AAA: Over 72 Million People Expected to Travel for July 4th Holiday

AAA projects 72.2 million Americans will travel domestically during the Independence Day holiday period, running Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6.

This represents an increase of 1.7 million travelers (2.4%) over last year and 7 million more than in 2019. AAA-Nebraska projects that regional travel is expected to reach historic levels, with over 5.1 million travelers from the West North Central region (IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD) hitting the road, skies, and rails – that’s up 102,000 (2%) from last year.

• Driving: More than 4 million will take a road trip 50 miles or more (+50,000 from last year or 1.2%).
• Flying: Nearly 203,000 will fly domestically (-1,000 from last year or -0.6%).
• Other Modes: Nearly 596,000 will take buses, trains, or cruises (+52,000 from last year or 9.6%)

How Americans Are Traveling This Independence Day

By Car: AAA estimates 61.6 million Americans will drive—a 2.2% increase from last year and the highest number ever recorded. 1.3 million more road travelers are expected compared to 2024.

Drivers should prepare their vehicles in advance, as AAA responded to nearly 700,000 roadside assistance calls nationwide during last year’s holiday period for issues like dead batteries, flat tires, and empty gas tanks.

Gas prices are likely to fluctuate before Independence Day. Last week, oil prices surged in response to Israel’s strikes on Iran, increasing gasoline production costs. While analysts suggest this may be a short-term reaction, it’s too early to know whether prices will stabilize before the holiday. Nebraska drivers are currently paying an average $2.94 across the state and drivers in Iowa are paying on average $3.04 That is approximately $0.18 and $0.15 cents per gallon respectively less per gallon than last year’s holiday.

By Air: Air travel is reaching record-breaking numbers nationwide, with 5.84 million people flying, a 1.4% increase over last year’s previous high. This figure exclusively represents domestic leisure travel, counting complete round-trip itineraries as a single trip. This differs from TSA data, which tracks each individual airport screening separately and includes both domestic and international travel.

By Other Modes: Nearly 4.78 million people will travel by bus, train, or cruise, marking a 7.4% rise over last year. Cruising continues to fuel this growth, particularly in peak Alaska cruise season.

AAA’s Top Independence Day Destinations

These destinations are based on AAA booking data for the Independence Day travel period. Cruises, beaches, and fireworks are the main motivators for travelers heading to these cities. Alaska cruises are in peak season, Florida and Hawaii are in high demand for their resorts and attractions, and New York and Boston host two of the most popular fireworks shows in the nation.

Internationally, Vancouver tops the list for its mild weather and perfect blend of urban excitement and natural beauty. This is followed by Europe’s most in-demand cities like Rome and Paris.

Best & Worst Times to Drive

According to INRIX, expect heavy road congestion on Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6. The busiest times will be afternoons, while mornings offer the best escape from traffic.

Ideal Travel Times:

• Worst hours: Afternoon to early evening
• Best hours: Early morning

For more details on AAA’s Independence Day travel forecast, visit: newsroom.acg.aaa.com.