Record travel numbers expected in Iowa over July 4th weekend
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
TSA sets new travel record with over 3 million travelers screened
On Sunday, June 22, TSA officers screened 3,096,293 travelers at airport security checkpoints nationwide. The previous single-day record of 3,088,836 people was set on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2024. The Fourth of July holiday is expected to draw over 18.5 million more to airports across the country. Officials are urging travelers to plan ahead, pack smart and take advantage of programs like TSA PreCheck. The TSA said it is working with airport, airline and FAA partners to ensure operations run smoothly.
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WASHINGTON — With summer officially underway, travelers are flocking to the airports in record numbers. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Tuesday that it just had its busiest day ever.
On Sunday, June 22, TSA officers screened 3,096,293 travelers at airport security checkpoints nationwide, narrowly surpassing the previous single-day record of 3,088,836 people, set on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2024.
The new record comes as TSA prepares for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, which is expected to draw over 18.5 million more to airports across the country.
Sunday’s record continues a pattern of rising travel demand. Last year, the TSA documented multiple days where over 2.9 million passengers were screened and twice that broke the 3 million mark.
“The 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history have all occurred in 2024, and we anticipate that trend to continue,” former TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a 2024 statement.
The TSA said it is working with airport, airline and FAA partners to ensure operations run smoothly.
“TSA continues to work closely with our industry partners and ensure our airport security checkpoints are fully staffed and prepared to handle the heavy rush of traffic,” TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said.
“We are deploying technologies and procedures to improve security and enhance the passenger experience, including for families. We ask travelers to pack their patience, especially during peak travel days, as we work to provide maximum hospitality to our customers.” McNeill added.
Previous spikes in post-holiday traffic led to widespread delays and missed flights at major airports like Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International and Chicago O’Hare.
With another major holiday approaching, officials are urging travelers to plan ahead, pack smart and take advantage of programs like TSA PreCheck.
Passengers should ensure they’re following the 3.4-ounce limit for liquids in carry-on bags and check TSA.gov or @AskTSA on social media with any questions about what items are allowed through security.
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 hitting the road, skies, and rails – that’s up 102,000 (2%) from last year. More than 4 million will take a road trip 50 miles or more (+50,000 from lastyear or 1.2%). Nearly 203,000 will fly domestically (-1,000from last year or -0.6%). Other Modes: Nearly 596,000will take buses, trains, or cruises (+52,000. from last years or 9.6%) 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.
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%).
: 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%).
: 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%)
WNC Independence Day Travelers Auto Air Other Total 2025 4.35 million 203,000 596,000 5.1 million 2024 4.30 million 204,000 544,000 5.0 million 2019 4.17 million 192,000 508,000 4.8 million
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
DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL ORLANDO, FL VANCOUVER, CANADA SEATTLE, WA ROME, ITALY NEW YORK, NY PARIS, FRANCE ANCHORAGE, AK LONDON, ENGLAND FORT LAUDERDALE, FL BARCELONA, SPAIN HONOLULU, HI DUBLIN, IRELAND DENVER, CO AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS MIAMI, FL CALGARY, CANADA BOSTON, MA ATHENS, GREECE ATLANTA, GA LISBON, PORTUGAL
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
: Afternoon to early evening Best hours: Early morning
Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car 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
For more details on AAA’s Independence Day travel forecast, visit: newsroom.acg.aaa.com.
Nearly 80 Million Americans Expected to Travel over Thanksgiving
AAA projects 79.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period*. For the first time, AAA’s forecast includes the Tuesday before and the Monday after Thanksgiving Day to better capture the flow of holiday travelers. Gas prices are lower this Thanksgiving season compared to 2023. Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, and Phoenix are the cities displaying the highest rental demand for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The busiest car pick-up day is expected to be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the busiest rental return days will be the Monday and Tuesday after the holiday. The best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself when interstates and highways are typically clear. Drivers returning home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those coming back on Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road. This year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel.
“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that. AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations.”
Thanksgiving Travelers By Mode
By Car: AAA projects a record 71.7 million people will travel by car over Thanksgiving – that’s an additional 1.3 million travelers on the road compared to last year. This year’s number also surpasses pre-pandemic numbers when 70.6 million people drove to their Thanksgiving destinations in 2019.
Gas prices are lower this Thanksgiving season compared to 2023. The national average last Thanksgiving Day was $3.26. Falling oil prices this autumn may help push the national average below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021, and that could happen before drivers hit the road for Thanksgiving. Regionally, drivers east of the Rockies will find gas between $2.25 to $2.50 a gallon in more than a dozen states.
AAA car rental partner Hertz says Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, and Phoenix are the cities displaying the highest rental demand for the Thanksgiving holiday. The busiest car pick-up day is expected to be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the busiest rental return days will be the Monday and Tuesday after the holiday.
By Air: Thanksgiving air travel is also expected to set a new record. AAA projects 5.84 million people will fly domestically this holiday. That’s an increase of 2% compared to last year and a nearly 11% increase over 2019. According to AAA booking data, air travelers are paying 3% more for domestic Thanksgiving flights this year, while the number of flight bookings is similar to last year. International flight bookings are up 23% compared to last Thanksgiving, in part because the cost to fly internationally is down 5%.
By Other Modes: Nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. This category is seeing an increase of almost 9% compared to last year and an 18% jump over 2019, in large part due to the popularity of cruising. The demand for cruises has been red-hot post-pandemic. Domestic and international cruise bookings are up 20% compared to last Thanksgiving.
Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says the worst times to travel by car over Thanksgiving are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself when interstates and highways are typically clear. Drivers returning home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those coming back on Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road.
“With a record number of travelers expected to be on the road, drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “This is especially important for drivers in metropolitan areas like Boston, New York, LA, Seattle, and Washington, DC, where traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day.”
Please note that the times listed below are for the time zone in which the metro is located.
For example, Atlanta routes = ET and Los Angeles routes = PT.
Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time Mon, Nov 25 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Before 11:00 AM Tue, Nov 26 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM Before 10:00 AM Wed, Nov 27 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Before 10:00 AM Thu, Nov 28 (Thanksgiving Day) Minimal Traffic Impact Expected Fri, Nov 29 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM After 1:00 PM Sat, Nov 30 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Before 1:00 PM Sun, Dec 1 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 1:00 PM Mon, Dec 2 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Before 8 AM / After 7 PM
Peak Congestion by Metro Metro Route Peak Congestion Period Est. Travel Time Increase Compared to Typical Atlanta Birmingham to Atlanta via I-20 E Sunday 1st 4:45 PM 3 hours 17 minutes 38% Boston Boston to Portsmouth via I-95 N Tuesday 26th 3:45 PM 2 hours 35 minutes 117% Chicago Indianapolis to Chicago via I-65 N Sunday 1st 3:45 PM 4 hours 11 minutes 45% Denver Fort Collins to Denver via I-25 S Friday 29th 1:00 PM 1 hours 16 minutes 44% Detroit Grand Rapids to Detroit via I-96 E Monday 2nd 7:00 AM 3 hours 12 minutes 39% Houston Galveston to Houston via I-45 N Monday 2nd 5:45 PM 1 hours 18 minutes 30% Los Angeles Los Angeles to Bakersfield via I-5 N Wednesday 27th 7:45 PM 3 hours 49 minutes 111% Minneapolis Eau Claire to Minneapolis via I-94 W Sunday 1st 4:30 PM 1 hours 53 minutes 46% New York New York to Hamptons via Long Island Expressway E Tuesday 26th 4:30 PM 3 hours 27 minutes 133% Philadelphia Poconos to Philadelphia via I-76/I-476 PA Turnpike Sunday 1st 12:15 PM 3 hours 26 minutes 62% Portland Portland to Eugene via I-5 S Tuesday 26th 3:45 PM 2 hours 16 minutes 35% San Diego Palm Springs to San Diego via I-15 S Saturday 30th 4:45 PM 2 hours 53 minutes 38% San Francisco San Francisco to Sacramento via I-80 E Tuesday 26th 7:30 PM 3 hours 2 minutes 88% Seattle Seattle to Ellensburg via I-90 W Tuesday 26th 7:00 PM 3 hours 31 minutes 119% Tampa Fort Myers to Tampa via I-75 N Friday 29th 10:30 AM 2 hours 41 minutes 69% Washington, DC Washington, DC to Annapolis via US-50 E Tuesday 26th 4:30 PM 1 hours 31 minutes 120%
SOURCE: INRIX
AAA’s Top Thanksgiving Destinations
The common theme among the top 10 domestic destinations is warm weather! Four Florida cities are on the list because of their beaches, theme parks, and cruise ports. Other top destinations include New York, California, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. Internationally, Europe and the Caribbean dominate the list thanks to their beach resorts, tourist attractions, and river cruises. The top Thanksgiving destinations listed below are based on AAA booking data from Tuesday, November 26 to Monday, December 2.
DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL/CARIBBEAN Orlando, FL Budapest, Hungary Miami, FL Mexicali, Mexico Fort Lauderdale, FL San Juan, Puerto Rico New York, NY Cancun, Mexico Anaheim/Los Angeles, CA Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Tampa, FL Rome, Italy Honolulu, HI Amsterdam, Netherlands San Francisco, CA Paris, France Las Vegas, NV Barcelona, Spain Atlanta, GA Munich, Germany
Holiday Forecast Methodology
Travel Forecast
In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices, including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.
Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.
The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of October 7, 2024.
Because AAA forecasts focus on domestic leisure travel only, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers should not be made. TSA data includes all passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes. Additionally, TSA screens passengers each time they enter secured areas of the airport, therefore each one-way trip is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which include the full round-trip travel itinerary. As a result, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and daily TSA screenings represent different factors.
*Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Period
For this forecast, the Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as the seven-day period from Tuesday, November 26 to Monday, December 2. This is the first year the Thanksgiving forecast is a longer timeframe to include the Tuesday before the holiday and the Monday after. Historically, AAA only looked at Wednesday through Sunday. To make this year’s Thanksgiving forecast an apples-to-apples comparison to Thanksgiving 2023, we’ve included the actual numbers from the past five years (including pre-pandemic 2019), looking at the same 7-day period around Thanksgiving Day (including the Tuesday before and Monday after).
About AAA
Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA delivers exceptional roadside assistance, helps travelers plan their dream vacations and adventures, offers exclusive member discounts and benefits, and provides trusted financial and insurance services – all to enhance the life journey of our 65+ million members across North America, including nearly 58 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA offers or become a member, visit AAA.com.
About S&P Global
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses, and individuals with the right data, expertise, and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges, and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow today. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com.
About DKSA
DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel both in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding over 60,000 traveling households annually, and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic planning groups. DK SHIFFLET is an MMGY Global company.
About INRIX
Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses, and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer, and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, optimizing last mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.
‘Busiest Thanksgiving ever’: How the TSA plans to handle record air travel
AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home. The TSA expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. A shortage of air traffic controllers could create delays. The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Monday, down from $3-26 at this time last year. controllers at North Carolina’s Charlotte Douglas International Airport began a 24-hour strike over their demands for higher wages on Monday. The Charlotte airport is the nation’s ninth-busiest passenger volume and serves as a hub for American Airlines. The FAA has struggled with a shortage of controllers for last years, despite the agency’s lofty goals for hiring last year, and expects that weather and wild weather is always a wild card for Thanksgiving and Christmas by the end of the week. The agency expects about 1 million flights to depart on Thursday and next Monday, compared to last year’s 1.1 million flights between last Thursday and Monday.
Advertisement ‘Busiest Thanksgiving ever’: How the TSA plans to handle record air travel Editorial Standards ⓘ
Just as sure as the turkey will taste dry, airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end in another record day for air travel in the United States.The people responsible for keeping security lines, boarding areas and jetliners moving — from the U.S. transportation secretary and airline chiefs on down the line — swear they are prepared for the crowds.Airline passengers might get lucky like they did last year, when relatively few flights were canceled during the holiday week. A repeat will require the weather’s cooperation. And even if skies are blue, a shortage of air traffic controllers could create delays.U.S. flights appeared to running relatively normally on Monday, with fewer than 40 canceled but more than 1,600 delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware.Thanksgiving, by the numbersAuto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car.Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices. The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Monday, down from $3.26 at this time last year.The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024.The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next-busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week.TSA says it’s ready”This will be the busiest Thanksgiving ever in terms of air travel,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “Fortunately, our staffing is also at the highest levels that they have ever been. We are ready.”Pekoske said TSA will have enough screeners to keep general security lines under 30 minutes and lines for people who pay extra for PreCheck under 10 minutes.A Thanksgiving week airport strikeWorkers who clean planes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at North Carolina’s Charlotte Douglas International Airport began what was expected to be a 24-hour strike over their demands for higher wages. Only a handful of flights were canceled, and there were fewer than 100 delays.The Charlotte airport is the nation’s ninth-busiest in passenger volume and serves as a hub for American Airlines. Airport officials expect about 1 million passengers to depart on flights between last Thursday and next Monday.FAA staffing shortage could create delaysAn ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers could cause flight delays at other airports.Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures to deal with shortages at some facilities.”If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” he said.In the last two years, similar measures have slowed down flights in New York City and Florida.The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals.And the weatherWintry weather is always a wild card for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel by plane and automobile.Forecasters predicted more rain in California, where crews were trying to restore power lost to flooding from storms late last week. The Midwest and Great Lakes regions were expected to get rain and snow Monday, while the Northeast was expected to get hit with wet and blustery conditions by Thursday and Friday.Timing of holiday shapes travel patternsThanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel.With more time before the holiday, people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines.”A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end — the Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late,” Watterson said.Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023 — about one of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights.Combining work and leisureThe rise of remote work also has caused the Thanksgiving travel period to expand, AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said.”The pandemic changed everything,” she said. “What we have seen is that post-pandemic, people are leaving at certain times, perhaps even leaving the weekend before Thanksgiving, working remotely from their destination a couple of days, and then enjoying time with their loved ones.”Nightmares of Thanksgivings past have further shaped holiday traffic jams. Motorists who learned to avoid traveling the day before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving have created new bottlenecks on other days, according to Diaz.”Because we warned for so long (that) Wednesday and Sunday are the worst days to travel, people were like, ‘OK, I’m going to leave on Tuesday and come back on Monday to avoid the rush,'” she said. “So now those two days are congested as well.”Advice for travelersAirport security officials are pleading with passengers to arrive early, not to put lithium-ion batteries in checked bags in case they overheat, and to keep guns out of carry-on bags. TSA has discovered more than 6,000 guns at checkpoints this year, and most of them were loaded.Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas bring out many infrequent travelers, and they often have questions about what they can bring on the plane.TSA has a list on its website of items that are banned or restricted.Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX.On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said.In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said.
Source: https://www.radioiowa.com/2025/06/27/record-travel-numbers-expected-in-iowa-over-july-4th-weekend/