As more travellers are expected to holiday closer to home this year, new research from Goboony, the leading campervan and motorhome sharing platform, suggests road trips are becoming about far more than sightseeing.
A survey of 2,158 travellers and motorhome owners across seven European countries found that campervan adventures are increasingly being used as a way to reset, reflect and recharge during life’s biggest transitions, while helping people discover the beauty of destinations on their own doorstep.
The research found that 83% of respondents would consider a campervan trip to process an important life event. While retirement (54%) and burnout (50%) were the most common reasons cited, many travellers also viewed the open road as a way to navigate emotional upheaval. One in three (33%) said they would consider a campervan journey following a breakup or divorce, while more than a quarter (26%) would take one after losing a loved one. Almost 30% said they would embark on a road trip during a career change, while 19% would use one to help adjust to empty nest syndrome.
The findings suggest road trips are increasingly being viewed as a form of “road trip therapy”, offering people the time, space and freedom to process major life changes away from the pressures of everyday life. The desire to disconnect was also evident, with almost four in ten travellers (39%) saying they would actively seek destinations with no phone signal or Wi-Fi, and most saying just a few days offline is enough to feel recharged.
The restorative impact of road travel is clear. Road trips scored an average wellbeing rating of 88.6% for improving mood and outlook, while 79% of respondents said they felt refreshed for longer after a campervan trip than after a hotel or resort holiday. 81% also said they had taken a road trip that had a lasting impact on their lives.
As households look for new, affordable, flexible ways to travel in 2026, campervan holidays are allowing people to explore coastlines, national parks, countryside escapes and hidden gems closer to home, without sacrificing the sense of adventure traditionally associated with overseas travel.
Goboony currently connects travellers with more than 25,000 vehicles and has helped 1.7 million people explore the UK and Europe.
