Recreational & Visitor Travel

Understanding Visitor Travel Behavior

RSG’s recreational and visitor travel studies reveal how people experience destinations, from national parks to regional attractions and tourist corridors. We combine traditional survey methods such as household travel surveys with advanced mobility data analytics to help agencies and partners understand where visitors come from, how they move once they arrive at their destination, and how their choices affect transportation systems, communities, and natural resources in a region.

Many regions and visitor attractions face growing complexity as recreation and tourism grow. They must balance access and preservation, manage congestion, and plan for infrastructure that supports both residents and visitors.

• Visitor travel differs from resident travel: Patterns cross regions, vary by season, and respond to weather, events, and recreation opportunities.
• Traditional surveys alone fall short: Household travel surveys may struggle to capture the full picture of visitor movement and behavior.
• Better data enables better decisions: Leaders need clear insight into these dynamics to guide investments, enhance visitor experience, and protect what makes destinations special.

RSG delivers that clarity. We’ve worked across the country to measure and model recreational and visitor travel, applying survey design expertise and mobility data analytics to reveal how people move through parks, attractions, and communities.

• Capture the complete picture: Combine surveys with mobility data to understand both resident and visitor travel.
• Support parks and regions alike: Apply methods tailored to destinations ranging from national parks to fast-growing metropolitan areas.
• Enable sustainable planning: Equip agencies with insights that strengthen visitor experiences while preserving the places people come to see.