Do you prefer staycations or getaways? Both are wonderful in their own ways. When you love your home sweet home, a staycation can be just as refreshing as a getaway. At Rove Lab, we’re passionate about providing effortless ways to create living spaces worth spending time in. Part of achieving this is understanding the tastes and lifestyles of families across the United States. Our team analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use Survey to determine where in the United States people favor staycations instead of getaways. Here are the results:
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Of the 8,234 participants in the survey who were on vacation the day before their interview, 43.86% were enjoying their time off at home. Among respondents from North Dakota, 72.70% were on a staycation — the highest percentage among all states. North Dakota welcomes nearly 22 million visitors each year, so it is no surprise that residents enjoy vacations right at home.
What Is the Difference Between a Staycation and a Vacation?
A staycation means taking a vacation without leaving your home or simply going on a day trip, whereas a vacation typically involves staying somewhere other than your own house. Both ways to enjoy your free time have their perks.
Why Choose a Staycation?
The benefits of a staycation include saving money on transportation and lodging costs, avoiding the stress of traveling (especially around the holidays), and having more time to explore and support your local community. You can enjoy the easygoing opportunities to catch up on sleep, dabble in projects, or practice self-care. It is easier to include your beloved pets, too, without worrying about the cost and hassle of arranging care. How nice does a movie night in a cuddle puddle on the couch sound? No need to pack either, so you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything. Last but not least, staycations are a more sustainable way to take a holiday, a practice that is a priority at Rove Lab.
Why Choose a Vacation?
Of course, the benefits of a vacation away are abundant as well, and there is plenty of science to prove it. While the human brain loves routine, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. The less you have to predict, the less your brain has to work. Here is what psychologist Susan Albers, PsyD, says about why vacations are healthy for your brain: “Taking time off is one of the best ways to become more creative, make better decisions and increase your focus.”
Part of why getaways are important is the buildup of stress. When we are stressed, our bodies are bombarded with a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol affects our brain’s ability to process and recall information, making it easier to become overwhelmed and anxious. This, in turn, leads to more stress, creating a vicious cycle. Vacations provide an opportunity to break that cycle, explains Dr. Albers: “Any time we experience a new activity, new neural connections form in the brain. Those new pathways help you see things from different perspectives and improve your problem-solving skills. It also decreases some of those stress hormones, which improves your mood.”
While staycations can also help reduce cortisol, the novelty of getaways can enrich this decompression. Another study by public health professor Brooks B. Gump found that those who took vacations annually over a span of nine years experienced a 20% reduction in their overall risk of death and a 30% reduction in the risk of dying by heart disease.
Of course, choosing between a staycation and a vacation away depends on your personal preferences and needs. Either way, taking time to relax can do wonders for your overall health and happiness.
Why It Matters to Rove Lab
At Rove Lab, we believe that being at home should feel like a welcoming escape from the world's chaos. By intentionally designing your space, you can create a rejuvenating sanctuary that reflects your sense of style and luxury. Whether you are enjoying free time at home or returning from vacation, having a comfortable place to unwind and breathe is priceless. After all, there is nothing quite like sleeping in your own bed or sprawling out on a cloud-like sofa after a grueling day. Need some ideas for creating a cozy space worth spending your precious vacation time? Here are some interior design tips from our blog:
- How to Refresh Home Decor – Sometimes all it takes is a little sprucing up.
- How to Make a Desk Look Good in a Living Room – If you want to achieve a hotel room vibe, this is for you.
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How to Design a Scandinavian Living Room – Create a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of a Nordic getaway.
How to Style a Mediterranean Living Room – Transform your space into a warm, sun-drenched coastal retreat.
Where Do Americans Prefer Staycations Over Getaways?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use Survey interviews respondents from around the United States on how they spent their time on the previous day. In the five-year period between 2020 and 2024, the American Time Use Survey interviewed 758,738 participants, 8,234 of whom were employed and were on vacation on the day prior to their interview. Of those participants, 3,611, or 43.86%, were taking their time off at home. In other words, those people chose a staycation over a vacation away from home. Here’s how each state stacks up:
| # | State | Total | Converted | Conversion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 11 | 8 | 72.70% |
| 2 | Hawaii | 55 | 39 | 70.91% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 164 | 99 | 60.37% |
| 4 | Mississippi | 72 | 42 | 58.33% |
| 5 | Connecticut | 58 | 33 | 56.90% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 57 | 32 | 56.14% |
| 7 | Delaware | 27 | 15 | 55.56% |
| 8 | Colorado | 208 | 111 | 53.37% |
| 9 | Texas | 597 | 318 | 53.27% |
| 10 | Kansas | 110 | 58 | 52.73% |
| 11 | Washington | 262 | 138 | 52.67% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 33 | 17 | 51.52% |
| 13 | Kentucky | 182 | 92 | 50.55% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 326 | 164 | 50.31% |
| 15 | Oregon | 88 | 44 | 50.00% |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 135 | 66 | 48.89% |
| 17 | Illinois | 415 | 202 | 48.67% |
| 18 | Missouri | 194 | 93 | 47.94% |
| 19 | New York | 270 | 129 | 47.78% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 41 | 19 | 46.34% |
| 21 | Maryland | 89 | 41 | 46.07% |
| 22 | Utah | 42 | 19 | 45.24% |
| 23 | Georgia | 232 | 104 | 44.83% |
| 24 | California | 715 | 319 | 44.62% |
| 25 | Arizona | 65 | 28 | 43.08% |
| 26 | South Carolina | 112 | 48 | 42.86% |
| 26 | Virginia | 336 | 144 | 42.86% |
| 28 | Iowa | 137 | 58 | 42.34% |
| 29 | New Mexico | 116 | 48 | 41.38% |
| 30 | New Jersey | 193 | 76 | 39.38% |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | 186 | 73 | 39.25% |
| 32 | Florida | 469 | 183 | 39.02% |
| 33 | North Carolina | 303 | 114 | 37.62% |
| 34 | Louisiana | 132 | 49 | 37.12% |
| 35 | Alabama | 227 | 83 | 36.56% |
| 36 | Wyoming | 28 | 10 | 35.71% |
| 37 | Nevada | 31 | 11 | 35.48% |
| 38 | Michigan | 139 | 49 | 35.25% |
| 39 | Nebraska | 113 | 39 | 34.51% |
| 40 | Tennessee | 258 | 88 | 34.11% |
| 41 | Wisconsin | 267 | 91 | 34.08% |
| 42 | Ohio | 357 | 116 | 32.49% |
| 43 | Indiana | 233 | 72 | 30.90% |
| 44 | Vermont | 22 | 6 | 27.27% |
| 45 | Arkansas | 56 | 15 | 26.79% |
| 46 | Idaho | 70 | 8 | 11.43% |
| * | United States | 8,233 | 3,611 | 43.86% |
*No respondents from Alaska, Maine, Montana, or West Virginia reported being on vacation on the day prior to the interview.
Source:
Sarah M. Flood, Liana C. Sayer, and Daniel Backman. American Time Use Survey Data Extract Builder: Version 3.3 [dataset]. College Park, MD: University of Maryland and Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS, 2025. https://doi.org/10.18128/D060.V3.3