Flying or Driving This July 4th: AAA is projecting 72.2 million people to travel at least 50 miles from home between Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, July 6. That would mean 1.7 million additional trips over last year and 7 million over 2019. Now more than ever with lower gas prices, the lowest we’ve seen since 2021, this is alluring, though global wild cards such as recent clash in the Middle East and the threat of hurricanes striking the Gulf Coast states could again rattle supply. Look for the worst driving days to be Wednesday afternoon, July 2, and Sunday, July 6, as ongoing travelers leave and new vacationers arrive. To help prevent gridlock, to plan extra travel time, or to travel before gridlock occurs, plan to travel early morning on those days.
Flying or Driving This July 4th
“With the holiday landing on a Friday, Friday travelers have the opportunity to extend it into a long weekend or take the whole week to create lasting memories with family and friends,” AAA Travel Vice President Stacey Barber.
AAA is predicting record travel this summer by both automobile and air. It estimates 61.6 million more people will travel by car, an increase of 2.2 percent over last year, and 5.84 million travelers will go through the nation’s airports, an increase of 1.4%. It predicted that 8% of all travelers during the Independence Day holiday will fly.
When to Book & Best Times to Fly
Air travel is about to shatter records: 5.84 million people will take to the air this holiday week—a 1.4% increase over last year’s record high. Roundtrip domestic fares are currently averaging about $810, a 4% increase over last year. Looking to get more out of your advocacy work?
- Fly on the less popular days like Tuesday or Wednesday before the Fourth. These are usually the least busy and most affordable days to fly.
- Flying on July 4 ; Independence Day is the best holiday to fly on.
- Return on Monday (July 7) or Tuesday (July 8) to outsmart the rush of Sunday return travelers.
Best Time to Hit the Road or Airport
- Driving: Leave early mornings, especially on July 2 and July 6, to dodge peak traffic .
- Flying: Check-in early (2 hours domestic), fly on July 4 or mid-week. Morning flights on July 4 have better on-time performance.
Here are the best travel times:
- Saturday, June 28 – Before 10 a.m.
- Sunday, June 29 – Before 11 a.m.
- Monday, June 30 – Before noon
- Tuesday, July 1 – Before 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 2 – Before noon
- Thursday, July 3 – Before noon
- Friday, July 4 – Before noon
- Saturday, July 5 – Before 11 a.m.
- Sunday, July 6 – Before 11 a.m.
Below are the worst travel times:
- Saturday, June 28 – Between noon and 5 p.m.
- Sunday, June 29 – Between 2 and 4 p.m.
- Monday, June 30 – Between 2 and 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 1 – Between 3 and 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 2 – Between noon and 9 p.m.
- Thursday, July 3 – Between 2 and 6 p.m.
- Friday, July 4 – Between noon and 7 p.m.
- Saturday, July 5 – Between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Sunday, July 6 – Between noon and 6 p.m
What are the top 4th of July destinations?
According to AAA booking data for the July 4 travel period, the top three domestic destinations are Orlando (FL), Seattle (WA), New York, (NY) while internationally the most US travelers are flocking to Vancouver (Canada), Rome (Italy) and Paris (France).
Top places list:
- Orlando, Fla.
- Seattle, Wash.
- New York, N.Y.
- Achorage, Alaska
- Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Denver, Colo.
- Miami, Fla.
- Boston, Mass.
- Atlanta, Ga.
- Vancouver, Canada
- Rome, Italy
- Paris, France
- London, England
- Barcelona, Spain
- Dublin, Ireland
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Calgary, Canada
- Athens, Greece
- Lisbon, Portugal
Peak congestion times in major U.S. cities
Atlanta
- Departing: Sunday, June 29, from Atlanta to Birmingham on I-20 W at 12:15 p.m.
- Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Savannah to Atlanta on I-16 W at 2:30 p.m.
Boston
- Departing: Saturday, June 28, from Boston to Hyannis on Route 3 S at 10:45 a.m.
- Returning: Saturday, July 5, from Hyannis to Boston on Route 3 N at 11:45 a.m.
Denver
- Departing: Monday, June 30, from Denver to Fort Collins on I-25 N at 1:45 p.m.
- Returning: Saturday, July 5, from Fort Collins to Denver on I-25 S at 6:30 p.m.
Houston
- Departing: Saturday, June 28, from Houston to Galveston on I-45 S at 11:15 a.m.
- Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Galveston to Houston on I-45 N at 11:45 a.m.
Los Angeles
- Departing: Saturday, June 28, from Los Angeles to San Diego on I-5 S at 5 p.m.
- Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on I-15 S at 5 p.m.
New York
- Departing: Tuesday, July 1, from New York to Jersey Shore on Garden State Pkwy S at 4:30 p.m.
- Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Albany to New York on I-87 S at 4:15 a.m.
San Francisco
- Departing: Wednesday, July 2, from San Francisco to Sacramento on I-80 E at 5:30 p.m.
- Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Sacramento to San Francisco on I-80 W at 4:30 p.m.
Seattle
- Departing: Wednesday, July 2, from Seattle to Ocean Shores on I-5 S at 5:45 p.m.
- Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Ellensburg to Seattle on I-90 E at 430 p.m.
Washington, D.C.
- Departing: Saturday, June 28, from Washington, D.C. to Annapolis on US-50 E at 1:45 p.m.
- Returning: Friday, July 4, from Annapolis to Washington, D.C. on US-50 W at 11:30 a.m.
Plan Like a Pro: Flying or Driving This July 4th
1. Drive as a passenger in one of the National Parks’ electric shuttles. Try not to travel during rush hours. Utilize traffic applications or 511 services to communicate live updates.
2. Book your flights 3–4 weeks in advance. Book on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Pack little luggage, carry-ons, use facial recognition at major airports to cut down wait times .
3. Keep an eye on fares. Sign up for fare alerts and be flexible. Traveling on different days of the week can reduce costs by $75–150.
4. If you plan to rent, especially for the July 4th holiday, be prepared for heavy demand and high volumes of pickups over the week of July 3rd, so book early and often.
Airport officials are looking to reduce that crowding with facial recognition technology.
That’s what customs officials are saying as wait times are already cut by 25% due to this speedy tech, which just recently went live at nine international arrivals airports nationwide.
For most people driving is still the cheapest, most convenient way to get around with low gas prices and a strong road crowd in turns. If you are determined to fly, there are some strategies with timing like mid-week departures, holiday-day flights, and early booking that can bring you savings and fewer delays.
Wherever your travels take you, trip planning and traveling during off-peak times can save you money and time, while making your trip more convenient and enjoyable.
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