This year is the 250th anniversary of American independence, and many across the country wish to experience it in cooler destinations.
A record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles for the 4th of July, according to AAA projections. This marks an increase of about 300,000 travelers from last year’s Independence Day. The vast majority, approximately 61 million people, will travel by car. That figure held steady from last year, despite a 20% increase in gas prices driven by the war in Iran.
“For many Americans, traveling the week of July 4th is tradition,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “The 9-day travel forecast includes travelers who are vacationing all week and people just getting away for the long holiday weekend. While the overall number of Independence Day travelers appears to be plateauing, we’re still expecting record volumes this year.”
More than 5.8 million travelers are expected to take domestic flights, a slight increase, with round-trip tickets averaging about $830. Alternative transportation methods—including buses, trains, and boats—are seeing the largest year-over-year growth, increasing by 5.3% to 4.93 million people.
To avoid the worst highway congestion, AAA recommends driving in the morning on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Those returning home on July 4th should travel in the late afternoon. Drivers on Sunday should anticipate heavy traffic throughout the day.
For destinations, booking data shows Seattle as the top domestic choice, while Vancouver, British Columbia, leads international travel. These cooler locales are highly sought after as much of the central and eastern United States faces record-high temperatures putting a damper on outdoor festivities.
