I always tell people that are going in to this career to do so with the expectation that they'll be gone a lot! Start out single, or with a VERY understanding significant other. My girlfriend understands that if/when I'm flying for an airline, she'll probably only see me two days a week. She doesn't terribly like it, but she understands it is part of the deal.
That said, most airlines whose schedules I've seen offer a variety of trips, anything from day trips (out and backs or turns) to two, three, four, and even five day trips. Some airlines (Continental for one) have trips that are four days at the longest. Others (Northwest I know is one) do five day trips. Of course, if you're talking UPS or FedEx, particularly on the international side, trips could get longer still.
In order to take advantage of day trips, you would really have to live in domicile. You could wake up in the morning, fly your trip, and be back in your own bed by evening. If you commuted, it would cut way back on your home time ... indeed, people who commute typically avoid day trips like the plague because of the hassle involved.
This job is all about priorities ... and everyone's experience is a little different because their priorities are a little different. Some people want to stay home a lot, others want to see the world. Some don't mind moving to live in domicile, others insist on living where they want to live and commuting. Some people are happy flying domestic, while others want to chase the widebody, overseas flying. It all depends on what you want to do ... and remember, seniority is everything. Early on, the company owns you. Later, as you become more senior, you begin to have some measure of control over your schedule. Of course, it's still ultimately based on whatever lines the company cranks out. Remember, you can't make chicken soup from chicken poop ... and you could be top 10% seniority on your position, but if all the lines in your position are crappy, you're just as screwed whether you're the top guy or the bottom.
I will also make a plug here for corporate aviation. Corporate eliminates the commute because you live where you fly. The variety of schedules here is even wider than at the airlines, but in the two years at my present job I don't think I've ever had more than six or seven RONs a month. Probably 70% of our trips are day trips. My job isn't typical, but jobs like it are out there.
Ultimately, if extensive travel is REALLY a problem for you, then this probably isn't the right field for you. You just have to accept (and more importantly, your family and friends must accept) that as part of this profession you will probably be gone a lot. It's just part of the game.
Good luck!
Russ