Fourth of July travel expected to set records this week
With barbecue food, fireworks-filled nights and days off work upon us, more Americans than ever are ready to hit the roads and air this holiday week.
According to AAA’s Fourth of July travel report, a record 70.9 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home the rest of the week, which is a 5% increase compared to 2023 and an 8% increase when compared to 2019.
“With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019.”
AAA projects a record 60.6 million Americans will travel by car this weekend, which is up by 2.8 million compared to last year.
Car rental company Hertz, a partner of AAA, said Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and San Francisco are the cities displaying the highest rental demand during the holiday week.
“It’s a big road trip holiday,” AAA spokesperson Jim Garrity said. “It seems to be a continuation of what we have been seeing and that’s excitement to get back to traveling and making those memories. Gasoline prices are still relatively expensive, but the prices are kind of baked in and people can budget around them.”
As of July 2, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline stood at $3.49, while the average in Pennsylvania came is $3.63, according to AAA.
The average price in Butler County came up barely above the state’s average at $3.64.
This time last year, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline stood at $3.53.
“Prices are almost exactly what they were this time last year,” Garrity said. “We have seen them go up and down this year. It all depends on crude oil. Demand has been fairly steady throughout the summer.”
The number of air travelers also is expected to set a record for the Fourth of July weekend, with an estimated 5.74 million travelers.
This comes at a 7% increase compared to 2023, and a 12% increase when compared to 2019.
AAA booking data shows domestic airfare is 2% cheaper this Independence Day week compared to last year, and the average price for a domestic round trip ticket is $800.
It also recommends arriving two hours early to the airport, reserving parking ahead of time and traveling with carry-on luggage versus checked bags to save time and money.
“If you normally do two hours, bump it up to two and a half, maybe three hours,” Garrity said. “If you get there early, that gives you time to hang out at the airport and enjoy all it has to offer.”
More that 4.6 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation — such as cruises, buses and trains — which represents a 9% increase when compared to last year.
Garrity said when traveling on the road, it would be best to avoid driving on July 3 entirely, especially during normal rush hour traffic times.
“Early in the morning or later in the afternoon are going to be your best bet,” Garrity said. “You also want to avoid midday Sunday. It’s a record-setting number of people on the road, so give yourself as much time as possible no matter when you go out.”
