You might still be traveling this year; it just may be to places other than Wisconsin State Parks. Travel insurance company Allianz Partners says more American are packing their bags and flying overseas rather than piling into the family vehicle for a road trip. Travel to Europe this year is expected to go up 600 percent compared to last year after many COVID-19-related restrictions have been lifted. It has caused domestic travel to return to Earth after tourists sprung to nearby outdoor spaces. Eric Hyde, the superintendent for Peninsula, Newport, and Rock Island state parks, says it has been slower since they reached record highs in 2021. While Rock Island State Park traffic has stayed steady after its forced closure in 2020, Peninsula State Park’s traffic was down about 25 percent in June compared to last year at the same time. Hyde believes it is due to several different factors.

Hyde says campsites have stayed full on the weekends with maybe a few more open campsites during the weekdays than last year. Now may be the best time to visit Peninsula State Park with the state working on the final details to repave portions of Shore Road in the park this fall.