive, but if we head to our neighbors to the north or the south, those are typically a little bit cheaper."

Kayak's list reflects trending destinations, with more search interest compared to last year.

Follow the money: Average domestic airfares are up nearly $100 year over year, per Kayak.

• International airfares are up nearly $200.

Yes, but: It's still possible to book relatively affordable flights, DeLoache says.

• That's especially true if you're willing to travel midweek.

Mexico, Iceland and Ireland have some of the most affordable airfares for U.S. flyers this summer, per Kayak's summer travel dashboard.

• DeLoache adds that it's smart to book flights early to lock in today's fares, as price hikes are likely.

Zoom in: Booking a one-week trip for August from Detroit Metro Airport, some of the cheapest international destinations as of Thursday on Google Flights were:

• Malta: $809 on United Airlines for Aug. 13-22.
• Venice: $803 on United for Aug. 16-25.
• Madrid: $675 on JetBlue for Aug. 17-26.
• Mumbai: $905 on Delta Air Lines for Aug. 31-Sept. 7.

🌉 A Gordie Howe International Bridge ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for today has been delayed.

• Canada and the U.S. agreed to take "the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues," the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said in a statement. (AP)

📺 Detroit-set murder mystery series "Diarra From Detroit" now has a season 2 premiere date: July 29 on Paramount+. (Deadline)

⚾ Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will return from injury tomorrow at 4:10pm in Cleveland against the Guardians. Skubal had surgery on his left elbow about five weeks ago. (ESPN)

Travelers are increasingly turning weddings, reunions, etc. into bigger trips — a trend that American Express Travel is calling "milestone travel."

• They're also seeking out hands-on opportunities, big adventures that promise a good story to bring home, and unique local snacks, AmEx says.

⚽️ Expedia's "Unpack '26" report highlights sports pilgrimages — timely given the World Cup right around the corner.

• "57% of travelers say they're likely to attend a local sporting event while traveling, rising to 68% among Gen Z and Millennials combined."

🚂 And Condé Nast Traveler says it'll be a big year for luxe train travel.

• "New routes to new destinations are driving the trend in 2026, with travel agencies packaging multi-rail journeys catering to the demand for luxury train hopping."

Jet-setters, take note: We asked travel writer Lydia Mansel to share her top packing advice for summer trips.

The big picture: Forget folding tricks and compression cubes. The smartest way to pack lighter is to bring clothes you'll actually wear, says Mansel, who writes the packing-list newsletter Just Packed.

👕 Find your travel uniform. Mansel suggests sticking to staples that work for all kinds of trips. Think: oversized button-downs, plain white tees and loose linen pants.

• "This eliminates the desire to bring any 'just in case' items," Mansel tells Axios.

🧴 Keep a mini-toiletry stash. Save Sephora samples, hotel shampoo bottles, travel-size toothpaste and contact solution bottles so you can "shop" your collection before each trip.

👟 For Europe, skip the leggings, which'll make you stand out as an American tourist. Prioritize comfortable linen and cotton pieces that you can easily wash or hand-wash.

🩴 For beach trips, less is more. Pack swimsuits, a cover-up, sandals and a few "throw-and-go" outfits.