Lost Landmarks: Greyhound Survey Reveals Surprising Behaviors of U.S. Travelers

Study of Domestic Travel Shows Americans Skip Major Landmarks, Flock to Sunshine States

DALLAS, May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans making their summer travel plans will likely skip some of the nation's most popular landmarks. That's one of the surprising findings from Greyhound's first-ever "Hit the Road" survey, a poll of 1,000 nationally representative American adults exploring how often they travel, where they go and how they get there.

The survey found that Americans like to travel regularly for pleasure, with 82 percent taking at least one leisure trip each year. But while they may be itching to hit the road, few Americans have visited the nation's iconic landmarks such as Mount Rushmore (19 percent), the Liberty Bell (27 percent) and Niagara Falls (35 percent). Even the Washington Monument in our nation's capitol has been seen by less than half (42 percent) of Americans.

"We're surprised to find that more U.S. travelers aren't choosing to visit some of our nation's wonderful monuments," said Kim Plaskett, director, corporate communications, Greyhound. "We encourage travelers to see America by hitting the road this summer, but leave the car behind. The bus provides a safe, inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to take in the sights, especially in light of high gas prices."

The survey also found that 37 percent of Americans have been to less than 10 U.S. states in their lifetime. Florida tops the list of the most-visited states (62 percent), followed by California (56 percent) and New York (51 percent). Despite its beautiful scenery, Alaska is the least visited state in the country with just 13 percent venturing that far north.

Finally, Americans planning their vacations this summer are also more likely to travel someplace new, with 62 percent saying they would prefer a destination that they haven't previously visited. Midwesterners in particular seem more adventurous, with more than seven in ten (71 percent) preferring to go to a new destination.

"With sky-high gas prices, congested airports and fewer amenities on airlines despite higher fares, summer travelers are looking for ways to get the best value for their money," said Plaskett. "Greyhound offers a relaxing and cost-effective alternative for exploring new vacation destinations."

The Greyhound "Hit the Road" Survey was conducted online by Kelton Research from March 19 to March 24, 2008. Quotas are set to ensure a reliable and accurate representation of the total population of Americans ages 18 and over. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About Greyhound

Greyhound is the largest North American provider of intercity bus transportation, serving more than 2,300 destinations with nearly 13,000 daily departures across the continent. The company also provides Greyhound PackageXpress (GPX), as well as charters and shore services. For fare and schedule information and to buy tickets call 1-800-231-2222 or visit the Web site at www.greyhound.com.

About Kelton Research

Kelton Research is a full service market research consultancy with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington DC. Kelton serves as a strategic partner to both Fortune 500 corporations and smaller companies, utilizing a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to drive tactical recommendations for clients. For more information about Kelton's services, please call (310) 479-4040 or visit www.keltonresearch.com.

Source: Greyhound Lines, Inc.

CONTACT: Eva Wong, +1-415-486-3235, for Greyhound Lines, Inc.

Web site: http://www.greyhound.com/