Most Americans stay inside more on uncomfortably hot days

May 11, 2026 · n = 1,000 · MoE ±3.3%Source report ↗

Core finding

When a summer day turns uncomfortably hot, most Americans (59%) say they are more likely to stay inside their homes, and nearly half are less likely to spend time outdoors in nature (48%) or to exercise outside (46%), a May 2026 Verasight survey finds.

Smaller shares say they are more likely to exercise inside (27%), less likely to socialize in person (22%), or more likely to use social media to connect with others (17%). Another 15% say none of these describes how their behavior changes.

Selected responses

Most Americans stay inside more on uncomfortably hot days.

Select any of the following statements which describe how your behavior changes on an uncomfortably hot summer day, relative to a more comfortable summer day

I'm more likely to stay inside my home in general
58.5%
I'm less likely to spend time outdoors in nature
47.9%
I'm less likely to exercise outside
45.7%
I'm more likely to exercise inside
26.7%
I'm less likely to socialize in person
22.0%
I'm more likely to use social media to connect with others
16.6%
None of the above
15.4%

n = 1,000 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%

Respondents could select more than one option, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
ModeVerasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
PopulationUS adults age 18+
Field datesMay 11, 2026
Base (unweighted)1,000
Margin of error±3.3%
Modulepolitics
SponsorVerasight
Weight variableweight
Weighting targetsage, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

  1. 01

    Select any of the following statements which describe how your behavior changes on an uncomfortably hot summer day, relative to a more comfortable summer day

    reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26

Cite this question

Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.