The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects a 2.2% increase in travelers by road this Fourth of July holiday compared to last year, with 61.6 million expected people traveling by car out of 72.2 million total projected travelers. The estimates are for U.S. travel the nine days between June 28 to July 6.
That’s the highest volume of car travelers for this period on record, according to AAA.
“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.”
Drivers are seeing some increases at the pump, but summer gas prices are still the lowest they’ve been since 2021, according to AAA. This year, the price of crude oil has kept gas prices on the lower side.
The Israel-Iran conflict has driven up the price of oil but not dramatically, AAA said. Escalation and duration of the conflict are two factors to watch.
Weather is also a wild card, according to AAA. The Atlantic hurricane season is underway, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season. Storms along the Gulf Coast can affect oil refineries and disrupt fuel deliveries, leading to a temporary increase in gas prices.
The top domestic holiday destinations for this time period include Orlando, Florida; Seattle; New York; Anchorage, Alaska; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Honolulu; Denver; Miami; Boston; and Atlanta, according to AAA.
INRIX, a transportation data and insights provider, expects July 2 and July 6 to be the busiest days on the road. Afternoon hours will be the most congested.
AAA’s Independence Day forecast includes two weekends instead of one to better reflect the flow of holiday travelers.
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