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New Enterprise Rent-A-Car Survey Reveals We'll Drive the Farthest for Love

"How Far Would You Drive?" Survey Explores Americans' Willingness to Go the Distance for Love, Family, Sports, Music

ST. LOUIS -- May 19, 2015: As the summer travel season gets underway, a new survey* from Enterprise Rent-A-Car reveals just where all those vehicles on the highway may be headed. The "How Far Would You Drive?" survey asked Americans to indicate how far they would drive to a variety of destinations. The bottom line? Love and family conquer all.

In particular, 42 percent of survey respondents indicated they would drive the farthest to see a love interest over any other activity and 25 percent indicated they would do so to attend a wedding. Significantly fewer people said they would drive the farthest to attend a sporting event, concert or political event.

In addition, more than one-third indicated they would drive five or more hours to attend a family reunion and a quarter said they would even drive five or more hours to meet their in-laws.

"We hear anecdotal stories from our customers all the time about what inspires them to embark on road trips and it's a thrill to see how we play a role in our customers' lives," said Lee Broughton, vice president, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Brand Marketing. "While love and family may spark individuals to drive the farthest, interests such as sports, music and food still earn significant car time."

Other noteworthy findings from the survey include:

Democrats and Republicans differ when it comes to driving to meet the President. 

  • More than one in four (28 percent) Democrats are willing to drive five or more hours to meet the President, while only one in 10 Republicans is willing to do the same.
  • The survey did provide one glimmer of bipartisanship, however: Neither Democrats nor Republicans are willing to drive far to meet a member of Congress. Only 15 percent of Democrats would drive three hours or more to meet a member of Congress, compared to 10 percent of Republicans.

Family trumps football (and other sports) when it comes to drive time.

  • Twenty percent are willing to drive 5+ hours to see their child's sporting event, while only 9 percent are willing to drive that same amount of time to see their favorite professional football team play.

However, sports fans are still willing to go a great distance to see their favorite teams play.

  • Fans of college football are willing to drive more than 230 miles to see their favorite team play - more than any other sport. Professional basketball fans are willing to drive 112 miles to see their favorite athlete or team play, the fewest miles of any other sport. By comparison, hockey fans are willing to drive 185 miles, baseball fans 164 miles, and professional football fans 165 miles.
  • Based on willingness to drive, professional football is the most popular sport in America. Eighty-two percent of respondents indicated they would drive to watch their favorite professional football team play. Soccer is the least popular sport for travel, with only 50 percent of respondents indicating a willingness to drive to watch their favorite professional soccer team play.
  • Only 12 percent of men say they would not drive to attend a sporting event, compared to nearly a quarter (23 percent) of women.

Music fans will drive an average of 150 miles to see their favorite band or artist live in concert.

  • Rap/Hip Hop fans are willing to drive the farthest (average of 183 miles) to see their favorite band or artist in concert. Electronic Dance Music fans are willing to drive the fewest miles (77) compared to other genres. By comparison, rock/metal fans are willing to drive 167 miles and country fans are willing to drive 166 miles.   
  • Americans living in the West are significantly less willing than those in other regions to drive to a country concert, while residents in the South are significantly less willing than those in other regions to drive to a rock/metal concert.
  • Two-fifths (40 percent) of top 40/pop music fans would drive two hours or more to attend a concert.

Married individuals will drive farther to see their spouse than those who are driving to visit a boyfriend or girlfriend.

  • Nearly 70 percent of those who are married (68 percent) would drive 5+ hours to see their spouse, while only 43 percent of non-married individuals in a relationship would drive that far to see a girlfriend or boyfriend.

Americans will also take a long drive to satisfy their love of good food.

  • One-third of respondents would drive up to two hours to eat at their favorite restaurant.