More Americans will be traveling during the July 4 holiday period this year than ever before, according to predictions by the American Automobile Association.
AAA projects 72.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Independence Day holiday period beginning Saturday, June 28, and ending Sunday, July 6. This is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019. The forecast, which spans two weekends to reflect holiday travel patterns, signals strong demand for road and air travel.
“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, Vice President of AAA Travel, said in a news release. “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,” she added.
This is the first year since 2014 that July 4 falls on a Friday. The last time the holiday fell directly adjacent to a weekend was in 2016, when it fell on a Monday.
AAA estimates 61.6 million people will drive, a 2.2% increase over last year and the highest volume on record, with 1.3 million more road travelers than in 2024. AAA recommends routine vehicle maintenance and packing an emergency kit, noting that nearly 700,000 roadside assistance calls were handled last July 4th for issues like dead batteries, flat tires, lockouts, and running out of gas.
Gas prices, while slightly higher than last month, remain the lowest since 2021. However, AAA warns that the Israel-Iran conflict and potential hurricanes in the Gulf Coast could lead to temporary spikes due to disrupted oil production or fuel supply.
AAA’s car rental partner, Hertz, reported that Thursday, July 3, will be the busiest day for vehicle pickups. SUVs and midsize sedans were the most popular rentals. Top destinations include Orlando, Denver, Boston, Honolulu (Oahu), and Seattle.
Air travel is also expected to set a record, with 5.84 million people flying, a 1.4% increase over last year’s 5.76 million. Domestic round-trip flights are averaging $810, about 4% more than in 2024, according to AAA data based on booked travel prices. AAA advises booking flights for Tuesdays or Wednesdays for better deals on last-minute summer flights.