AAA projects that 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday period, from June 28 to July 6.

SAN DIEGO — As people across the nation plan their travels for the Fourth of July, AAA released its latest report, which projects that 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday period, from June 28 to July 6.

This year, AAA said the domestic travel forecast increased by 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019. The San Diego International Airport is also gearing up for the busy holiday travel period and is expecting to see as many as 700,000 passengers arriving and departing from Sunday, June 29, through Monday, July 7.

According to a press release from the San Diego International Airport, the busiest days during this travel period are expected to be Sunday and Monday before and after July 4. The single busiest day is expected to be on July 6, and passenger volumes are expected to increase by around 85,000 on the busiest days during the travel period.

Traveling Tips: best and worst times to hit the road

The AAA report estimates 61.6 million people will be traveling by car, which is a 2.2% increase over last year and the highest volume on record. Compared to last year, an additional 1.3 million people are expected to hit the road.

For those looking to travel by car, AAA projection shows the best times to hit the road are:

June 28, Saturday: Before 10 a.m.

June 29, Sunday: Before 11 a.m.

June 30, Monday: Before 12 p.m.

July 1, Tuesday: Before 2:00 p.m.

July 2, Wednesday: Before 12:00 p.m.

July 3, Thursday: Before 12:00 p.m.

July 4, Friday: Before 12:00 p.m.

July 5, Saturday: Before 11 a.m.

July 6, Sunday: Before 11 a.m.

Those traveling by car should avoid the following times, as it is the worst times to travel:

June 28, Saturday: 12-5:00 p.m.

June 29, Sunday: 2-4 p.m.

June 30, Monday: 2-6 p.m.

July 1, Tuesday: 3-6 p.m.

July 2, Wednesday: 12-9 p.m.

July 3, Thursday: 2-6 p.m.

July 4, Friday: 12-7 p.m.

July 5, Saturday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

July 6, Sunday: 12-6 p.m.

Before hitting the road, travelers can also save money by checking gas prices and planning how much the trip will cost.

Traveling Tips: for travelers traveling by air

For a smooth process, the San Diego International Airport offers travel tips to passengers.

Arrive two hours before departure: The San Diego International Airport suggests travelers arrive two hours before their flight departures due to potentially longer waiting lines and times from increased security measures.

Curbside parking is not permitted at the airport, and unattended curbside vehicles will be ticketed and may be towed.

Have ID and tickets ready: Passengers with tickets and photo identification will be allowed to pass security checkpoints to the boarding area. Those embarking on ticketless travel must carry printed proof of their ticket purchases. This could include a printed itinerary. Alternatively, they can check in at the ticket counter.

For security-related travel tips, including check-in updates, lists of banned and permitted items and other important information, people can tune into 1690 AM on their radio or check the San Diego International Airport’s website for the latest information

Click here to check the status of a flight at San Diego International Airport.

Next steps if your flight is delayed or canceled

According to the Department of Transportation, airlines are required to provide passengers with information about a change in the status of their flight promptly.

If the flight is scheduled to depart within seven days, airlines are required to provide status updates 30 minutes or earlier after the airline is notified about the status change. At a minimum, the flight status information must be available on the airline’s website and by the airline’s telephone reservation system.

Travelers can check the San Diego International Airport’s Flight Status page to check the status of their flights in real time. Alternatively, people can also use FlightAware to track any delays or cancellations.

The DoT has a dashboard showing what services each airlines provide to reduce inconveniences for travelers when the circumstances causing the cancellation or delay are within the airline’s control. A green check mark on the dashboard means that the airline has committed to providing that service or amenity to its customers. A red “x” means the airline has not made that commitment, but may provide these services or amenities for some cases, based on their discretion.

Check the DoT’s website for more information.