WASHINGTON, D.C.—AAA tasks 70.9 million vacationers will head 50 miles or extra from residence over the July 4th vacation journey interval. For the primary time, AAA regarded on the complete July 4th week, plus the Saturday earlier than and the Sunday after the vacation. This yr’s projected variety of vacationers for that interval is a 5 p.c enhance in comparison with 2023 and an 8 p.c enhance over 2019.
“With summer season holidays in full swing and the flexibleness of distant work, extra Individuals are taking prolonged journeys round Independence Day,” mentioned Paula Twidale, senior vice chairman of AAA Journey. “We anticipate this July 4th week would be the busiest ever with an extra 5.7 million folks touring in comparison with 2019.”
AAA tasks a file 60.6 million folks will journey by automobile over the July 4th week—that’s an extra 2.8 million vacationers in comparison with final yr. This yr’s quantity additionally surpasses 2019 when 55.3 million folks traveled by automobile over the July 4th week. AAA automobile rental companion Hertz says Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake Metropolis, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are the cities displaying the very best rental demand throughout the vacation week. The busiest pick-up days are projected to be Friday, June 28, Saturday, June 29, and Wednesday, July 3.
Gasoline costs are decrease than final yr when the nationwide common was $3.53. Pump costs will probably proceed happening main as much as July 4th. At that time, they’ll probably stage off and stay steady till after Labor Day, just like final yr. An necessary caveat is hurricane season—underway now—which might have an effect on gasoline costs ought to a storm negatively affect Gulf Coast oil manufacturing and refining facilities.
The variety of air vacationers can be anticipated to set a brand new file. AAA tasks 5.74 million folks will fly to their July 4th locations. That’s a rise of almost 7 p.c in comparison with final yr and a 12 p.c enhance over 2019. AAA reserving information exhibits home airfare is 2 p.c cheaper this July 4th week in comparison with final yr, and the common worth for a home roundtrip ticket is $800. Airports can be packed all through the week.
Greater than 4.6 million persons are anticipated to journey by different modes of transportation, together with buses, cruises, and trains. This class is seeing a rise of 9 p.c in comparison with final yr, however this yr’s quantity is shy of 2019’s determine of 4.79 million. Cruising continues its post-pandemic comeback. This time of yr, Alaska cruises are in excessive demand, making Seattle and Anchorage high home locations. Cruise vacationers are additionally discovering offers this summer season. With new ships coming onto the market—and going for a premium—some cruise strains have been providing focused reductions to fill older stock for remaining cabins.
Greatest/Worst Instances to Drive
INRIX, a supplier of transportation information and insights, says the worst instances to journey by automobile earlier than and on July 4th are between 2 p.m. and seven p.m. Drivers ought to hit the street within the morning, and vacationers returning on Monday, July eighth ought to keep away from rush hour site visitors within the morning and afternoon.
“Drivers in massive metro areas can count on the worst site visitors delays on Wednesday, July third, as they go away city, and Sunday, July seventh, as they return,” mentioned Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Street journeys over the vacation week might take as much as 67 p.c longer than regular. Vacationers ought to monitor 511 companies, native information stations, and site visitors apps for up-to-the-minute street situations.”
Prime Locations
This July 4th week, vacationers are cooling off within the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, in addition to by the ocean. Seattle, Vancouver, and Anchorage are high locations due to the recognition of Alaska cruises this time of yr. Seashores in South Florida, Honolulu, Punta Cana, and Barcelona are in excessive demand. Historic websites in European cities like London, Rome, Dublin, Paris, and Athens are additionally fashionable. The highest 10 home and worldwide locations are primarily based on AAA reserving information:
Home
- Seattle, Washington
- Orlando, Florida
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Miami, Florida
- New York, New York
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Denver, Colorado
- Anaheim/Los Angeles, California
Worldwide
- Vancouver, B.C., Canada
- London, England
- Rome, Italy
- Dublin, Eire
- Paris, France
- Calgary, A.B., Canada
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Athens, Greece
- Barcelona, Spain
