Record-Breaking Travel Volumes Expected July 4th Weekend

AAA projects 50.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Independence Day weekend, setting a new record for the holiday.

Domestic travel over the upcoming long weekend will increase by 2.1 million people compared to 2022. This year’s projection surpasses the previous July 4^th weekend record set in 2019 of 49 million travelers.

‘We’ve never projected travel numbers this high for Independence Day weekend,’ said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. ‘What this tells us is that despite inventory being limited and some prices 50% higher, consumers are not cutting back on travel this summer. Many of them heeded our advice and booked early, another sign of strong travel demand.’

This July 4^th weekend is expected to set a new record for the number of Americans traveling by car for the holiday. AAA expects 43.2 million people will drive to their destinations, an increase of 2.4% over 2022 and 4% higher than 2019. This summer, gas prices are well below what they were one year ago.

Air travel is also expected to set a new record. AAA projects 4.17 million Americans will fly to their destinations Independence Day weekend, an increase of 11.2% over 2022 and 6.6% over 2019. The previous July 4^th weekend air travel record of 3.91 million travelers was set in 2019. The share of air travelers in the overall holiday forecast this year is an impressive 8.2% – the highest percentage in nearly 20 years.

Friday, June 30 is expected to be the busiest day on the roads during the Independence Day holiday weekend, with average travel times up nearly 30% over normal. Leaving in the morning or after 6 p.m. is the best way to avoid the heaviest holiday congestion.