WASHINGTON, D.C.—AAA initiatives 70.9 million vacationers will head 50 miles or extra from house over the July 4th vacation journey interval. For the primary time, AAA appeared on the total 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 improve in comparison with 2023 and an 8 p.c improve over 2019.
“With summer time holidays in full swing and the pliability of distant work, extra Individuals are taking prolonged journeys round Independence Day,” stated Paula Twidale, senior vp 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 file 60.6 million folks will journey by automobile over the July 4th week—that’s a further 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 associate 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.
Gasoline costs are decrease than final yr when the nationwide common was $3.53. Pump costs will seemingly proceed happening main as much as July 4th. At that time, they’ll seemingly stage off and stay steady till after Labor Day, much like final yr. An essential caveat is hurricane season—underway now—which may 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 also be anticipated to set a brand new file. AAA initiatives 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 improve over 2019. AAA reserving knowledge exhibits home airfare is 2 p.c cheaper this July 4th week in comparison with final yr, and the common value for a home roundtrip ticket is $800. Airports will probably 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 time. 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.
Finest/Worst Instances to Drive
INRIX, a supplier of transportation knowledge and insights, says the worst occasions 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 visitors within the morning and afternoon.
“Drivers in massive metro areas can anticipate the worst visitors delays on Wednesday, July third, as they depart city, and Sunday, July seventh, as they return,” stated Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Highway journeys over the vacation week may take as much as 67 p.c longer than regular. Vacationers ought to monitor 511 providers, native information stations, and visitors apps for up-to-the-minute street situations.”
High 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 well-liked. The highest 10 home and worldwide locations are primarily based on AAA reserving knowledge:
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
