(NEXSTAR) – With the Fourth of July falling on a Friday, experts at auto club AAA are expecting a record-setting 72.2 million Americans to take a domestic trip over the long weekend, packing the nation’s highways, rails and airports.

As for road trips, AAA is forecasting that a record 61.6 million people will travel by car – a 2.2% increase, or 1.3 million additional travelers, over last year.

“Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week. With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.”

FILE – Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks go off over New York, Thursday, July 4, 2024, seen from Hoboken, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson,File)

What are the best, worst times to drive?

According to transportation data provider Inrix, July 2 and July 6 are expected to be the busiest driving days.

With the potential for construction delays, crashes or severe weather, Independence Day travelers are advised to leave early as the afternoon hours are expected to be the most congested.

Inrix gave this break down of the best and worst times by day:

Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time Saturday, Jun 28 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Before 10:00 AM Sunday, Jun 29 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Before 11:00 AM Monday, Jun 30 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Tuesday, Jul 01 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 2:00 PM Wednesday, Jul 02 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Thursday, Jul 03 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Friday, Jul 04 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Saturday, Jul 05 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Before 11:00 AM Sunday, Jul 06 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 11:00 AM (Credit: Inrix)

A number of major highways received special mention when it comes to the worst travel times (all times local):

City Trip Type From To Road Day Time Atlanta Departing Atlanta Birmingham I-20 W Sun. 29th 12:15 PM Returning Savannah Atlanta I-16 W Sun. 6th 2:30 PM Boston Departing Boston Hyannis Route 3 S Sat. 28th 10:45 AM Returning Hyannis Boston Route 3 N Sat. 5th 11:45 AM Chicago Departing Chicago Indianapolis I-65 S Wed. 2nd 6:00 PM Returning Milwaukee Chicago I-94 E Sun. 6th 2:30 PM Denver Departing Denver Fort Collins I-25 N Mon. 30th 1:45 PM Returning Fort Collins Denver I-25 S Sat. 5th 6:30 PM Detroit Departing Detroit Toronto I-94 E Thu. 3rd 3:00 PM Returning Grand Rapids Detroit I-96 E Sat. 5th 1:30 PM Houston Departing Houston Galveston I-45 S Sat. 28th 11:15 AM Returning Galveston Houston I-45 N Sun. 6th 11:45 AM Los Angeles Departing Los Angeles San Diego I-5 S Sat. 28th 5:00 PM Returning Las Vegas Los Angeles I-15 S Sun. 6th 5:00 PM Minneapolis Departing Minneapolis Eau Claire I-94 E Sun. 29th 2:00 PM Returning Eau Claire Minneapolis I-94 W Sun. 6th 3:45 PM New York Departing New York Jersey Shore Garden State Pkwy S Tue. 1st 4:30 PM Returning Albany New York I-87 S Sun. 6th 4:15 PM Philadelphia Departing Philadelphia Rehoboth Beach I-95 & Route 13 Sat. 28th 10:45 AM Returning Poconos Philadelphia I-76/I-476 PA Tpke Sun. 6th 1:15 PM Portland Departing Portland Eugene I-5 S Wed. 2nd 5:00 PM Returning Eugene Portland I-5 N Sun. 6th 4:45 PM San Diego Departing San Diego Palm Springs I-15 N Wed. 2nd 5:45 PM Returning Palm Springs San Diego I-15 S Sat. 5th 3:00 PM San Francisco Departing San Francisco Sacramento I-80 E Wed. 2nd 5:30 PM Returning Sacramento San Francisco I-80 W Sun. 6th 4:30 PM Seattle Departing Seattle Ocean Shores I-5 S Wed. 2nd 5:45 PM Returning Ellensburg Seattle I-90 E Sun. 6th 4:30 PM Tampa Departing Tampa Orlando I-4 E Wed. 2nd 2:30 PM Returning Orlando Tampa I-4 W Fri. 4th 3:45 PM Washington, DC Departing Washington, DC Annapolis US-50 E Sat. 28th 1:45 PM Returning Annapolis Washington, DC US-50 W Fri. 4th 11:30 AM (Credit: Inrix)

Before fighting your way through Fourth of July traffic, AAA recommends taking the following precautions: get routine vehicle maintenance done beforehand, and make sure to pack an emergency kit.

TSA prepares for crush of air travelers

The Transportation Security Administration says it is prepared for the holiday rush at the nation’s airports, but warns air travelers that they should expect the busiest day to be Sunday, July 6, when passenger volume is forecast to reach 2.9 million.

Travelers check their flights at Miami International Airport, Saturday, July 2, 2022, in Miami. The Fourth of July holiday weekend is jamming U.S. airports with the biggest crowds since the pandemic began in 2020. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

“We are deploying technologies and procedures to improve security and enhance the passenger experience, including for families,” TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said in a press release. “We ask travelers to pack their patience, especially during peak travel days, as we work to provide maximum hospitality to our customers.”

The TSA also reminds parents and guardians enrolled in TSA PreCheck that children 12 and under can accompany them in the security lanes without any restrictions.

Fireworks burst on the National Mall above the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol building during Independence Day celebrations Thursday, July 4, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

AAA projects that the Fourth of July week will see a record 5.84 million air travelers over the Independence Day week, a 1.4% jump from last year’s record of 5.76 million.

Also up from last year is the average cost of a domestic flight for the holiday – $810 is 4% higher than last year’s numbers.

According to AAA, the most popular domestic destinations are Orlando, FL; Seattle, WA; New York, NY; Anchorage, AK; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Honolulu, FL; Denver, CO; Miami, FL; Boston, MA; and Atlanta, GA.

The top international destination is Vancouver, Canada, followed by Rome, Italy; Paris, France; London, England; Barcelona, Spain; Dublin, Ireland; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Calgary, Canada; Athens, Greece; and Lisbon, Portugal.

A record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel domestically for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Driving remains the most popular mode of transportation, but air travel is also expected to hit record numbers.

Travelers can find tips on the best and worst times to drive to avoid holiday traffic congestion.

Summer travelers, gear up. This Fourth of July is going to be a busy one, especially across California.

Independence Day is often one of the busiest travel periods outside the winter holidays, and this year is expected to be no different. A record-setting 72.2 million travelers are estimated to go on a domestic trip between Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, July 6, according to AAA. That’s 2.4% more than last year.

As usual, driving will be the most popular mode of transportation, as a predicted 61.6 million car travelers will hit the road. However, air passengers are also projected to break a record, with 5.84 million fliers despite round-trip domestic airfare being 4% more expensive than last year at an average of $810.

This year, the Fourth of July is a long weekend – the perfect chance for a summer getaway. “It’s been almost a decade since travelers have had a ‘Fourth of July Friday,’ meaning they are likely taking full advantage of the long weekend to build out longer trips,” said Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going. “For travelers who are planning an international getaway this year, the day-off positioning means people can strategically build a weeklong trip without burning a full work week of PTO.”

Here’s what to know about Fourth of July travel in 2025.

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How much are flights for the Fourth of July?

According to Going, airfare during the Fourth of July week runs slightly higher than the rest of the summer because of travel demand.

Still, summer ticket prices overall are down 7% from last year. For the holiday week, domestic airfare averages 3.4% more at $585, while international flights are higher by 3.9%, averaging $1,396. Travelers can save a few bucks – and avoid crowds – if they fly on the holiday itself.

What is the best US airline? This carrier topped The Points Guy’s 2025 Best Airlines list

What are the top Fourth of July destinations?

Domestic

Orlando, Florida

Seattle

New York

Anchorage, Alaska

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Honolulu

Denver

Miami

Boston

Atlanta

International

Vancouver, British Columbia

Rome

Paris

London

Barcelona

Dublin

Amsterdam

Calgary, Alberta

Athens, Greece

Lisbon, Portugal

What are the best times to drive for the Fourth of July?

For the two weeks surrounding the holiday, car travelers should aim to embark in the morning to avoid the worst traffic, according to Inrix.

Here are the best travel times:

Saturday, June 28 – Before 10 a.m.

Sunday, June 29 – Before 11 a.m.

Monday, June 30 – Before noon

Tuesday, July 1 – Before 2 p.m.

Wednesday, July 2 – Before noon

Thursday, July 3 – Before noon

Friday, July 4 – Before noon

Saturday, July 5 – Before 11 a.m.

Sunday, July 6 – Before 11 a.m.

What are the worst times to drive for the Fourth of July?

Drivers can anticipate the busiest days on the road to be Wednesday, July 2, as people head to their destinations and Sunday, July 6, when they return home, according to Inrix. Throughout the rest of the travel period, afternoons will likely see the most congestion.

Below are the worst travel times:

Saturday, June 28 – Between noon and 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 29 – Between 2 and 4 p.m.

Monday, June 30 – Between 2 and 6 p.m.

Tuesday, July 1 – Between 3 and 6 p.m.

Wednesday, July 2 – Between noon and 9 p.m.

Thursday, July 3 – Between 2 and 6 p.m.

Friday, July 4 – Between noon and 7 p.m.

Saturday, July 5 – Between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Sunday, July 6 – Between noon and 6 p.m.

Peak congestion times in major U.S. cities

San Francisco

Departing: Wednesday, July 2, from San Francisco to Sacramento, California, on I-80 E at 5:30 p.m.

Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Sacramento to San Francisco on I-80 W at 4:30 p.m.

Los Angeles

Departing: Saturday, June 28, from Los Angeles to San Diego on I-5 S at 5 p.m.

Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on I-15 S at 5 p.m.

Atlanta

Departing: Sunday, June 29, from Atlanta to Birmingham, Alabama, on I-20 W at 12:15 p.m.

Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Savannah, Gerorgia, to Atlanta on I-16 W at 2:30 p.m.

Boston

Departing: Saturday, June 28, from Boston to Hyannis, Massachusetts, on Route 3 S at 10:45 a.m.

Returning: Saturday, July 5, from Hyannis to Boston on Route 3 N at 11:45 a.m.

Denver

Departing: Monday, June 30, from Denver to Fort Collins, Colorado, on I-25 N at 1:45 p.m.

Returning: Saturday, July 5, from Fort Collins to Denver on I-25 S at 6:30 p.m.

Houston

Departing: Saturday, June 28, from Houston to Galveston, Texas, on I-45 S at 11:15 a.m.

Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Galveston to Houston on I-45 N at 11:45 a.m.

New York

Departing: Tuesday, July 1, from New York City to Jersey Shore of New Jersey on Garden State Pkwy S at 4:30 p.m.

Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Albany, New York, to New York City on I-87 S at 4:15 a.m.

Seattle

Departing: Wednesday, July 2, from Seattle to Ocean Shores, Washington, on I-5 S at 5:45 p.m.

Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Ellensburg, Washington, to Seattle on I-90 E at 430 p.m.

Washington

For many Americans, 4th of July travel plans represent the quintessential summer vacation, one filled with beaches, barbecue, and priceless moments with family and friends. But before you can make it to the fireworks and good times, you have to survive the slog of traffic, crowds, and general chaos that comes along with peak travel.

This year, the 4th of July travel forecast is set to be particularly hectic. A record-breaking 72.2 million people are expected to travel over the Independence Day period stretching from Saturday, June 28, to Sunday, July 6, according to estimates from AAA. That’s a 2.4% jump from last year. “Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a release. “With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.”

That means travelers should expect record-level congestion on highways and crowds inside airport terminals: the TSA projects it will screen 18.5 million people from Tuesday, July 1, through Monday, July 7. Here’s how to avoid traffic and crowds this July 4, whether you’re traveling by car, plane, train, or cruise ship.

Road trips

The vast majority of travelers this Independence Day will be heading out on a road trip. AAA predicts that a whopping 61.6 million people will travel by car over the holiday period—an additional 1.3 million road travelers compared to 2024, and the highest volume the agency has ever recorded.

With those unprecedented numbers, timing your departure times strategically has never been more important. The busiest days on the road will be Wednesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 6, according to transportation insights firm Inrix. In general, afternoon hours will be the most congested, so travelers should aim to depart in the early morning.

Inrix and AAA have also identified the peak congestion times over the holiday for 16 major metro areas across the country, including: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, DC. If you plan to drive to or from one of these cities, it would be well worth it to consult the list of predicted worst congestion times. For example, the worst time to leave Atlanta is Sunday, June 29, at 12:15 p.m., while drivers departing Chicago can expect the most traffic on Wednesday, July 2, at 6 p.m.

For drivers who plan to rent their vehicles, rental car company Hertz says that the busiest pickup day will be July 3, with the highest number of rentals booked in Orlando, Denver, Boston, Oahu, and Seattle. If you’re getting a car from one of those cities, check to see if your rental company offers an express pick-up option. These expedited reservations usually allow travelers who have free loyalty memberships with the car company to skip the line or be processed through an express lane. Hertz, for instance, advises passengers to make a free account with its Gold Plus Rewards program and link it with a free account from Clear to access its Fast Lane, which allows drivers to exit the rental lot in seconds.

Air travel

As with road trips, the number of people planning to travel by plane over July 4 is poised to set a new record. AAA says that 5.84 million travelers will fly to their Independence Day vacation spots in 2025, a 1.4% increase compared to 2024.

Traffic & Transit Record 4th Of July Travel Expected — The Best And Worst Times To Hit The Road In CA A record 61.6 million people are expected to travel by car during the upcoming holiday weekend, according to AAA.

The extended Independence Day holiday travel period begins Saturday, June 28, and continues through Sunday, July 6. (Paige Austin/Patch)

California residents planning a road trip over the long 4th of July holiday can expect to share the road with more than 61 million other motorists, according to a travel forecast from AAA that projects 72.2 million people overall will travel at least 50 miles from home to celebrate Independence Day.

The extended Independence Day holiday travel period begins Saturday, June 28, and continues through Sunday, July 6. Domestic travel is expected to increase by 1.7 million people compared to 2024 and by 7 million more than in pre-pandemic 2019. “Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away,” Stacey Barber, AAA Travel vice president, said in a news release, noting the 4th of July forecast comes after a record-setting travel forecast for Memorial Day.

If You’re Traveling By Car A record 61.6 million people will travel by car, 1.3 million more than last year, or an increase of 2.2 percent.

Drivers are seeing some increases at the pump, but summer gas prices are still the lowest they’ve been since 2021. The price of crude oil has kept gas prices on the lower side, but escalating tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States could affect the price of gas in California. In California, the average price of regular unleaded gasoline was $4.61 per gallon as of Friday. That compares to $4.65 a gallon a week ago, $4.84 a month ago and $4.80 a year ago.

Weather is also a wild card. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, and that could affect refineries along the Gulf Coast and disrupt fuel deliveries, causing a temporary increase in gas prices. AAA recommends getting routine vehicle maintenance ahead of your trip and packing an emergency kit. Last July 4th week, the auto club said it responded to nearly 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls for issues like dead batteries and flat tires, plus people locking themselves out of their cars or running out of gas.

When To Get Out Of Los Angeles AAA’s transportation data partner, INRIX, expects the afternoons of Wednesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 6, to be the busiest travel days, with the most congested traffic during the afternoon hours. Drivers should hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst traffic, but should also be aware that construction, crashes or severe weather could affect travel times. If possible, travelers leaving Los Angeles should avoid the southbound Santa Ana (5) Freeway to San Diego on June 28, during the peak congestion time at 5 p.m. They should also avoid the southbound Las Vegas (15) from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on Sunday, July 6, during the peak congestion time at 5 p.m. When To Get Out Of San Diego AAA’s transportation data partner, INRIX, expects the afternoons of Wednesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 6, to be the busiest travel days, with the most congested traffic during the afternoon hours. Drivers should hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst traffic, but should also be aware that construction, crashes or severe weather could affect travel times.

If possible, travelers leaving San Diego should avoid the northbound I-15 Freeway to Palm Springs on Wednesday, July 2, during the peak congestion time at 5:45 p.m. On their return home, they should avoid the southbound I-15 on Saturday, July 5, during the peak congestion time at 3 p.m. When To Get Out Of San Francisco AAA’s transportation data partner, INRIX, expects the afternoons of Wednesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 6, to be the busiest travel days, with the most congested traffic during the afternoon hours. Drivers should hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst traffic, but should also be aware that construction, crashes or severe weather could affect travel times. If possible, travelers leaving San Francisco should avoid the eastbound I-80 Freeway to Sacramento on Wednesday, July 2, during the peak congestion time at 5:30 p.m. On their return home, they should avoid the westbound I-80 on Sunday, July 6, during the peak congestion time at 4:30 p.m. In general, here are the best and worst times to travel throughout the holiday period:

Saturday, June 28 Best: before 10 a.m.

Worst: noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 29 Best: before 11 a.m.

Worst: 2 to 4 p.m Monday, June 30 Best: before noon

Worst: 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 1 Best: before 2 p.m.

Worst: 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 2

Best: before noon

Worst: noon to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 3 Best: before noon

Worst: 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, July 4 Best: before noon

Worst: noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 5 Best: before 11 a.m.

Worst: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 6 Best: before 11 a.m.

Worst: noon to 6 p.m. Other Travel

For the first time in more than 10 years, Independence Day falls on a Friday in 2025. While Fourth of July is always a busy time for travel, the long weekend means travelers should prepare for larger crowds. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened a record number of passengers during the 2024 July Fourth weekend, and those records might be broken again in 2025.

According to a new forecast from AAA, a record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, July 6. That’s a 2.4% increase over 2024, with both road and air travel expected to reach all-time highs.

Meanwhile, vacation rental data site AirDNA says that bookings at short-term rentals are higher this year versus July Fourth 2024 — and some of those increases are pretty significant. For example, Washington D.C. has 26.8% more reservations on the books compared to this time last year.

But some days of the holiday week are less crowded (and cheaper) than others. If you can be flexible with your travel schedule and fly out on one of those less-crowded days, you could save money and avoid peak airport chaos.

Here’s what you need to know to fly smarter over the Independence Day travel window in 2025 — and potentially save money on airfare.

The best and worst days to fly over Fourth of July weekend in 2025

NerdWallet analyzed airfare price data provided by Expedia and TSA data showing the number of passengers screened at its U.S. checkpoints to predict the best and worst days to fly for July Fourth. We focused on a 15-day period including the week leading up to Independence Day, the holiday itself and the week following it. Here’s what you can expect in 2025.

The worst day to fly on or before Fourth of July

Friday, June 27: To avoid crowds and save money, don’t fly the Friday before. Last year, the Friday before July Fourth was the busiest travel day in the week preceding the holiday.

Expedia expects that Friday, June 27, will be the most expensive day to fly in the seven-day window ahead of July Fourth.

The worst days to fly after Fourth of July

Sunday, July 6: For post-holiday travel, the Sunday after Fourth of July ranks as the busiest day to fly. In 2024, the Sunday after the holiday, July 7, marked the first time more than 3 million people passed through TSA checkpoints in a single day. About 36% more people passed through airports on that day compared to Fourth of July.

We expect similar patterns with a Friday holiday as people look to return home from the long weekend.

Friday, July 11: Along with July 6, this is one of the two most expensive days to fly in the seven-day period after July Fourth, according to Expedia. TSA data from the past six years shows that Fridays are typically the busiest day of the week throughout the year, so it’s no surprise that prices will be high.

The best days to fly on or before Fourth of July

Friday, July 4: Typically, Independence Day is the least busy day to fly. We expect that pattern to hold, even though the holiday falls on a Friday this year — and Fridays are typically busy days for flying. Last year, airport crowds on July Fourth were 24% smaller than they were on the busiest travel day in the week ahead of the holiday, which was the Friday before.

Fourth of July is also one of the cheapest days to fly in the week leading up to the holiday, according to Expedia — a sign of lower demand.

Monday, June 30: If you’d rather spend July Fourth celebrating — and not in an airport — turn to Monday, June 30. According to Expedia, Monday, June 30, will be the cheapest day to fly in the week leading up to the holiday. Booking a flight on this date gives you a head start on your vacation while avoiding the higher prices seen later in the week.

The best days to fly after Fourth of July

Monday, July 7, and Tuesday, July 8: These are the two cheapest dates to fly in the week after the holiday, according to Expedia. In general, Tuesday is also the least busy day on average at airports, according to a NerdWallet analysis of TSA data over the past six years.

Optimize your Fourth of July itinerary

Avoid the July Fourth crowds and save money by traveling during less-crowded times.

For longer trips, fly earlier in the week. If you want to extend your trip, consider leaving on Monday or Tuesday ahead of the holiday, rather than Friday, June 27. For your return trip, try flying out on Monday or Tuesday following the holiday weekend.

Travel on July Fourth. Whether you’re arriving home or jetting off, flying early in the day on July Fourth might be a smart move. About 86% of flights departing between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. from major airports left on time, compared to just 71% of flights departing between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., according to Department of Transportation data from December 2024, the most recent data available.