Record-breaking 72.2M Americans expected to travel during Fourth of July week
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
AAA: 72.2M to travel during July 4th week
72.2 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Independence Day period from June 28 to July 6, according to AAA. The forecast is 1.7 million higher than last year and 7 million more than in 2019. Top U.S. spots: Orlando, Seattle, New York, Anchorage, Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, Denver, Miami, Boston and Atlanta. Top international destinations include Vancouver, Rome, Paris, London, Barcelona, Dublin, Amsterdam, Calgary, Athens and Lisbon. About 61.6 million people will travel by car, a 2.2 percent increase over last year, and the highest on record, AAA said. About 5.84 million travelers to fly, accounting for 8 percent of all Independence Day travel.
This year’s forecast is up 1.7 million from 2024 and 7 million from 2019.
This Independence Day is expected to see 1.3 million more road travelers than in 2024.
Top U.S. spots: Orlando, Seattle, New York, Anchorage, Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, Denver, Miami, Boston and Atlanta.
APPROXIMATELY 72.2 MILLION Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Independence Day period from June 28 to July 6, according to AAA. The forecast is 1.7 million higher than last year and 7 million more than in 2019.
AAA’s Independence Day forecast spans two weekends to reflect travel patterns more accurately.
“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, AAA Travel’s vice president. “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.”
Car travel leads
About 61.6 million people will travel by car, a 2.2 percent increase over last year and the highest on record, the report said. This Independence Day period is expected to have 1.3 million more road travelers than in 2024.
Drivers are seeing some increases at the pump, but summer gas prices remain lower than in recent years, AAA said. Crude oil prices have kept costs down overall. The Israel-Iran conflict has pushed oil prices up slightly, with escalation and duration being key factors to watch. Weather also remains a variable.
The Atlantic hurricane season has begun and NOAA predicts a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season. Storms along the Gulf Coast can impact refineries and disrupt fuel deliveries, causing temporary gas price increases.
AAA expects 5.84 million travelers to fly, accounting for 8 percent of all Independence Day travel. This is a 1.4 percent increase over last year’s record of 5.76 million.
Travel by other modes is expected to grow 7.4 percent over last year, AAA said. About 4.78 million people are projected to travel by bus, train or cruise, just below the 2019 record of 4.79 million. Cruise travel is the main driver, especially during Alaska cruise season.
Top destinations
The top holiday destinations are based on AAA booking data for the Independence Day travel period. Cruises, beaches, and fireworks are key reasons travelers are visiting these cities. Alaska cruises are in peak season; Florida and Hawaii see strong demand for resorts and attractions; New York and Boston draw crowds for their fireworks shows. Internationally, Vancouver leads, followed by major European cities.
Top domestic destinations include Orlando, Seattle, New York, Anchorage, Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, Denver, Miami, Boston and Atlanta. Key international destinations include Vancouver, Rome, Paris, London, Barcelona, Dublin, Amsterdam, Calgary, Athens and Lisbon.
In May, AAA said 45.1 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more over Memorial Day weekend, the highest on record.
72.2M Americans Expected To Travel Over July 4th Week
AAA projects 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday period from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. This year’s domestic travel forecast is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019. AAA recommends getting routine vehicle maintenance ahead of your trip and packing an emergency kit. Thursday, July 3 is expected to be the busiest day to pick up vehicles from AAA car rental partner Hertz. Orlando, Denver, Boston, Oahu and Seattle are among the most popular places to visit over July 4th. A roundtrip domestic flight is averaging $810, 4% more expensive than last year. When booking last-minute flights, consider flying on weekdays like Tuesdays or Wednesdays for the best deals.
“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.”
Independence Day Travelers by Mode of Transportation
By Car: AAA projects 61.6 million people will travel by car, a 2.2% increase over last year, and the highest volume on record. This Independence Day holiday period is expected to see an additional 1.3 million road travelers compared to 2024. AAA recommends getting routine vehicle maintenance ahead of your trip and packing an emergency kit. Last July 4th week, AAA responded to nearly 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls for issues like dead batteries and flat tires, plus people locking themselves out of their car or running out of gas.
Drivers are seeing some increases at the pump, but summer gas prices are still the lowest they’ve been since 2021. This year, the price of crude oil has kept gas prices on the lower side. The Israel Iran conflict has driven up the price of oil in recent days but not dramatically. Escalation and duration of the conflict are two factors to watch. Weather is also a wild card. The Atlantic hurricane season is underway, and NOAA predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season. Storms along the Gulf Coast can affect oil refineries and disrupt fuel deliveries, leading to a temporary increase in gas prices.
For travelers who are renting cars, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Thursday, July 3 is expected to be the busiest day to pick up vehicles. Some of the top destinations based on advanced bookings are also on AAA’s list of most popular places to visit over July 4th: Orlando, Denver, Boston, Oahu and Seattle. Hertz says most drivers are looking to rent SUVs and midsize sedans.
By Air: The number of people traveling by air is also projected to set a new record. AAA expects 5.84 million travelers will fly to their destinations; that’s 8% of all Independence Day travelers. This year’s projection is a 1.4% increase over the previous record set last Independence Day week of 5.76 million air travelers.
According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their July 4th trips, a roundtrip domestic flight is averaging $810, 4% more expensive than last year. When booking last-minute flights for summer trips, consider flying on weekdays like Tuesdays or Wednesdays for the best deals.
By Other Modes: Travel by other modes is expected to grow by 7.4% over last year. AAA projects 4.78 million people will travel by bus, train, or cruise. This year’s number is just shy of the 2019 record of 4.79 million. Cruising is driving the popularity of this category, particularly this time of year, when Alaska cruise season is in full swing.
See the full forecast from AAA here.
*Independence Day Holiday Travel Period – For this forecast, the Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as the nine-day period from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. Historically, this holiday period included only one weekend. The expanded travel window was instituted starting in 2024 with historical results calculated back to 2019 using the new nine-day period.