The number of Americans traveling by car and plane over the July 4 holiday weekend is expected to be the highest on record.
With the weekend less than two days away, here’s what you need to know before you hit the highway or head to the airport.
AAA predicts some 51 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Independence Day weekend, setting a record for the holiday. This year’s projection surpasses the previous Fourth of July weekend record set in 2019 of 49 million travelers.
“Whether you’re driving or flying to your destination over the Independence holiday weekend, it’s going to be important to be patient,” said Bevi Powell, senior vice president of AAA East Central. “More and more Americans are making travel a priority, and in fact, this will be the highest expected vacation for air travel in 20 years.”
This weekend is also expected to set a record for the number of Americans traveling by car. AAA expects about 43 million people to drive to their destinations, up 2.4% from 2022 and up 4% from 2019.
This summer, gas prices are well below where they were a year ago. The national average for a gallon of regular was $4.80 on July 4, 2022. Today, the national average ranges from $3.50 to $3.60 per gallon, according to AAA.
In some parts of Ashtabula County, the cost of gas is even lower than the national average: $3.21 at Gulf and Shell stations in Andover; $3.23 at Fuel Time in Geneva; $3.25 at Love’s in Conneaut; $3.27 at Circle K in Ashtabula and $3.29 at Flying J in Austinburg, according to the GasBuddy website.
AAA predicts millions of Americans will fly to their destinations this weekend, an 11 percent increase over 2022 and slightly more than 7 percent over 2019.
In 2019, the previous 4th of July weekend air travel record of 4 million passengers was set. The share of air travelers in this year’s overall holiday forecast is an impressive 8 percent, the highest percentage in nearly 20 years, according to AAA.
The most popular U.S. vacation destinations are New York City, Los Angeles and Orlando, Florida, according to Expedia, a travel website.
Air travelers can expect to battle crowds at airports in Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando and Los Angeles, according to Hopper, a travel website.
Other modes of transport are also on the rise this year. AAA expects 3 million people to travel by bus, cruise or train over the long weekend, up 24% from last year.
For people planning to stay home, fireworks will go off at 10 p.m. July 3 in Conneaut and at 10 p.m. July 4 in Geneva-on-the-Lake, according to local officials.
