Flying or driving for July 4? Here’s the best time to leave and how much it’ll cost

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump admin weighs adding 36 countries to travel ban, memo says U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is considering expanding its travel restrictions by banning citizens of 36 additional countries.

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.

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.

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

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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Memorial Day Weekend travel could break records. Here’s how to prepare for your trip

toggle caption David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Memorial Day is reliably one of the busiest travel weekends in the U.S. — and experts predict this year will set a new bar.

AAA projects 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday, breaking a domestic travel record set in 2005. Most are expected to drive or fly, though others will travel by train, bus or cruise.

“While some travelers embark on dream vacations and fly hundreds of miles across the country, many families just pack up the car and drive to the beach or take a road trip to visit friends,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement.

Sponsor Message

AAA projects the majority of people — some 39.4 million — will travel by car, an increase of 1 million from last year. While drivers should expect crowded roads, there is at least one silver lining: National average gas prices are the lowest they’ve been over Memorial Day Weekend since 2021.

AAA expects 3.61 million people to travel by plane, an increase of 2% over last year. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipates screening about 18 million passengers and crew between Thursday and Wednesday.

“TSA is ready for the additional passenger volume, and we look forward to welcoming families traveling during this peak period,” said TSA acting Administrator Ha McNeill. “As a friendly reminder, to ensure a smooth screening experience, bring acceptable forms of ID like your REAL ID.”

Under the REAL ID requirement, which took effect on May 7, standard driver’s licenses and state IDs are no longer accepted at airport security. Passengers who don’t have a REAL ID should bring another accepted form of ID, such as passports, passport cards, Global Entry, NEXUS and green cards.

TSA says 93% of passengers have been presenting a REAL ID or acceptable alternative since May 7.

Crowded airport lines and packed planes may add heightened stress for travelers, who are already worried about their flights in the wake of some high-profile near-collisions and air traffic control outages — particularly at Newark Airport, where disruptions continue.

Seth Kaplan, transportation analyst for Here & Now, says while airlines are putting many flights and seats in the sky this weekend, it’s not yet clear how many of them will actually be filled.

“It’s going to be very busy, but we’ll only know afterwards … because some of those plans were made back before things changed: safety concerns, economic concerns, those sorts of things,” Kaplan said.

Sponsor Message

Tips for flyers

For smoother travel, the TSA recommends that people organize their carry-on bags and comply with regulations, particularly regarding liquids and prohibited items.

It’s important to double-check those rules because some have changed. Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory with new restrictions on lithium batteries over fire risk concerns.

It says spare lithium batteries, including power banks and cell phone charging cases, must be placed in carry-on bags only — unless those bags get checked at the gate, in which case the passenger must take those items on board with them. Southwest Airlines announced that its passengers must keep those items visible during flights, in a policy that will take effect next Wednesday.

Other travel tips from the TSA include enrolling in TSA PreCheck, calling ahead to request passenger support and arriving at the airport early: at least two hours before a domestic flight’s scheduled boarding time, and three hours before an international flight.

Tips for drivers

If you’re traveling by car and have any flexibility, consider using data to plan the timing of your trip.

For example, Hertz says Friday is expected to be the busiest day for rental car pickup.

The transportation analytics company INRIX says afternoons will be more congested than mornings throughout Memorial Day Weekend. It says the best travel time is before 11 a.m. on Friday, noon on Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday and 2 p.m. Monday.

There are several steps you can take to prepare for a road trip, no matter what time you’re driving.

AAA advises mapping out your preferred route — including rest or meal stops — in advance, packing the car and filling up the gas tank the day before and getting a good night’s sleep and a filling meal before you hit the road.

It also recommends packing an emergency kit with essentials like important documents, blankets, water, chargers, jumper cables, a first aid kit, flashlights, a tire repair kit and nonperishable snacks.

AAA advises being realistic about how much you can drive in a day and limiting yourself to 5 hours if possible. It also recommends switching drivers regularly, at least every three hours, and taking stretch breaks along the way.

Sponsor Message

And, before you go, it can’t hurt to brush up on these 10 road safety do’s and don’ts from NPR’s Life Kit.