VIRGINIA BEACH — AAA is projecting 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Independence Day holiday period Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6.
This year’s domestic travel forecast is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019, AAA said, noting its Independence Day forecast includes two weekends instead of one to better reflect the flow of holiday travelers.
“Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July Fourth 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, a 2.2% increase over last year, and the highest volume on record. This Independence Day holiday period is expected to see an additional 1.3 million road travelers compared to 2024. AAA noted drivers are getting a big break at the pump with summer gas prices the lowest they’ve been since 2021 — about 40 cents less a gallon than this time last year.
By Air: The number of people traveling by air is also projected to set a new record. 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, it added.
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, just shy of the 2019 record of 4.79 million.
Best/Worst Times to Travel
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6 to be the busiest days on the road. Afternoon hours will be the most congested. AAA suggests drivers hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst traffic, but keep in mind construction, crashes, or severe weather could impact travel times. Watch for stopped vehicles and Slow Down, Move Over for emergency responders.
Top Destinations
The top holiday destinations listed below are based on AAA booking data for the Independence Day travel period. AAA notes Alaska cruises are in peak season, Florida and Hawaii are in high demand for their resorts and attractions, and New York and Boston host two of the most popular fireworks shows in the nation. Internationally, Vancouver tops the list followed by Europe’s most in-demand cities during the summer.
