Despite rising travel costs, Americans still will pack their bags for July 4 getaways.
This year, AAA projects a record 72.2 million Americans will travel, including 61.4 million who will hit the road, for the holiday period between June 27 and July 5 — slightly more than the 61.3 million drivers last year — despite higher prices.
Gas prices are at a four-year high and domestic flights to popular destinations such as Chicago and Denver are 5% costlier than they were last year.
Risers are constructed June 16 on the National Mall in Washington ahead of the Fourth of July festivities for the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence.
"For many Americans, traveling the week of July 4th is tradition,” Vice President of AAA Travel Stacey Barber said in a June 17 news release. "The 9-day travel forecast includes travelers who are vacationing all week and people just getting away for the long holiday weekend. While the overall number of Independence Day travelers appears to be plateauing, we're still expecting record volumes this year."
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Here's what travelers should know about the July 4 weekend.
Top destinations
Domestic travelers will head to major U.S. cities like New York, Chicago and Boston to attend festivities celebrating July 4 and America's 250th birthday, AAA said. Many also will go to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to visit theme parks and embark on cruises. With the Alaska cruise season in full swing, Seattle, Anchorage and Fairbanks also are popular domestic destinations for the holiday.
European destinations of Rome, Dublin, Paris and London top the list for international travelers. Many also will head north to Vancouver and Calgary, according to AAA.
Best driving times
Travelers should be on the road in the morning to avoid the worst congestion, transportation data and insights firm INRIX said. Monday, June 29, and Tuesday, June 30, are expected to have the least traffic.
Here are the best times to travel by car:
- Saturday, June 27: Before 10 a.m.
- Sunday, June 28: Before 11 a.m.
- Monday, June 29: Before noon
- Tuesday, June 30: Before 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 1: Before noon
- Thursday, July 2: Before noon
- Friday, July 3: Before 11 a.m.
- Saturday, July 4: After 3 p.m.
- Sunday, July 5: Before 11 a.m.
Automobiles drive in heavy traffic along the Long Island Expressway in the Queens borough of New York.
Worst driving times
According to INRIX, the heaviest traffic is expected on the weekend of July 4, starting as early as Thursday. There also will be peak congestion on June 27 as travelers kick off weeklong vacations.
Here are the worst times to drive:
- Saturday, June 27: Noon to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, June 28: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Monday, June 29: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 30: 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 1: noon to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, July 2: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, July 3: noon to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, July 4: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Sunday, July 5: Noon to 6 p.m.
