Almost 71 Million Individuals Anticipated to Journey over July 4th Week

AAA initiatives 70.9 million vacationers will head 50 miles or extra from house over the Independence Day 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 12 months’s projected variety of vacationers for that point interval is a 5% improve in comparison with 2023 and an 8% improve over 2019.

“With summer season holidays in full swing and the pliability of distant work, extra People are taking prolonged journeys round Independence Day,” mentioned Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Journey. “We anticipate this July 4th week would be the busiest ever with a further 5.7 million folks touring in comparison with 2019.”

AAA initiatives a report 60.6 million folks will journey by automobile over Independence Day week – that’s a further 2.8 million vacationers in comparison with final 12 months. This 12 months’s quantity additionally surpasses 2019 when 55.3 million folks traveled by automobile over July 4th week. AAA automobile rental accomplice Hertz says Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake Metropolis, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are the cities displaying the best rental demand through the vacation week. The busiest pick-up days are projected to be Friday, June 28, Saturday, June 29, and Wednesday, July 3.

Fuel costs are decrease than final 12 months when the nationwide common was $3.53. Pump costs will doubtless proceed happening main as much as Independence Day. At that time, they are going to doubtless degree off and stay comparatively steady till after Labor Day, much like final 12 months. An vital caveat is hurricane season – underway now – which may have an effect on fuel costs ought to a storm negatively affect Gulf Coast oil manufacturing and refining facilities.

The variety of air vacationers can also be anticipated to set a brand new report. AAA initiatives 5.74 million folks will fly to their July 4th locations. That’s a rise of almost 7% in comparison with final 12 months and a 12% improve over 2019. AAA reserving information reveals home airfare is 2% cheaper this Independence Day week in comparison with final 12 months, and the common value for a home roundtrip ticket is $800. Airports can be packed all through the week. AAA recommends arriving 2 hours early, reserving parking forward of time, and touring with carry-on baggage versus checked luggage to avoid wasting money and time.

Finest/Worst Instances to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro

INRIX, a supplier of transportation information and insights, says the worst instances to journey by automobile earlier than and on July 4th are between 2pm and 7pm. 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 giant metro areas can count on the worst site visitors delays on Wednesday, July 3rd, as they depart city, and Sunday, July seventh, as they return,” mentioned Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Road journeys over the vacation week may take as much as 67% longer than regular. Vacationers ought to monitor 511 companies, native information stations, and site visitors apps for up-to-the-minute street circumstances.”

Please notice that the instances listed under are for the time zone wherein the metro is situated.

For instance, Atlanta routes = ET and Los Angeles routes = PT.

Supply: INRIX

Supply: INRIX

Prime Locations

This July 4th week, vacationers are cooling off within the Pacific Northwest and Alaska – and by the ocean! Seattle, Vancouver, and Anchorage are high locations due to the recognition of Alaska cruises this time of 12 months. 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 well-liked. The highest 10 home and worldwide locations under are based mostly on AAA reserving information.

Vacation Forecast Methodology  

Journey Forecast

In cooperation with AAA, S&P World Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a singular methodology to forecast precise home journey volumes. The financial variables used to forecast journey for the present vacation are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These information embody macroeconomic drivers reminiscent of employment, output, family internet value, asset costs, together with inventory indices, rates of interest, housing market indicators, and variables associated to journey and tourism, together with gasoline costs, airline journey, and resort stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified vacation journey volumes going again to 2000.

Historic journey quantity estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a complete research measuring the journey conduct of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households every month to acquire detailed journey information, ensuing within the distinctive skill to estimate customer quantity and spending, establish developments, and forecast U.S. journey conduct, all after the journeys have been taken.

The journey forecast is reported in person-trips. Specifically, AAA and SPGMI forecast the entire U.S. vacation journey quantity and anticipated mode of transportation. The journey forecast introduced on this report was ready the week of Could 27, 2024.

As a result of AAA forecasts deal with home leisure journey solely, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers shouldn’t be made. TSA information contains all passengers touring on each home and worldwide routes. Moreover, TSA screens passengers every time they enter secured areas of the airport, due to this fact every one-way journey is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which embody the total round-trip journey itinerary. Consequently, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and every day TSA screenings symbolize various factors.

*Independence Day Vacation Journey Interval

For this forecast, the Independence Day vacation journey interval is outlined because the nine-day interval from Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, July 7. Traditionally, the Independence Day vacation interval included just one weekend. That is the primary 12 months the Independence Day vacation journey interval is an extended timeframe with two weekends included.

About AAA

Began in 1902 by automotive fans who needed to chart a path for higher roads in America and advocate for secure mobility, AAA has remodeled into one in every of North America’s largest membership organizations. Right this moment, AAA offers roadside help, journey, reductions, monetary and insurance coverage companies to boost the life journey of 64 million members throughout North America, together with 57 million in the US. To study extra about all AAA has to supply or to develop into a member, go to AAA.com.