Get ready for a record-breaking travel week. AAA is projecting that 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday. That's an increase of 1.7 million travelers over last year and 7 million more than back in the 2019 before Covid. AAA cites the July 4th holiday travel period as from this past Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6, which includes two weekends instead of one to better reflects the flow of holiday travelers.
“Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week. With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.”
Independence Day Travelers by Mode of Transportation
By Car: AAA projects 61.6 million people will travel by car, which is up 2.2% (1.3 million) over last year, and the highest volume on record. Like Car Pro Show host Jerry Reynolds, AAA recommends getting routine vehicle maintenance ahead of your trip (check out our summer travel checklist here) and packing an emergency kit. Last July 4th week, AAA says it responded to nearly 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls for issues like dead batteries and flat tires, plus people locking themselves out of their car or running out of gas.
When it comes to gas prices, great news. Despite some increases at the pump, AAA says summer gas prices are still the lowest they’ve been since 2021. We can thank the price of crude oil for keeping gas prices on the lower side. AAA says the Israel Iran conflict has driven up the price of oil in recent days but not dramatically. Escalation and duration of the conflict are two factors to watch. Of course, as always, weather is also a wild card. The Atlantic hurricane season is getting underway, and NOAA predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season. AAA reminds us that storms along the Gulf Coast can affect oil refineries and disrupt fuel deliveries, leading to a temporary increase in gas prices.
For travelers who are renting cars, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Thursday, July 3rd is expected to be the busiest day to pick up vehicles. AAA lists some the most popular places to visit this year according to its advanced bookings are: Orlando, Denver, Boston, Oahu, and Seattle. Hertz says most drivers are looking to rent SUVs and midsize sedans.
By Air: Air travel is also projected to set a new record this July 4th. AAA expects 5.84 million travelers will fly to their destinations; that’s 8% of all Independence Day travelers. This year’s projection is a 1.4% increase over the previous record set last Independence Day week of 5.76 million air travelers.
According to AAA data, based on what travelers paid when they booked their July 4th trips, a roundtrip domestic flight is averaging $810, 4% more expensive than last year. AAA says when booking last-minute flights for summer trips, consider flying on weekdays like Tuesdays or Wednesdays for the best deals.
By Other Modes: Travel by other modes is expected to grow by 7.4% over last year. AAA projects 4.78 million people will travel by bus, train, or cruise. This year’s number is just shy of the 2019 record of 4.79 million. Cruising is driving the popularity of this category, particularly this time of year, when Alaska cruise season is in full swing.
For the rest of the report, including the best times to travel by car, click here.
Austin, TX. Photo Credit: Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock.com.