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

Why it matters: Higher gas prices and airfare have pushed many travelers to rethink long-haul trips.

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.

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

Zoom out: Travelers still heading to Europe are swapping popular (and pricey) hot spots like the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como for lesser-known alternatives.

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

• In New Orleans, Breeze and Southwest have expanded their seasonal direct flights to Cancun.
• Meanwhile, British Airways has five direct flights weekly to London.

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.

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

• World Cup host cities Kansas City and San Francisco also made Kayak's top 10.

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."

Follow the money: Average domestic airfares are up nearly $100 year over year, per Kayak. International airfares are up nearly $200.

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👀 Legends Global, the company that manages the Caesars Superdome, cut ties with the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner this week after contract negotiations fell apart. (WDSU)

• Employees say they were laid off with only a week's notice. The city of Kenner is now in charge of operations.
• The venue is set to become the home of the Pelicans' G League affiliate team this fall. (NBA)

🏭 Air Products is not moving forward with its Ascension Parish project, which the company describes as the world's largest low-carbon energy complex. (Reuters and press release)

⚖️ Jimmie "Chris" Duncan has been freed from death row after the Louisiana Supreme Court deemed the evidence against him "scientifically indefensible." (Verite)

• He was imprisoned for 27 years. (Attorney statement)

🚗 A sinkhole trapped a car in New Orleans East. (WDSU)

🏛️ President Trump says he will nominate LSU grad Anna St. John to serve on the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. (The Times-Picayune and Truth Social)

• The 5th Circuit is one of the country's most conservative appellate courts. (Axios)

⚽️ Team USA plays Bosnia-Herzegovina tonight in a World Cup knockout game. (Local watch parties and game preview)

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.

State of play: Expedia's "Unpack '26" report highlights sports pilgrimages — timely given the World Cup.

• "57% of travelers say they're likely to attend a local sporting event while traveling, rising to 68% among Gen Z and Millennials combined," the report says.
• Expedia also highlights "hotel hopping:" staying at more than one hotel in the same area. It's a way of seeing different neighborhoods — or just saving money.

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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.

🧴 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. 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.

• Use a magnetic clip to attach a large sun hat to your tote.
• Buy full-size sunscreen when you arrive — so it's not the reason you need to check a bag — but Mansel always brings a travel-size bottle for her face.

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