AAA has projected that 72.2 million Americans will travel domestically during the Independence Day holiday period, which spans from June 28 to July 6. This marks an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019. The forecast now includes two weekends to better accommodate the flow of holiday travelers.
Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel, noted, "Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away." She added that with the holiday falling on a Friday this year, travelers have options for either a long weekend or a full week trip.
AAA anticipates that car travel will see significant growth with an estimated 61.6 million people hitting the road, representing a 2.2% increase over last year and setting a new record for volume. In light of this increase, AAA advises travelers to perform routine vehicle maintenance before their trips and pack emergency kits.
Gas prices remain relatively low due to stable crude oil prices despite recent fluctuations influenced by geopolitical tensions and potential disruptions from Atlantic hurricanes.
Air travel is also expected to set new records with about 5.84 million people flying during this period—an increase from last year's figures. According to AAA data, domestic roundtrip flights are averaging $810, slightly higher than last year.
Other modes of transportation such as buses, trains, and cruises are predicted to grow by 7.4%, nearly matching pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019.
The top destinations based on AAA bookings include Orlando, Seattle, New York City domestically; internationally Vancouver leads followed by several European cities like Rome and Paris.
According to INRIX transportation data provider predictions, Wednesday July 2nd and Sunday July 6th will be particularly busy days on roads with afternoon hours being most congested.
AAA's forecasts are developed in collaboration with S&P Global Market Intelligence using various economic indicators while historical estimates come from MMGY’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM study measuring U.S residents' travel behavior extensively since its inception.